Sam Darnold tossed a pair of interceptions versus the 49ers in Week 6, and yeah, that’s not what any of us in the Emerald City wanted to see from our quarterback. Across the league, QB play was a real rollercoaster, with some guys putting on a show and others… well, just trying to keep their heads above water.
The QB Carousel: Highs, Lows, and Our Guy
While our guy was battling it out and unfortunately throwing those picks, Kyler Murray reportedly had the best throw of the week. Talk about a stark contrast, right? Then you got Dak Prescott, who threw some of the absolute worst passes we saw all week, showing just how quickly things can swing for any signal-caller. Jayden Daniels, man, he took a sack at the very end of overtime that sealed a tie against the Giants. A tie! Nobody likes a tie. And then there’s Jared Goff, who of all people, is off to a historically prolific start for the Lions. It just goes to show you, folks, nobody’s safe at the top, and nobody’s stuck at the bottom. The real question that matters? What have you done for your team lately?
Indy’s QB Nightmare: A Season in Implosion
Speaking of what you’ve done lately, Daniel Jones in Indy has looked absolutely overwhelmed all season. Seriously, the Colts’ plan for him stunk from the beginning. I’ve been on record saying this season was destined for implosion, and unfortunately, it’s playing out exactly that way. Coming back from an Achilles injury is one thing, but expecting this offense to magically regain its early 2025 form, which was already fading when he got hurt? That was a massive stretch. The biggest issue has been struggling to keep receiver Alec Pierce on the field due to injuries, and then they went and traded away Michael Pittman, a genuinely trustworthy possession receiver. So, without his 2025 WR1 or WR2, Jones has been trying to make something happen with Josh Downs, whose explosive plays just aren’t enough to carry an entire offense. Even tight end Tyler Warren is only averaging 7.1 yards per reception, struggling to find running room after his 30 receptions, which is still eighth-most in the NFL. And it’s not just the passing game: Jonathan Taylor is struggling too, averaging only 3.9 yards per carry, on pace for his worst season ever, even behind his previous low of 4.4 in 2023 when he played only 10 games. Opponents are stacking the box against him, 21 times total, the fifth-most in the NFL, because they’re simply not afraid of Jones, especially when he doesn’t have Pierce to throw to. The Colts’ offense is functioning at an even lower level than you’d expect, and in turn, so is Jones. In Week 5 against the Steelers, whose defense is good but definitely beatable, Dimes couldn’t find the end zone. He was 24 for 44 for 267 yards, with a completion percentage over expectation (CPOE) of -3.8. It was even worse at -8.5% when the Steelers didn’t even blitz him! Defenses are practically daring him to pick them apart, daring him to throw deep, and he just can’t do it. It’s making their middling starting QB look like a backup, which is incredibly frustrating for that franchise, especially when you consider Jones’ cap hit in 2026 is still $19 million. Big changes are absolutely coming for the Colts, who don’t even have their 2027 first-round pick to help them out.
So yeah, while some QBs are soaring and others are crashing, the spotlight on our guy Sam Darnold after those two picks against the 49ers is a real gut punch for the 12s. We’re all watching closely to see how he bounces back next week, because every snap matters, and every decision impacts where we’re headed this season. Let’s hope for a much sharper performance, because we need our QB locked in if we’re going to stay in the hunt.
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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