Seahawks’ Elite Defense Struggles in Red Zone

The defending-champion Seattle Seahawks are 3-3 after a recent slide, but their strong overall defense gives reason for optimism: it entered the week leading the NFL in yards allowed. A key weakness has been red-zone defense, where Seattle has allowed touchdowns on 75% of opponents’ trips, including both of Denver’s chances in a 17-14 overtime loss. The Seahawks’ uneven start has drawn comparisons to the previous season’s Philadelphia Eagles, who began 2-2 before winning 16 of their next 17 games and the Super Bowl. The comparison offers a hopeful precedent, though Seattle will need to improve in critical situations to follow a similar path.