It’s no secret that the Seattle Seahawks defense has struggled in the absence of their leader, safety Earl Thomas, who went down with a broken leg in Week 13’s win over the Carolina Panthers.

The Seahawks went just 2-3 without Thomas in the lineup this season, a clear indication of what he brings to the field.

Heading into their wild-card game against the Lions, the Legion of Boom wanted to make sure its All-Pro safety was front-and-center for the pregame huddle.

The Seahawks defense ranked fifth in the league in total yards allowed (318.7 yards per game) and third in scoring (18.3 points per game allowed). They face a Lions offense that finished the year ranked 20th in scoring (21.6 points per game).