Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll has praised his side's defense for finding their best form at the end of the regular season.
Following their defeat to the Kansas City Chiefs in week 11, the Seahawks went on a six-game winning streak to secure the number one seed in the NFC conference for the post-season.
Carroll's side's defense allowed just 39 points in those six matches as they rediscovered the form that led them to their first Super Bowl title in the 2013 campaign.
"This was an emotional change," Carroll told reporters. "You can look at all the X's and O's and all the other stuff, but this was an emotional shift that took place.
"All of the credit in the world goes to the leadership on this team. The guys knew we had to make a shift and they proactively got it done. They just changed it. You saw a team fighting its way to perform close to its best. It's really been the elevation of the defense."
The Seahawks face off against the Carolina Panthers in the divisional round of the NFC playoffs on Saturday at CenturyLink Field.
Simon Sinclair
