If you had told a Seahawks fan a year ago that Sam Darnold would be the one steering the ship to a 14-3 record, they probably would’ve laughed you out of the room. Honestly. But here we are in early 2026, and the Seattle Seahawks team stats from this past regular season are looking like something straight out of a video game.
It wasn't just about winning; it was about the way they absolutely dismantled teams.
The defensive wall that Mike Macdonald built
You’ve got to start with the defense. Mike Macdonald, in just his second year as head coach, essentially turned the Pacific Northwest into a "no-fly zone." Seattle finished the 2025 regular season allowing just 17.2 points per game. That’s the best in the entire league.
They weren't just stingy with points, though. The yardage totals were equally ridiculous. They gave up only 285.6 total yards per game (6th best) and were particularly brutal against the run, holding opponents to 91.6 rushing yards per game. If you tried to run on this front seven, you basically hit a concrete wall.
The Ernest Jones IV effect
A huge part of that success comes down to Ernest Jones IV. He was everywhere. Literally. He led the team with 126 total tackles.
But check this out: he also managed to snag 5 interceptions. For a middle linebacker, that is absolutely wild. It shows the kind of versatility Macdonald demands from his guys. You aren't just a "thumper" in this system; you’ve gotta be a ball hawk, too.
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Jaxon Smith-Njigba's historic breakout
On the other side of the ball, the story of the year was Jaxon Smith-Njigba. He didn't just have a "good" season. He had a season that rewrote the franchise record books.
JSN finished the year with 1,793 receiving yards. To put that in perspective, he shattered DK Metcalf’s previous single-season record of 1,303 yards. He caught 119 balls and found the end zone 10 times. He was the primary engine of an offense that averaged 28.4 points per game, which ranked 3rd in the NFL.
Sam Darnold, for all the skeptics out there, actually finished with a 67.7% completion rate and 4,048 passing yards. He threw 25 touchdowns against 14 interceptions. It wasn't always perfect—Darnold still had those "what was he thinking?" moments—but with JSN and Cooper Kupp (who they snagged during the season) making plays, he didn't have to be a superhero.
The Ground Game: K9 and Charbonnet
While the passing game got the headlines, Kenneth Walker III (aka K9) quietly put up another 1,000-yard season. He hit 1,027 rushing yards on 221 carries.
The interesting part is how they used Zach Charbonnet. He only had 730 rushing yards, but he was the "closer" in the red zone, leading the team with 12 rushing touchdowns. It’s a classic thunder-and-lightning dynamic that kept defenses from cheating too much toward the perimeter to stop JSN.
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What most people get wrong about the turnover margin
If you just look at the raw win-loss record, you’d assume the Seahawks were perfect. They weren't. One of the weirdest Seattle Seahawks team stats is their turnover ratio. They actually finished with a -3 turnover ratio according to some trackers, or a negligible +0.2 margin per game depending on how you weigh the takeaways.
They gave the ball away a lot. In fact, they averaged 1.6 giveaways per game, which was near the bottom of the league (31st).
So how did they win 14 games?
- Defensive Takeaways: They forced 1.5 takeaways per game (6th best), often at the most critical moments.
- Third Down Dominance: Their defense led the league in stopping opponents on 3rd down, with a 32.05% conversion rate allowed.
- Point Differential: They finished with a +191 point differential, a new franchise record.
Basically, when they did mess up and turn the ball over, the defense was so good that it didn't matter. They would just force a three-and-out or get the ball right back.
Special teams and the Rashid Shaheed factor
We can't ignore the mid-season trade for Rashid Shaheed. Adding an All-Pro returner to this mix was like putting a turbocharger on a Ferrari. Shaheed averaged 29.9 yards per kick return and even took one 100 yards to the house.
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Jason Myers was his usual reliable self, too. He went 41-for-48 on field goals. While 85.4% might seem "average" in today's NFL, he was perfect from short range and hit 9 kicks from beyond 50 yards. In a season where they won several close games, like the 18-16 nail-biter against the Colts, those points were the difference between the #1 seed and a wildcard spot.
Looking ahead to the playoffs
The Seahawks head into the Divisional Round against the 49ers with a lot of momentum but some real health concerns. Jaxon Smith-Njigba has been dealing with a nagging injury, and his status is the biggest question mark for the postseason.
If you're looking at these stats to predict what happens next, watch the rushing defense. The 49ers' whole identity is built on the ground game. Seattle held them to just 3 points in their Week 18 meeting, but the playoffs are a different beast.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Analysts:
- Monitor the Giveaway Rate: If Seattle continues to turn the ball over 1.5 times per game in the playoffs, they are playing with fire against elite teams.
- Watch the JSN Injury Reports: The offense is significantly less explosive without his ability to create separation on intermediate routes.
- Focus on the First Quarter: Seattle’s defense tends to settle in late, but their +191 point differential was largely built on jumping out to early leads and forcing teams to become one-dimensional.
The 2025 season was a masterclass in modern team building: a dominant defense, a record-breaking receiver, and just enough stability at quarterback to let the stars shine.