**Sam Darnold Throws Four Interceptions, But Seahawks Remain in Command in Narrow Loss to Rams**
INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) — Sam Darnold threw four interceptions yet still managed to keep the Seattle Seahawks in position to win on the final play in a 21-19 loss to the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday.
Linebacker Ernest Jones IV emphasized that placing the blame solely on Darnold is misguided, including the quarterback himself.
“Sam’s been balling, right? If we want to try to define Sam by this game, Sam’s had us in every (expletive) game. So for him to sit there and say, ‘Oh, that’s my fault.’ No, it’s not,” Jones said. “Defensively, we could have made plays. There were opportunities where we could have gotten better stops. Yeah, I mean, like, it’s football, man. And he’s our quarterback, we got his back. And, got anything to say, quite frankly, (expletive) ’em.”
Darnold engineered a crucial drive from Seattle’s own 1-yard line in the final 1:41, setting up Jason Myers for a 61-yard field goal attempt as time expired that would have won the game. However, Myers’ kick fell short, teaching the upstart Seahawks (7-3) a harsh lesson on the razor-thin margin for success at the top of the NFL.
“I think we’re a good team,” Jones said. “We turned the ball over four times, and we lost by two points.”
Wide receiver Cooper Kupp echoed the sentiment, adding, “We’re that close, and by our standards, offensively, played a very poor game.”
There were certainly areas where the offense needed improvement, starting with Darnold’s costly four interceptions — the most he has thrown in a game since his famous comment about “seeing ghosts” in a 33-0 loss to the New England Patriots on Oct. 21, 2019.
Many of the turnovers stemmed from Darnold’s admitted reluctance to throw the ball away or take sacks. The most glaring example came on his fourth interception early in the fourth quarter while in Rams territory. Under pressure from defensive tackles Poona Ford and Kobie Turner on third down, Darnold attempted an awkward jump pass that was picked off by cornerback Darious Williams.
“I was just trying to get the ball out of my hands,” Darnold said. “Just a poor decision. There’s a lineman in the way. Didn’t see the DB, trying to make a jump pass, and just didn’t work out. I gotta just dirt that one.”
Equally impactful was Seattle’s inability to capitalize in the red zone, managing only one touchdown on four trips inside the 20-yard line. The Seahawks finally scored on Kenneth Walker III’s 1-yard run with 2:23 remaining.
Despite outgaining the Rams 414-249 in total yards, Seattle’s shortcomings in the red zone contrasted starkly with Los Angeles, which reached the end zone on each of its three goal-to-go chances.
“We had some good 10-plus play drives out there,” Darnold said. “We just couldn’t finish in the red zone. We got to be better in the red zone. It starts with me, getting the guys out there and executing at a high level. And then, yeah, just can’t turn the ball over. I think that’s the biggest thing. Biggest takeaway from today is just protecting the football.”
Despite the struggles, Darnold and the offense fought hard throughout the game. He completed 29 of 44 passes for 279 yards, providing Myers with a chance to put the Seahawks atop the NFC West.
To Kupp, Darnold’s resilience reflects his ongoing growth as a player and leader, especially after his well-documented challenges following his selection as the third overall pick in 2018.
“I mean, that’s not an easy thing to do,” Kupp said. “You just continue to battle, continue to be the same guy. Like I said before, he’s steady. Steady. And you can see just the trials he’s been through, the things he’s gone through, they’re not for no reason. There’s a purpose. He’s learned lessons, and knows that there’s waves, gonna be plays that you want back. But all you can do is keep coming back, keep firing.”
For Darnold, who is once again challenging at the top of the NFC for the second consecutive season after his unexpected career revival with the Minnesota Vikings last year, the quality of the defense gives the Seahawks a real shot at contending for a Super Bowl — but only if the offense limits turnovers.
“I feel like our defense has been doing a great job all year,” Darnold said. “I got to not turn the ball over, simple as that. I got to do my job, protect the football, get the guys down the field, put the ball in the end zone, and I feel like we’ll always be in a position to win a football game if I just do that.”
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