Seahawks’ Mike Macdonald Speaks out on QB Sam Darnold After Game-Winning FG Drive
Quarterback Sam Darnold and the Seattle Seahawks appeared ready to cruise to a Week 4 victory against their division rival, the Arizona Cardinals, on Thursday night. That is, until a late 14-point Cardinals rally threatened to send the contest into overtime.
But as the saying goes in sports, Darnold and the Seahawks didn’t flinch.
Despite just 28 seconds left in the fourth quarter and only one timeout remaining, the Seahawks were aggressive on their last possession of regulation. As a result, a 22-yard completion from Darnold to receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba placed the Seahawks on the fringe of field goal-range.
In the final seconds, Seattle kicker Jason Myers nailed a 52-yard field goal to propel the Seahawks to a 23-20 victory.
Seattle’s final drive started at the team’s 40-yard line because Arizona’s kickoff didn’t first bounce in the landing zone. That helped allow the Seahawks to be aggressive even though there was under 30 seconds left in the half.
Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald, though, suggested Darnold’s play was an even bigger influence on the team’s aggressiveness.
“Sam is playing out of his mind right now,” Macdonald told reporters. “When you see him, he’s just like such a cool customer.
“He’s a guy on a mission; he’s just so determined for us to be a great team and a great offense. He’s doing a great job leading us.”
Sam Darnold’s Strong Start for Seahawks
The veteran quarterback experienced, by far, the best season of his career with the Minnesota Vikings last season. Fresh off the career year, the Seahawks signed Darnold to a three-year, $100.5 million deal.
The question for 2025, though, was would 2024 prove to be a career year or a breakout campaign for the quarterback.
Through the first quarter of the 2025 season, it’s looking more like a breakout campaign.
Darnold entered Thursday with a 70.3% completion percentage and a nine yards per attempt average in the first three weeks of 2025. He also had four touchdown passes versus two interceptions.
Against the Cardinals in Week 4, Darnold was very efficient again, going 18 for 26 with 242 passing yards and a touchdown. While he took three sacks, Darnold averaged 9.3 yards per pass.
Last season, the 28-year-old posted his first 4,000-yard season and 30-touchdown campaign. After four games in 2024, he had a 68.9% completion percentage and 8.8 yards per pass average with 11 touchdowns.
While Darnold has just five touchdown passes after four games this season, he’s posted a 70% completion percentage and 9.05 yards per attempt.
Darnold Experiencing Success Without Kevin O’Connell
In 2024, Darnold led the Vikings to a 14-3 mark. Clearly, he found a home in O’Connell’s offense.
Over the first six seasons of his career, Darnold went 21-35 as a starter.
Some pundits criticized the Seahawks this past offseason for believing in Darnold outside of O’Connell’s offense. But the quarterback is proving those doubters wrong.
He’s led the Seahawks to three consecutive victories after a Week 1 loss. The only defeat he’s suffered with Seattle was at the hands of the undefeated San Francisco 49ers.
Darnold is now 17-4 in his last 21 regular season starts. He only needs four more wins this season to match the number of victories he earned as a starter in his first six campaigns.
Darnold is clearly becoming the reason his team succeeds, not just the product of great coaching. The Seahawks are huge beneficiaries to this fact. Darnold is leading them to contention in the NFC West.
Browns' Shedeur Sanders Crumbles Against Rams — Dillon Gabriel Steals the Spotlight with Jaw-Dropping Performance
The pressure is mounting for Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders after a lackluster performance against the Rams, leaving fans and analysts questioning whether he’s truly ready to lead Cleveland’s offense in 2025. Meanwhile, all eyes turned to Dillon Gabriel, who delivered a standout performance that had NFL fans buzzing and praising his potential.
Sanders, who entered the game with high expectations, struggled to find any rhythm against the Rams' defense. His decision-making was off, and his accuracy wavered, leaving the Browns offense stagnant. With fans growing frustrated, many are starting to wonder if the rookie quarterback is feeling the weight of the starting role or if the pressure is simply too much for him to handle.
Fake Quote from NFL Analyst: "Shedeur Sanders just didn’t show up today. The hype surrounding him is real, but if he keeps playing like this, the Browns will have no choice but to make a change. This was a chance to make a statement, and he let it slip away."
As Sanders faltered, a surprising hero emerged in Dillon Gabriel, the former Oklahoma quarterback, who had fans on their feet with his flawless play. Gabriel displayed poise, pinpoint accuracy, and the kind of leadership that immediately earned him respect, despite being the underdog in Cleveland's quarterback race. NFL fans were quick to shower Gabriel with praise, with many calling him the future of the league after his jaw-dropping performance.
Fake Quote from NFL Fan: "Dillon Gabriel is the real deal. If the Browns are smart, they’ll give him a shot at starting. He’s got the talent and mentality to take this team to the next level."
With Gabriel’s impressive performance and Sanders’ struggles, the quarterback competition in Cleveland just got a whole lot more interesting. As the season draws closer, it’s clear that Sanders is under intense scrutiny, and Gabriel is quickly making a case for himself as the better option. Will Sanders bounce back, or is Gabriel poised to take over?
