Just like last year, Sam Darnold went into a Week 18 regular-season finale needing to come up big on the road against a division rival.
What a difference a year makes.
What, you were waiting for some Darnold turnover that would give the San Francisco 49ers a jolt of momentum?
Keep waiting.
Sure, there was almost a turnover – a muffed exchange in the third quarter that could have set the 49ers up in striking range. But Seattle running back Zach Charbonnet recovered that fumble, averting disaster.
It was that kind of night. The Seahawks blasted San Francsico, 13-3, to clinch the NFC West crown and No. 1 seed in the NFC playoffs with a franchise-record 14th win. Darnold was cool, efficient and all that, but as much as you may remember his setbacks with the Minnesota Vikings last season – losing in Week 18 at Detroit, then falling at the L.A. Rams in the wild-card round of the playoffs – it wasn’t so much about Darnold.
Not as long as he’s protecting the football. Not as long as the running game is producing like it has lately, shredding the 49ers for 180 rushing yards in the latest demonstration. And not as long as the defense is packing its usual punch.
With that, Darnold, who entered the game tied for third in the NFL with 13 interceptions, was representative of a larger picture. The Seahawks (14-3) sent a message with their latest triumph that they are the most complete team headed into the NFL playoffs. That’s great for Darnold. He doesn’t have to be the GOAT.
No, with that spectacular defense and a running game powered by the 1-2 punch of Kenneth Walker III and Charbonnet, and talented targets including Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Darnold likely wins as long as he’s not the goat. No need for hero ball.
Seahawks’ rushing attack, defense relieving pressure on Darnold
Sure, there comes a time when any and every quarterback trying to win a big game against top-shelf competition – in Saturday’s games this was also tested by Brock Purdy, Baker Mayfield and Bryce Young – has to make a big throw. Or a few.
Darnold certainly had crucial throws on Saturday night, including a 24-yard strike to Cooper Kupp to convert on a third down late in the fourth quarter. But for the most part it was a testament to efficiency. He completed 20 of 26 passes for 198 yards, without a touchdown.
And he did a fine job handing or tossing the football to Walker and Charbonnet. Walker carried 16 times for 97 yards; Charbonnet ran 17 times for 74 yards and bolted around the left corner for a 27-yard touchdown.
It was the third straight game the rushing attack rolled with a distinct smash mouth flavor. Last Sunday at Carolina, the Seahawks ran for 163 yards, led by Charbonnet’s 110 yards. In the wild Week 16 comeback win against the Rams, they ran for 171 yards, led by Walker’s 100.
So, with either running back capable of carrying the load, the rushing attack is rounding into form at the perfect time – which takes significant pressure off Darnold.
Meanwhile, Seattle’s defense relieves pressure, too (from Darnold), while applying it to quarterbacks such as Purdy. The Seahawks stifled one of the NFL’s hottest offenses – San Francisco topped 40 points in its previous two games – in keeping the 49ers out of the end zone. Seattle allowed just nine first downs and 173 net yards to go with the three points.
Maybe the Seahawks will return to Levi’s Stadium to close the season in Super Bowl 60.
Suddenly, their chances are much better, given the bye week and homefield advantage throughout the playoffs, where they will be backed by the “12s” at one of the NFL’s noisiest venues, Lumen Field.
Home turf. Home crowd. Home cooking.
Happy New Year, Sam Darnold.
It’s a different year indeed, with the Seahawks quarterback poised to keep writing a new narrative that could take him places he’s never seen before on this NFL journey.
Contact Jarrett Bell at jbell@usatoday.com or follow on X: @JarrettBell