By Kiara Doyal, The Seattle Medium
Seattle’s professional sports teams have long battled for championships. The Mariners made a notable run this season, winning the AL West for the first time since 2001 and reaching the ALCS, but fell short of claiming a league title. Now the city’s hopes for a championship this year rest with the Seattle Seahawks.
With a 14–3 record, the Seahawks secured the No. 1 seed in the NFC, a first-round playoff bye and the NFC West title. Their path to the Super Bowl looks promising.
“[Being the No. 1 seed in the NFC] was a goal that we talked about since our first meeting [of the season],” said Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba. “So it is a blessing, and it is an honor. One down, and a couple more to go.”
Smith-Njigba praised the team’s growth and consistency throughout the season, attributing their success to faith and unity.
“I just want to start with the fact that I am super proud of my guys. Super proud to be a Seahawk and in the way we fought out there, and I want to give all the glory to God,” Smith-Njigba said. “Before this season, I just wanted to give him all the glory, and it’s just awesome to see what he is doing on this team and in Seattle.”
The Seahawks enter the playoffs riding the momentum of a dominant 13–3 win over division rival San Francisco 49ers.
“It is a rich history that we have with the 49ers, and I am happy to be a part of it. I am happy to have a Seahawk on my helmet and beat those guys,” said Smith-Njigba. “It is war every time we are out there. I take it very seriously, and I am happy we got one, and it is 1,000 percent better that we celebrated in their locker room on their turf.”
In high-pressure games like that one, Smith-Njigba said the team looks to quarterback Sam Darnold for leadership.
“His demeanor, approach, everything about what he did [against the 49ers] was great. Of course, there are always going to be things to fix, but just from the time that we got [to San Francisco] — well, really all week — he prepared to make sure his guys were ready,” Smith-Njigba said. “That is our leader, and we are going to follow our leader. We are going to follow his approach and his mindset, and he has the right mindset to do great things for us.”
Head coach Mike Macdonald echoed that praise, calling Darnold a model of consistency.
“I think the strength of our team is the synergy behind it. Sam plays probably the most important position, but he is one of 11 guys out there of what we are trying to make feel like 12, and he has been steady in that,” Macdonald said. “He has been a great example for our team in the way he has been so consistent all year.”
The Seahawks began the season with a 17–13 loss to the 49ers in Week 1 but have surged since then, finishing with the best record in the NFC.
“It is a tough process. It’s peaks and valleys, people talking, outside noise, but it is just about a group of guys coming together [to play football],” Smith-Njigba said. “I wouldn’t want to do it with any other guys, and we got the right guys for the job.”
Smith-Njigba led the NFL with 1,793 receiving yards this season, breaking DK Metcalf’s single-season franchise record. Still, he emphasized the process over the accolades.
“I just want to give all the glory to God, and I took it one day at a time. Process over results, it was all about the process. It was about our Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and getting ready for the next week ahead,” Smith-Njigba said. “It was about the little things, and we preach process over results here. And when I look back, I’ll think about the process.”
Even with his breakout season, Smith-Njigba said his motivation remains rooted in the team around him.
“They mean everything. That is why I put my helmet on, strap my shoulder pads up, and go play for them. It takes a lot of weight off my shoulders, and it takes my mind off of let me go get 100 yards and touchdowns,” said Smith-Njigba. “No, let me go out there and get receivers open, and do whatever I need to do for these guys. They mean the world to me, and they are the reason why I have had so much success.”
Macdonald credited the team’s discipline and preparation for their performance and pointed to improved execution in key areas.
“The screen game is coming to life. We wanted to be better at it, worked on it every day, and it is great. It is a really important part of our offense, and we called them in some good times,” Macdonald said. “I feel like we have really been aligned on some of those plays, so it is great to get the screen game off the ground.”
The playoff bye gives Seattle a crucial window to recover, regroup and prepare for what’s ahead. But with the postseason heating up, there’s little time to rest. After last weekend’s results, the Seahawks will face the San Francisco 49ers once again this Saturday, Jan. 17 — this time with a trip to the NFC Championship on the line.
“There is a balance of trying to stay ready, stay sharp, but also be able to take advantage of the opportunity that we have to take care of our bodies and get as fresh as possible,” Macdonald said.
With just two games between them and a Super Bowl appearance, Macdonald said the team’s mindset won’t shift.
“Part of our message to our guys is that I know we are going to the playoffs, but nothing changes in terms of our preparation and mentality,” Macdonald said. “The things that we need to be able to do to have success are going to stay the same.”
