The Seattle Seahawks delivered a commanding performance on Sunday night, defeating the Washington Commanders 38-14 at Northwest Stadium. Quarterback Sam Darnold shone brightly during the game, throwing four touchdown passes without a single incompletion in the first half.
Darnold’s Impressive Performance
At halftime, Darnold had completed all 16 of his passes. He later acknowledged that he was unaware of his achievement until someone mentioned it. “It was pretty cool,” Darnold remarked, adding that he was jokingly blaming the individual who revealed the information for his first incompletion in the second half.
Key Statistics
- Darnold finished 21-of-24 for 330 yards, four touchdowns, and one interception.
- His Total QBR of 97.8 marked the highest of his eight-year NFL career.
- This season, Darnold has recorded three games with a QBR of 97 or higher, tying the record for the most in a season since 2006.
- He matched the franchise record for consecutive completions by starting a game with 17, previously held by Warren Moon.
Strong Offensive Performance
The Seahawks improved their record to 6-2 and solidified Darnold’s candidacy for the MVP award. Following the game, his MVP odds significantly improved from 60-to-1 to 18-to-1.
Despite missing key receivers like Cooper Kupp and Jake Bobo, Darnold effectively found the end zone multiple times. He threw touchdown passes to rookie Tory Horton twice, rookie tight end Elijah Arroyo, and veteran receiver Cody White.
Injury Concerns
While the offense thrived, the Seahawks faced injury challenges. Middle linebacker Ernest Jones IV sustained a knee injury, while cornerback Josh Jobe was evaluated for a concussion during the game. Coach Mike Macdonald stated that Jones’ injury is not season-ending but requires further assessment.
Team Dynamics
Coach Macdonald praised Darnold’s execution and the team’s overall performance. “Our receivers are doing a great job, and I thought the protection was really good,” he noted. Darnold’s execution was key, as he demonstrated decisiveness and made smart decisions throughout the game.
With this victory, the Seahawks improved to 4-0 on the road this season and 11-1 since the previous campaign started, displaying their strength and resilience as a team.
