But as nice a surprise as Seattle’s offense was, it was nothing compared to their defense, one of the most exciting and opportunistic defenses the league has ever seen. They allowed the fifth-fewest points in the league in 1984. They held teams under 10 points five times, and pitched three shutouts. But it was the madcap manner in which Seattle’s defense played was what set them apart.
Seattle took the ball away from opponents an unfathomable 63 times – almost four per game – which is technically an NFL record. (The only two pro football teams to take the ball away more played in the AAFC in the 1940s, and in the AFL in the 1960s.) They intercepted passers a league-best 38 times. In one incredible game against Kansas City in Week 10, the Seahawks intercepted three K.C. quarterbacks a total of six times; they returned four of those for touchdowns, an NFL record that might never fall. Each touchdown return covered 50 yards or more.
The Seahawks’ overall pass defense was superior, holding opposing quarterbacks to a paltry combined 54.2 passer rating. Their 55 quarterback sacks were tied for seventh in the NFL – on opening day alone, they had 7 sacks. Defensive ends Jeff Bryant and Jacob Green both had double-digit sacks (14.5 and 13, respectively). The defense had two superstars in ’84: the first was nose guard/defensive tackle Joe Nash, who had the best year of his career. He had 7.0 sacks from the interior lineman position, and 82 tackles. But the only person on Seattle’s defense who could overshadow Nash was veteran Seahawk safety Kenny Easley.
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