Sam Darnold's four interceptions sunk the Seattle Seahawks' chances of pulling off the divisional road game in a 21-19 loss to the Los Angeles Rams.
The four picks were clearly the difference in the game, with Seattle's defense smothering Matthew Stafford from every other angle, but Darnold's teammates wouldn't let the QB wear the loss.
"Man, Sam's been balling," linebacker Ernest Jones IV said, via the team’s official website. "If we want to try to define Sam by this game, man, Sam's had us in every f------ game. So for him to sit there and say, 'Oh, that's my fault,' no, it's not. There were plays that defensively we could have made, there were opportunities where we could have got better stops. It's football, man. He's our quarterback, we've got his back, and if you've got anything to say, quite frankly, f--- you."
Darnold has indeed been sensational this season but continues to struggle with turnovers. On Sunday, he tied his career high with four INTs (his other two instances both came with the New York Jets, including the "seeing ghosts" game versus the Patriots in 2019). He has seven INTs since Week 7 and four straight games with an INT.
However, those turnovers don't describe what he's meant to the 7-3 Seahawks in 2025.
"Listen, I will defend Sam as my teammate and my quarterback," right tackle Abraham Lucas said. "Stats can say whatever they want, not everybody is going to have a perfect game all the time, sometimes things happen. He's a phenomenal quarterback, and it's impressive that he doesn't let mistakes get to him. I think people can take lessons from him. He's been balling, he's been lights out, and I'm excited to see what he can do moving forward."
Despite the turnovers, Darnold nearly led the Seahawks to a miraculous comeback. He spearheaded an 11-play, 84-yard touchdown drive to pull within two points late in the fourth quarter. Then, after the defense got another stop, he got into position for Jason Myers to attempt a 61-yard game-winner, but the kick sailed wide.
Darnold completed 29 of 44 passes for 279 yards with no TDs and the four INTs.
The turnovers wasted a sterling effort from Mike Macdonald's defense, which pestered Stafford into uncharacteristic mistakes and stuffed the run after the first quarter. After the opening frame, the Seahawks allowed just 115 total yards and five first downs on eight Rams drives. Fourteen of the Rams' 21 points came when L.A. got the ball inside the Seattle 25-yard-line following an interception.
Not only were the turnovers bad, but the Seahawks couldn't finish drives early, settling for four field goals that allowed L.A. to milk the lead.
"A tough one today," Darnold said. "I felt like, despite the turnovers, we moved the ball well, we just couldn't finish in the red zone. I think that was a big thing today. I can't turn the ball over as much as I did today. I'll learn from it, watch the tape and grow from it. I have to give credit to the Rams. They're a really good defense, a really good team. I have to be better personally and I know we'll bounce back and learn and grow from this one."
Macdonald and the Seahawks aren't deterred by Darnold's slew of turnovers.
"Sam's like an ultimate competitor," the Seahawks coach said. "So he's going to be pissed, that's what you love about him, but he's going to bow up and keep rocking back… I'm not surprised. That's who Sam is. He's done it since Day 1 with us. He's an ultimate competitor and he's a great quarterback. He's our quarterback and we love him."
Despite the loss, the Seahawks remain on solid footing at 7-3, sandwiched between the Rams (8-2) and 49ers (7-4) in the NFC West.
