And the Seahawks were able to get the job done without drastically altering what they like to do. The Seahawks have relied heavily on their nickel defense under Mike Macdonald, particularly the big nickel package that features safety Nick Emmanwori as the fifth defensive back.
Heading into Week 11, the Seahawks used nickel personnel at a league-high 85.7 percent rate, including a 75.3 rate against offenses deploying multiple tight-end looks, also a league high, per Next Gen Stats.
The Seahawks didn’t deviate from that plan against the Rams, with six different defensive backs playing at least 60 percent of their defensive snaps: Emmanwori, Devon Witherspoon, Coby Bryant, Ty Okada, Riq Woolen and Josh Jobe.
Sticking with what they do best, the Seahawks were able to have a great defensive performance, despite a loss, against one of the league’s top offenses and quarterbacks, holding the Rams to a season-low 12 first downs and 249 total yards, with only one Rams score coming on a drive that covered more than 25 yards, with two other touchdowns coming on short fields after an interception.