“Sam’s execution right now – he’s just ridiculous,” said Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald after another dazzling Sam Darnold display.
Yes, Josh Allen, Jackson and Mahomes have all shown glimpses, but the ‘other guys’ of the quarterback fraternity are showing up this season.
Second-year triggermen Drake Maye and Bo Nix are both 7-2 after leading the New England Patriots and Denver Broncos to wins on Sunday, while in Los Angeles Matthew Stafford is lighting it up for the Rams and Justin Herbert likewise for the Chargers.
But it was Darnold’s time to shine in Washington on Sunday with a surgical first half in which he completed all 16 passes and threw four touchdowns as the Seahawks dismantled the Commanders.
ESPN’s, external Total Quarterback Rating (QBR) system is an in-depth metric that takes into account opposing defensive strength and game state as well as yardage and scoring stats – and is a 0-100 system where 75 and above is regarded as excellent.
Darnold’s 97.8 mark on Sunday was the best of his career and his third over 97 this season – Jackson is the only other player to get over that mark so far.
In short, the 2018 third overall draft pick has been excellent this season, proving that his renaissance in Minnesota last year was no one-hit wonder.
Seattle are 6-2 but locked in a titanic NFC West struggle with the Rams and San Francisco 49ers also having six wins, but their impressive away form of 4-0 this season and 11-1 since the start of 2024 means they will not fear hitting the road in the play-offs.
Plus, general manager John Schneider has said “we’re in and we’ll see what’s shaking out there” regards the upcoming trade deadline, so obviously feel they are in the ‘Super Bowl window’ now with Darnold at the helm.
Watch this space.
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