Seeing his starting quarterback throw an 11th interception this season was enough to make Seattle Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald issue a strong statement about Sam Darnold.
The latter committed his 16th turnover of the campaign during Week 14’s 37-9 win over the Atlanta Falcons, but Macdonald wasn’t about to blame his QB1. Instead, the coach called for better execution at the other end of the play.
Specifically, Macdonald focused on rookie tight end Elijah Arroyo’s inability to make a catch in traffic. The ball was tipped and landed in the grateful hands of Falcons’ defensive back Mike Hughes.
Macdonald was adamant when speaking to reporters, including Gregg Bell of The Tacoma News Tribune, on December 7, “it’s a contested catch we’ve got to be able to make.”
That damning verdict compounded a tough day for Arroyo. The second-round pick in the 2025 NFL draft also left the game with a knee problem, prompting a cautious injury update from Macdonald.
It’s bad news for one of Darnold’s key weapons, but the QB’s growing penchant for turnovers remains a bigger concern. One Macdonald and the Seahawks can’t simply deny nor ignore.
Sam Darnold Still Vulnerable to Mistakes
Macdonald continuing to back his starter publicly is a significant show of faith in Darnold. Yet, the growing number of turnovers in his game remains an underlying worry, even for a franchise great.
Concern is merited because the Seahawks are a team equipped to still be playing football deep into the playoffs and maybe even beyond. Provided turnovers by Darnold don’t undermine them at a critical moment in a big game, the way they did against the Los Angeles Rams in Week 11.
What Macdonald needs is efficient play from his first-choice signal-caller, but Darnold continues to veer between the spectacular and the erratic. No. 14 was spectacular when he rallied from Hughes’ pick by throwing a trio of touchdown passes in Atlanta.
Darnold shared those scoring strikes between star wide receivers Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who caught two, and Super Bowl-winning veteran Cooper Kupp. This duo will help Darnold stay productive, but he’ll still need to temper the risks he takes with the ball, particularly under pressure.
At least he can rely on a tough defense and special teams with a flair for the big play to protect the Seahawks from some of his mistakes.
Defense, Special Teams Carrying Seahawks
Macdonald has designed a defense producing truly dominant performances. Like allowing a mere nine points while forcing an eye-popping eight turnovers across the last two games, per Dianna Russini of The Athletic.
The Seahawks are sending pressure from multiple angles and mixing up coverage on the back end. Those things are helping players such as rookie safety Nick Emmanwori to thrive.
Emmanwori, who has seized a multi-faceted role in this scheme, registered a sack, two tackles for loss and snatched an interception. He also blocked a field goal as part of a dynamic effort by Seattle’s special teams.
That effort included wideout Rashid Shaheed returning the opening kickoff of the second half 100 yards for a touchdown as part of a breakout game.
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This isn’t the first time the Seahawks have put up points in the return game, during what’s been an exceptional campaign for those representing the team in football’s third phase.
Big plays on special teams and an opportunistic defense have given Darnold a reprieve against weaker opponents, but he won’t be able to count on the same level of help in the postseason.
Seahawks HC Makes Sam Darnold Statement After Another Turnover