With three consecutive wins, the Seattle Seahawks are beginning to turn heads and gain attention. In fact, one national media outlet is now a firm believer in quarterback Sam Darnold, if not yet in head coach Mike Macdonald.
In the wake of last Thursday’s pulsating 23-20 win over the NFC West rival Arizona Cardinals, Sports Illustrated writes in a new story that Macdonald needs to trust a quarterback who has earned it after a rocky career.
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“Darnold and this Seattle offense weren’t built to play in tight games,” writes Gilberto Manzano. “That’s what I thought until I witnessed Darnold overcome some horrific decisions from his coaches Thursday night to win 23–20 and avoid an epic collapse in Arizona.”
As he’s done this season – except, of course, for the crucial fumble against the San Francisco 49ers in Week 1 – Darnold made clutch plays when his team needed them most. His 36-yard pass to Jaxon Smith-Njigba put the Seahawks in position to take a 10-point lead and put the game away late in the fourth quarter, but Macdonald then got conservative with three running plays before kicker Jason Myers’ 53-yard miss left the door ajar.
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Undaunted – and now trailing – Darnold came right back with 22-yard completion to Smith-Njigba that set up Myers’ redemption via 52-yard game-winner.
Writes SI of the game-ending sequence, “Macdonald and offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak just couldn’t help themselves by calling another running play and leaving their kicker with a lengthy field goal when their red-hot quarterback could have easily gotten another 10-plus yards.”
Still just 28, Darnold’s five-team, eight-year journey is well-documented. SI points out that he’s now proving he can thrive without star receiver Justin Jefferson in Minnesota, and that he’s now a trusted veteran more than the No. 3 overall draft bust.
“We’re well past the ugly days with the Jets,” SI writes. “It’s now about expecting more frequent clutch moments from Darnold, especially against legitimate contenders.”
