ATLANTA—When Ty Okada broke up a fourth-down pass attempt in the end zone to prevent a touchdown, Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald celebrated the play from the sideline like Okada just made a game-saving play.

It was a nice play by Okada, but it was also a play that came with the Seahawks leading the Falcons 37-9 with a little over five minutes left in the game, so it was hardly a make-or-break moment for the Seahawks.

But the fact that Macdonald and his defense were so excited by that play also helps explain why the Seahawks are playing so well on defense. To them, it was a make-or-break moment, big lead be damned. Never mind that the game was all but over, the defense didn't want to let the Falcons into the end zone, so they battled on every play to make sure that happened, including the

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