Seahawks Struggle With Home Losses Amid Defensive Challenges Under Macdonald

The Seattle Seahawks, under head coach Mike Macdonald, have struggled significantly with their home-field advantage, holding a poor 4-12 record at home compared to a strong 9-1 on the road. This decline in home performance contrasts sharply with the franchise's historical dominance at home, especially during the Pete Carroll era, when the Seahawks were known for a formidable home presence bolstered by the '12th man' crowd. Macdonald has acknowledged this problem and emphasized the need to improve home game performances. Defensively, Macdonald has brought a more complex and unpredictable scheme compared to Carroll's simpler, consistent approach, which has yielded strong results despite injuries and personnel challenges. While some players like Riq Woolen have struggled in Macdonald's system, others such as Derion Kendrick have emerged as key contributors, helping sustain the defense's effectiveness. Overall, the Seahawks face a paradox of excelling on the road but faltering at home, while adapting to a new defensive identity under Macdonald that balances innovation with personnel development.