EXCLUSIVE: Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence has played against Mike Macdonald’s defenses quite a bit in the past few years, so he knows how daunting a task will await the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LX
Jacksonvoil(Image: Don Juan Moore/Getty Images)
SAN FRANCISCO – Trevor Lawrence knows what it takes to play a Mike Macdonald defense.
The Seattle Seahawks sacked Lawrence — whose performance hit MVP-caliber levels, earning him a spot among the five finalists for the 2025 award — seven times in their 20-12 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 6. The former Clemson star also faced Macdonald-orchestrated offenses during his two-year stint as the Baltimore Ravens defensive coordinator between 2022 and 2023.
And each time, it was a tough day in the office. “Yeah, they’re really, really good,” Lawrence told Mirror U.S. Sports, emphasizing the Seahawks defense’s role in their Super Bowl bid. It came after a Seahawks star shared a lesson he learned from a penalty that sparked NFL outrage.
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“Playing against their defense is tough. They have a really good defensive line and pass rush. They’re good against the run. They’re well-coached. Mike McDonald’s done an awesome job. I’ve played against him when he was the defensive coordinator in Baltimore, too.
“So I’ve played against him a lot, and his defenses are always really good.”
That is why the Seahawks are 4.5-point favorites against the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LX, taking place at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California, this Sunday. Panini America hosted Lawrence, along with several other NFL players and legends, at the Panini Prizm VIP lounge in San Francisco during Super Bowl week, where they “hung out, signed some cards, and opened some packs,” as the Jacksonville star put it.
And when asked what would determine the final outcome of the championship clash, Lawrence had little doubt it would come down to defense.
Lawrence attended the NFL Honors gala after being named among the five finalists for the 2025 MVP award
“I think the defense is going to be a huge thing,” he said.
“Taking care of the ball, one of the defenses is going to create some turnovers, I’m sure, which is going to be a big difference in the game.
“Both teams have a really good defense, but I’d say whoever has a better game defensively is probably going to win it.”
The Seahawks defense’s numbers speak volumes. Seattle allowed the fewest points per game (17.2) during the regular season. Their defense against the run ranked third, allowing just 91.9 rushing yards per contest.
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Quarterbacks can never feel safe against Seattle, who applied the third-most 180 QB pressures on the way to the No. 1 seed in the NFC while chalking up 18 interceptions, the fifth-most in the league.
Macdonald has turned the Seahawks defense into a terrifying behemoth. And Lawrence thinks it might tip the scales in their favor.
“You know, I’d probably go with Seattle if I had to pick,” said Lawrence, who’s been hosted by Panini America.