NFL analyst Chris Simms did not sugarcoat Sam Darnold’s performance after the Seattle Seahawks’ 21-19 loss to the Los Angeles Rams, calling it a “bad day” and highlighting how the Rams secondary “picked on” the quarterback in a detailed film review.
On NBC’s Chris Simms Unbuttoned podcast and a companion video segment for NBC Sports, Simms walked through all four of Darnold’s interceptions from the primetime NFC West showdown and said the outing leaves “more questions than answers” about the Seahawks’ new franchise quarterback.
Darnold finished 29-of-44 for 279 yards with no touchdowns and four picks, tying a career high, as Seattle fell to 7-3 and ceded first place in the division to the 8-2 Rams.
Chris Simms Breaks Down Sam Darnold’s 4-INT ‘Bad Day’ vs. Rams
Simms’ latest breakdown came in two parts: an NBC Sports clip titled “Examining Darnold’s ‘bad day’ against Rams” and a longer podcast segment labeled “Film Review: Rams pick on Sam Darnold.”
In those spots, Simms focused on how often Darnold’s decisions, rather than pure bad luck, swung the game. The Rams intercepted him four times, with safety Kamren Kinchens grabbing two picks and cornerbacks Cobie Durant and Darious Williams snagging one each to repeatedly flip field position.
Simms highlighted how the Rams’ secondary sat on Seattle’s staple passing concepts and jumped routes when Darnold locked onto his first read. The tape matches what other analysts saw: Los Angeles dropped defenders into coverage, disguised looks and forced Darnold into mistakes without needing to blitz heavily.
Despite the turnovers, the Seahawks actually outgained the Rams 414-249, held a 26-12 edge in first downs and dominated time of possession 37:49 to 22:11. Simms pointed to that discrepancy as proof that Darnold’s giveaways, not overall play-calling or talent, were the difference in a game Seattle still had a chance to win on a 61-yard field goal attempt at the buzzer.
The breakdown comes at a sensitive moment for Darnold’s narrative. Last season in Minnesota, his strong year ended with back-to-back blowout losses to the Detroit Lions and Rams, fueling questions about his ceiling in the biggest games.
Why Simms Says the Rams Secondary ‘Picked On’ Darnold
Simms’ film review echoed what numbers-driven analysts at Sports Info Solutions saw: the Rams leaned on nickel and dime personnel, dared Seattle to run, and trusted their coverage to handle Darnold when the Seahawks stayed pass-heavy.
The result was 44 pass attempts for Darnold against a defense that was waiting on obvious passing downs. According to SIS, all four of his interceptions gave the ball back to Los Angeles in Seattle territory, yet the Seahawks still nearly stole the game thanks to an elite defensive effort that held Matthew Stafford to just 130 passing yards.
Simms zeroed in on several recurring issues:
- Late throws that allowed underneath defenders to break on the ball.
- Forced attempts into bracketed coverage instead of checking down or using his legs.
- Struggles when the Rams disguised zone looks and rotated safeties after the snap.
Taken together, it was exactly the kind of performance that has followed Darnold since his infamous “seeing ghosts” night with the New York Jets, even as he rebuilt his career in San Francisco, Minnesota and now Seattle.
Simms didn’t turn the segment into a “bench Darnold” rant, but the tone was clear: if the Seahawks want to be taken seriously as NFC contenders, their quarterback cannot be the reason they lose a winnable divisional game where their defense holds a top offense in check.
What It Means for the Seahawks, Darnold and the NFC West Race
Big-picture, Simms’ critique lands at a time when Seattle’s turnover problem is threatening to unravel a promising season. After the loss to Los Angeles, the Seahawks now lead the NFL with 20 turnovers and sit near the bottom of the league in turnover differential at minus-7. Twelve of those giveaways have come in the last four games, 10 of them credited to Darnold.
Yet the standings still offer a path forward. The Rams’ win pushed them to 8-2 and extended their winning streak to five games, but the Seahawks are only one game back at 7-3 with a rematch against Los Angeles looming in Week 16 at Lumen Field.
In the short term, Darnold and Seattle head to Nashville to face the Tennessee Titans in Week 12, then return home to host the Minnesota Vikings, the team he led to a 14-3 record before last year’s late collapse.
If Darnold cleans up the turnovers and stacks a few efficient outings, Simms’ “bad day” breakdown will fade into the background as a blip on an otherwise successful debut season in Seattle. If the mistakes continue, though, this four-interception performance — and Simms’ assertion that the Rams “picked on” the Seahawks’ quarterback — will become the defining snapshot of his time with the franchise.
NFL Analyst Raises ‘More Questions Than Answers’ on Seahawks’ Sam Darnold After Rams Loss