The Seattle Seahawks dropped a clunker, losing a deceptive 33-31 shootout to the Washington Commanders, and man, does this one sting. It’s about as disappointing a loss as I can recall in the Mike Macdonald era, even if we all know that even the best coaches throw up a clunker once in a while. Nobody thought it would be *this* game though, right? A 33-31 score makes it look like a barn burner, but there were way too many short drives that let the Commanders score.
JSN Went Full Cheat Code Mode, But He Wasn’t Alone
Seriously, is Jaxon Smith-Njigba even human? Forget the talk about him being “done” throwing passes, the dude is 1/1 for 14 yards on the season after that double pass to George Holani. But the real magic? What he’s actually paid for. JSN pulled down another 10 catches for 128 yards and a couple of touchdowns. Yeah, he had a couple of false starts and a drop, but those are just blips when he’s producing at such a comically high level. Honestly, the only player that might be competing against him for OPOY? The source even floated Kenneth Walker. Just saying.
But let’s not let JSN hog all the glory, because the Emerald City passing game finally spread the wealth. Tory Horton grabbed three for 48 yards, and Cooper Kupp added four catches for 46 yards and a touchdown. We can’t just live and die by JSN, so seeing those guys come alive against the Commanders’ not-so-great pass defense was a huge relief. And get this: Brian Fleury unleashed A.J. Barner as a pass-catcher! Five catches for 69 yards for our main tight end? That’s his best game of the young season, and it makes you wonder if we actually have a screen game now. Welcome back to the end zone, Eric Saubert, picking up your first actual touchdown as a Seahawk.
Darnold’s Day Was a Gut Punch, But Also a Glimpse of Hope
Okay, let’s get this out of the way first: I cannot defend or justify Sam Darnold’s pick-six. It was a bad read, a bad decision, and pretty much a back-breaker in a tight game. And then there was another interception on a tip-drill. Brutal. But come on, the man was returning from injury, had zero run game to support him, and still carried the load on offense. He finished 31/45 for 379 yards and four touchdowns. He avoided pressure like an expert, didn’t get sacked, and made some truly excellent throws all afternoon. Even with those picks, his performance gave us some serious relief about his mobility and what this passing offense could look like for the rest of the season.
Look, a loss to a bad team always stings, especially one that felt so within reach. But the good news? Our passing game is showing out. JSN is a monster, Sam can sling it, and we’re seeing other guys step up. We’ve got to clean up those turnovers, no doubt, but the potential this offense is flashing should keep us hyped for what’s ahead in the Emerald City.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Field Gulls.
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