Two weeks ago, we started a trip to Hong Kong/Thailand as the Seahawks were getting ready to play the San Francisco 49ers. As we return from Thailand, it’s like time stood still: The Hawks again are preparing to play the 49ers.
The big difference, of course, is that the Seahawks happily did not have to play in the wild-card round because they smushed the 49ers in that big-deal Week 18 game. The 49ers managed to get by the Eagles 23-19 on Sunday to gain another chance to play in Seattle.
The Rams won as well, barely pulling it out against Carolina to make the NFC West the fourth division since 1970 to get three teams this far into the postseason. But it is much better that the Rams and Seahawks do not have to face each other before the NFC Championship Game. That would be too anticlimactic. Of course, the Rams have to figure out how to overcome the seemingly unbeatable Bears in Chicago to get to that Seattle rematch.
As for the Hawks, they take the league’s No. 1 scoring defense (16.4 ppg) into this redux with San Francisco. They held the 49ers to three points two weekends ago, and the Niners lost George Kittle to a torn Achilles against the Eagles.
It is hard to imagine this game will come out any differently. The Hawks will not take the Niners lightly – they know they need TWO home wins to reach the Super Bowl.
Mike Macdonald said, “It’s a little funky going against a team two games in a row. So we’ve got to do a great job of debriefing and having some answers, knowing that Kyle (Shanahan) will have some stuff dialed up for us.”
Sign of Cross
Josh Jones played well for three games in place of injured Charles Cross, but the starting left tackle will be back for this one – with a new deal as well.
As Brady Henderson reported, the extension Cross signed tacks onto the fifth-year option for 2026 and will keep Cross in Seattle through 2030. The extension averages $26.1 million — which ranks third among NFL left tackles. But the whole five-year deal averages $24.4 million (which is how the team surely sees it).
Cross has had a solid, not spectacular, season; but capable left tackles are not easy to find — so you have to pay them. John Schneider made the right move.
“You talk about just a cornerstone of your program, Charles is one of those guys,” Macdonald said. “The way this guy works every day and his attitude is rare – very rare.”
An injured Jones gutted out the finale vs. the 49ers, finishing off a solid three-game stretch as Cross’ fill-in. You have to think the Hawks will try to keep him after the season, too.
Identity achieved?
Macdonald wanted to be a strong running team with a great defense – because those are the squads that can win any kind of game.
Well, as the passing game has become more conservative over the past few weeks, the running game has stepped up. The Hawks ran for 180 yards in the 13-3 win vs. the 49ers two weekends ago. They have averaged 171 yards over the past three games – and Ken Walker III and Zach Charbonnet each have come up with big third-down runs (17, 25, 19) in those games.
After the win over the 49ers, Macdonald said, “Honestly, it’s easy to feel good about it right now. That said, some of the counters they had gave us trouble. I think we need to do a better job countering their counters — and we will. We’ve done a great job throughout the season making second-half adjustments. It was great to start the game the way we did with the run game. Now we want to shoot for a four-quarter run game.”
Looking ahead: Coordinators
During the bye week, Klint Kubiak and Aden Durde each had interviews with some of the eight teams looking for new coaches.
Arizona, Atlanta, Baltimore, Las Vegas, Miami and the Giants reportedly all interviewed Kubiak. Durde reportedly interviewed with Atlanta and Cleveland.
So, what if the Hawks lose either of their coordinators?
Durde is less significant, because Macdonald calls the defense. But losing Kubiak would require some juggling on the offensive staff. Among the options, Jake Peets could be elevated from passing coordinator, or Macdonald could look to his Baltimore ties and bring in Todd Monken (let go by the Ravens with John Harbaugh and staff).
Assuming Kubiak is hired away, the key really will be finding someone who can build on what Kubiak did with Sam Darnold and company. It needs to be a creative coach who likes play action, motion, misdirection – a guy who can find ways to get receivers open while scheming solid protections for Darnold.
Meanwhile, a word on the Ravens’ coaching situation …
Looking ahead: 2026 schedule
The Hawks are going to play 10 games next season against 2025 playoff teams, plus a game against perennial Super Bowl contender Kansas City. It’s as tough a slate as you could ask for, but we will make an early prediction of 12 or 13 wins. Seattle returns all key players on defense and will be a top contender in 2026 as well.
HOME: Arizona, L.A. Rams, San Francisco, Dallas, N.Y. Giants, L.A. Chargers, Kansas City, Chicago, New England.
AWAY: Arizona, L.A. Rams, San Francisco, Washington, Philadelphia, Denver, Las Vegas, Carolina.
CHAWK TALK: Everything being said about the Seahawks 