Rapid Reaction: Leonard Williams' stellar play propels Seahawks past Jets

SEATTLE — It wasn't pretty, it was downright nerve-wracking. But the Seahawks got the job done.

In a game where the Hawks lost two fumbles on kickoffs and gave up a kickoff return for a touchdown, they dug down deep to find a way to win and stay in first place.

Digging deep can't be described any better than this sequence in the first half:

After the Seahawks scored to cut the deficit to 14-7, the Jets returned the ensuing kickoff for a 99-yard touchdown and a 21-7 lead. The Seahawks fumbled the kickoff after that score giving New York the ball in the red zone with a two-score lead.

It had the makings of a disaster, except nobody knew it would be a disaster for the Jets.

Leonard Williams intercepted Aaron Rodgers and returned it 92 yards for a touchdown---the longest interception return for a player over 300 pounds in the NFL. Williams continued menacing the Jets with two sacks on Aaron Rodgers including on the game's final drive where New York's last hope fell short.

Williams admitted after the game he had a chip on his shoulder for not winning defensive player of the week when he had 2.5 sacks against Arizona.

Message sent.

Williams finished with 2 sacks, an interception, and a touchdown.

The Hawks defense as a whole is coming together with "Big Cat" Williams, Ernest Jones, and even the surging Coby Bryant who made a key hit as Rodgers delivered New York's last gasp pass attempt.

There is certainly plenty to clean up, especially on special teams, but the way the Seahawks responded to stay in first place says even more about this team.

So does the response on defense.

Remember, the defense was reeling heading into the bye week after losses to Buffalo and the Rams but they've come out swinging since and it's no coincidence the Seahawks are on a 3-game win streak since.

Leonard Williams is surging and so are the Seahawks. And with five games to go, they have a one-game lead on the NFC West.

Mike Macdonald's vision for what this team can be and should be is coming together at the perfect time.