Emmanwori’s presence has made a difference for the Seahawks not just because of the individual plays he makes, but because of what his rare traits allow Macdonald to do with his defense. Emmanwori, who ran a 4.38 second 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine, is fast enough and athletic enough to cover receivers, as was evident when he nearly picked off a pass last week while guarding All-Pro receiver Justin Jefferson on a third-down play. And at 6-foot-3, 220 pounds, he’s also big enough and physical enough to play at or near the line of scrimmage and mix it up with tight ends and even offensive linemen. Add to that another versatile player like Witherspoon, who while significantly smaller than Emmanwori, can still hit with the best of them, and the Seahawks have the ability to create a lot of havoc with a pair of defensive backs who can line up all over the field.

“That’s a challenge,” receiver Cooper Kupp said of facing a defense featuring Emmanwori and Witherspoon. “The things that Emman does out there, what he creates, what he allows the defense to be in and the problems he creates, just in terms of the player that he is, how physical he is, his ability to cover, the athleticism to play man-to-man against whoever’s out there. It’s a very special thing, and Mike does a great job allowing him to play fast, and allow those guys to play off of each other—obviously Spoon is one of those guys that you’d say is the heart and soul of that defense in terms of the energy he brings and the way he communicates. So those guys playing off each other, it’s just special. That’s a special group over on that defensive side of the ball.”

Added cornerback Riq Woolen, “I’m not going to lie to you, this is the best secondary I’ve played with. I’ve been with some dogs before, but it’s different when you have dogs, and we’re all on the same time, all on the same line and same rhythm.”

Despite missing almost four full games with an ankle injury, Emmanwori has thrust himself in the Defensive Rookie of the Year conversation with his play since returning from that high-ankle sprain he suffered early in Seattle’s opener. After Sunday’s standout performance, Emmanwori now has nine passes defensed, five tackles for loss, 53 total tackles, an interception and 1.5 sacks, not to mention the blocked field goal.

“Tremendous game,” Macdonald said. “We gave out some game balls, and he got one of the game balls. I’m really happy for him. He’s worked his tail off. He really has. He does it every day. He’s a tremendous asset for us. Obviously when we’re utilizing him, when we’re playing him against 13 personnel in the area, he’s throwing his stuff in there. I’m happy for him, and he’s got a great attitude. Happy for him. He deserves it.”

Added safety Julian Love, “He’s definitely special. He’s capable of doing a lot of things. He’s around the ball, he can blitz, he can cover, he can do all the things. This won’t be the last time this happens. Nick’s a special guy. We love him. He works hard.”