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Seattle’s Defense Showed the Cowboys the Way in 2026

Originally posted on Inside The Star | By Cody Warren | Last updated Feb 10, 2026 9:13 AM ET

I’ve watched enough playoff football to know this truth never changes: when the games tighten and mistakes stack, defenses decide who survives. Seattle proved this point.

You can score points all season, but if you can’t stop anyone in January, the ending is always the same.

Seattle just proved that.

They didn’t win the Super Bowl because their offense overwhelmed people. They won because their defense controlled games from start to finish. Every yard had to be earned, drives felt contested, and nothing came easy.

Series Note

This is Part 1 of a four-part series examining how the Dallas Cowboys can build a Super Bowl-caliber defense by following the same blueprint Seattle just used.

The next three articles will focus on free-agency fit, rebuilding the secondary, and combining free agency with the draft to elevate the defense without wasting an already strong offense.

What Made Seattle’s Defense Stand Out

What separated Seattle wasn’t talent alone, but how connected the defense looked snap after snap.

The front eliminated the run early, linebackers stayed clean and decisive, the secondary communicated and tackled, and pressure arrived without chaos.

I know that type of control doesn’t happen by accident, but it is built intentionally.

Seattle just finished first in scoring defense and near the top against the run.

They weren’t perfect through the air, but they did limit explosive plays and forced long drives.

This balance matters more than raw yardage totals, especially in the postseason.

The Cowboys Reality Check

Dallas already has what most teams are chasing, an offense capable of scoring with anyone.

However, we all watched the offense play tight, knowing one defensive breakdown could flip a game instantly. We actually watched this come to life several times.

That is not sustainable football, in my opinion.

Seattle never lived that way.

Their defense absorbed pressure, flipped field position, and let the offense pla more free. Dallas hasn’t had that luxury, and it’s the primary reason Dallas hasn’t seen a late January game in years.