In a crucial match on Sunday at SoFi Stadium, Sam Darnold and his Seattle Seahawks faltered, throwing four interceptions and allowing the Los Angeles Rams to steal a 21-19 victory that completely upended the NFC West.
Darnold, who completed 29 of 44 passes for 279 yards, saw his near-MVP campaign dismantled in one night as the Seahawks surrendered control of the division.
The focus keyword “Sam Darnold” sets the stage for an emotional, dramatic chapter in Seattle’s season.
The Seahawks entered Week 11 with momentum and a 7-2 record, tied atop the NFC West with the Rams. But from the first snap, the Rams’ coverage-heavy scheme under coordinator Chris Shula disrupted everything. Darnold wasn’t sacked—yet still finished with a passer rating of just 45.5 after four interceptions.
His four picks matched his career high and came at brutal moments: one returned 22 yards to the Seattle 25. That one set up a Rams touchdown to tight end Colby Parkinson.
Seattle’s defense held the Rams to just 130 passing yards (15 of 28, two touchdowns), yet the offense couldn’t convert in the red zone—going 1-for-4 inside the 20.
Despite the turnover nightmare, Darnold still mounted a final drive from his own 1-yard line with 1:41 left to push for a 61-yard field-goal try by Jason Myers—which narrowly missed. It gave Seattle hope.
However, earlier self-inflicted throws proved to be costly for Seattle. As Darnold admitted post-game, “I can’t turn the ball over as much as I did today… I’ll learn from it, watch the tape, and grow.”
Cooper Kupp, a wide receiver facing his former team, highlighted the broader picture, stating, “He’s been steady; there’s a purpose; he’s learned lessons.”
Now, the Seahawks slide to 7-3 while the Rams move to 8-2 and gain sole control of the division. For Seattle, the offensive collapse may cost them the top seed.
“Sam’s been bawling … It would be unfair to judge Sam solely based on this game, as the responsibility does not lie with him alone,” said Baltimore middle linebacker Ernest Jones IV, defending Darnold.
“We’re that close … and by our standards, offensively, we played a terrible game.” — Cooper Kupp.
On social media platforms, Seahawks fans expressed frustration:
“Talked up Darnold all week—this four-pick night is brutal.”
“This team has the defense to win, but the quarterback has to stop giving games away.”
Meanwhile, Rams supporters rejoiced: “Rams got it done without stuffing the stat sheet—just took advantage when it counted.”
Next up for Seattle is a home matchup against the Tennessee Titans (1-9)—a chance to regroup and bounce back.
But the bigger game looms: the Seahawks and Rams meet again in Seattle on Dec. 18. This season series could decide the division.
For Darnold, the focus is clear: resolve the turnover issues (Seattle now leads the NFL in giveaways) and show he can deliver in big games.
