The Seattle Seahawks are in crisis mode following another error-filled Sam Darnold performance in defeat. Darnold is 1-3 as a starter since returning from his opening day glute injury, and the context of his interceptions are impossible to ignore and consistently game-damaging. His two interceptions in Seattle’s 17-14 overtime loss to the Denver Broncos were disastrous; the first pick was in game-tying field goal range, while the second pick led to Denver’s 8-yard game-winning field goal drive.
Darnold has thrown seven interceptions in four games, which would be fine if he was throwing 16 touchdown passes, but alas he’s only thrown seven TDs.
Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald is normally not one to be overtly critical of his players, especially not his starting quarterback. This was one of those rare times where that didn’t happen.
“It wasn’t a performance that was good enough to win the game,” Macdonald said, “you know, by our team, but the quarterback leads the team and I bet you Sam will be the first one to tell you that. We love him. It’s just that’s what it is.
“We have to take care of the ball. Sam knows that, he told the team that. We’ve got to take care of the ball,” Macdonald also said in the post-game press conference.
“Just got greedy,” Darnold said of his second interception.
“That play specifically, I should have just gotten it down to [Cooper Kupp]. Coop ran a really good route right under the sticks, and I feel like he would have caught it and got the first down. I’ve just got to continue to go through my progressions and trust it.
“It’s B.S. for me to keep turning the ball over,” Darnold also added. “It’s not fair for our defense. It’s not fair for our special teams. It’s not far, really, to our entire team.
Indeed, Sam. Indeed. The offense as a whole has been bad, but Darnold’s play has not been good enough and it does start with him. Even winning a Super Bowl isn’t enough to earn this much grace when the mistakes are ruinous.