The Seattle Seahawks dropped a gut-puncher at Lumen Field on Sunday, falling to the San Francisco 49ers 32-29, but what really stung was watching Sam Darnold throw two more interceptions. We’ve literally seen this movie before, and nobody wants a sequel where our quarterback is handing the ball to the other team again and again.
Darnold’s Recklessness Is On Full Display
After another multi-interception game, Darnold immediately owned it, which, good, he should. “I’ve just got to continue to trust myself, trust myself, trust my feet and trust what I’m doing,” Darnold said at the podium. “I’ve just got to be better taking care of the football.” Look, you hear the words, but the actions? He’s got five interceptions this season, and he practically missed the first two games with that glute injury. That means he’s thrown a pick in all three games he’s started and finished. Sunday was his second game this year with multiple interceptions, and let’s not forget he LED the league in turnovers last season with a whopping 20. Only three quarterbacks even have more picks than Darnold this season. It’s a pattern, folks.
Beyond The QB: The O-Line and Run Game Woes
While Darnold’s taking the heat, left guard Grey Zabel stepped up, which is exactly the kind of accountability you want from the locker room. “It starts up front, being better,” Zabel told us. “Me, in particular, giving the quarterback time and making him feel comfortable up there. Allowing him to make throws. … I don’t think Sam’s the problem. The problem was the left guard not being good enough, and that’s on me.” That’s admirable from the second-year offensive lineman, but the issues run deeper than an occasional missed block.
Since we moved on from Kenneth Walker III in free agency, this team just can’t run the ball effectively. We came into Sunday sitting 14th in the league in rushing, and our first-round pick, Jadarian Price, has been battling fumble issues and is now on injured reserve. On Sunday, we managed only 89 yards on the ground, averaging just 3.4 yards per carry. What makes it worse? This wasn’t against some brick wall of a defense. The 49ers’ pass rush is considered one of the least dangerous in the league, and they were even missing their Pro Bowl edge rusher Nick Bosa. Yet, we gave up five sacks and a brutal 45.7% pressure rate, according to Next Gen Stats. That kind of pressure turned Darnold’s final stat line into a tough read: 18 of 29 passes for 195 yards, a single touchdown, and a 64.6 passer rating, plus those two picks by 49ers cornerback Renardo Green.
A Chaotic Showdown
It wasn’t just Darnold playing sloppy, though. This game, which honestly felt like the game of the season so far, was an absolute mess on both sides. FOX Sports Research confirmed that the seven combined turnovers from both teams were the most in a game this season. Those turnovers led to 38 combined points, the most in any game this season and the most since 2017! It was a heavyweight, see-saw battle with four lead changes, and one player even got ejected. Wild.
This team has to clean up the sloppy play and protect the ball if they want to turn things around this season. It’s on everyone, from Darnold to the line, to make sure these mistakes don’t keep costing us. We need to see that fire, that focus, starting now.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Fox Sports.
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