Mike Macdonald Calls Byron Murphy II ‘Dominant’ as Seahawks Pass Rush Peaks vs. Titans

Byron Murphy II picked a good time for what his head coach called one of the best games of his young career. In the Seattle Seahawks’ 30-24 win over the Tennessee Titans, Murphy wrecked plays in the backfield, added another sack to his breakout season and drew rare “dominant” praise from Mike Macdonald after the tape review.

Seattle improved to 8-3 with the victory in Nashville, leaning on a pass rush that got home four times on rookie quarterback Cam Ward and helped cover for a bruised-up linebacker room.

Mike Macdonald: Titans Tape Was ‘One of Byron’s Best Games’

Asked Monday at a press conference what he saw from Murphy when he re-watched the Titans game, Macdonald didn’t hedge. He said it was “one of Byron’s best games” and described the second-year defensive tackle as “dominant.”

Macdonald highlighted a fourth-and-short stop as the signature moment, saying Murphy “took on three defenders” and “set the point of attack” to blow up the play. That snap fit the theme of his afternoon: disruptive, physical and right in the middle of everything Tennessee tried to do up front.

The numbers back it up. Murphy finished with five total tackles, including a tackle for loss and a sack, as part of a Seahawks front that hit Ward repeatedly and held the Titans to just 64 rushing yards on 22 carries (2.9 yards per attempt).

For the season, the former first-round pick now has six sacks through 11 games after recording just 0.5 as a rookie. He’s already blown past last year’s production and is emerging as one of the most disruptive interior linemen in the NFC.

Macdonald did note there’s still room to grow from a communication standpoint, mentioning that the staff and Murphy are still fine-tuning how they want to work together up front. But the overall message was clear: the arrow is pointing up, fast.

Why Byron Murphy’s Breakout Matters for Seahawks Defense

Murphy’s surge comes at the perfect time for a defense that wants everything to start with stopping the run and earning obvious passing downs.

Macdonald has repeatedly said the run defense is a “catalyst” for what Seattle wants to do, and the numbers show it. The Seahawks rank top-five in the NFL in both opponent rushing yards per game (90.8) and yards per carry allowed (3.8).

In that context, Murphy isn’t just piling up sacks. His ability to win quickly inside on early downs helps keep opponents behind the sticks and allows Macdonald to unleash the pressure packages he loves. In Monday’s press conference, Macdonald said Seattle’s pressure execution is “probably the best it’s been in the last two years,” a line that pairs neatly with Murphy’s breakout in Year 2.

It also takes some weight off the secondary. With Murphy denting the pocket inside and edge rushers collapsing from the outside, corners like Devon Witherspoon and Riq Woolen can play more aggressively knowing the ball has to come out on time.

Stats, Schedule & Context for Seahawks

• Team record: 8-3 after the 30-24 road win over the Titans. 
• Murphy’s Titans line: 5 tackles, 1 tackle for loss, 1 sack. 
• Season stats: 43 total tackles and 6.0 sacks through 11 games, already a career high. 
• Team pass rush: Four sacks on Cam Ward in Week 12, part of a front that has been among the league’s most productive since midseason. 
• Run defense: Top five in opponent rushing yards per game and yards per carry allowed. 
• Next game: Week 13 vs. Minnesota Vikings at Lumen Field on November 30. 

If Murphy keeps stacking games like Sunday’s, the conversation around Seattle’s defense will shift from “great scheme” to “loaded with stars” — and the young tackle in the middle will be a big reason why.

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