The Seattle Seahawks are riding high on their 38-37 “Thursday Night Football” overtime win over the Los Angeles Rams, as they should, but on Friday, December 19, the Hawks got some bad news. Of course, it shouldn’t overshadow that with the win over the Rams, the Seahawks are now 12-3 and a full game ahead of both the Rams and San Francisco 49ers in the NFC West, comfortably topping that division.
The news also shouldn’t take away from how the win over the Rams clearly boosted the team’s probability of the No. 1 NFC seed, with a bye and home-field advantage. Most importantly, of course, the win clinched quarterback San Darnold and the Seattle Seahawks a spot in the playoffs going into January, according to NFL research.
“Our story has stayed the same since day one with Sam,” Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald said after the win, talking about quarterback Darnold. “It’s everybody else that has different stories. This is a guy that we watch every day. Same guy every day no matter the circumstance. He’s an ultimate competitor.”
He added, “He’s a phenomenal leader. Just keeps fighting and keeps plugging away. We weren’t worried one bit. So that’s Sam. That’s what Sam does. He’s him. He’s a competitor. He does the same thing every day. You know, we have his back and he knows that, so just keep going and do your thing and go figure out a way to win a game.”
Seattle Seahawks Player in Trouble With the NFL
But, one Seahawks player isn’t too happy today. Seahawks linebacker Derick Hall has been suspended for a game following his actions in Thursday’s game against the Rams.
According to Adam Schefter of ESPN, “Per the NFL: Seahawks linebacker Derick Hall has been suspended for one game for an act of unnecessary roughness and unsportsmanlike conduct during Thursday’s game against the Los Angeles Rams.”
He added, “During the first quarter, Hall unnecessarily stepped on the leg of Rams guard Kevin Dotson at the end of a play while he was on the ground. Hall will be eligible to return to the Seahawks’ active roster on Monday, Dec. 29, following the team’s Dec. 28 game against the Carolina Panthers.”
So, it’s a tough blow to the Seahawks to lose Hall for a game, but they’re already in the playoffs, so it is coming at decent timing. He’ll obviously be back in time for the postseason, which is what matters the most.
Sam Darnold on Seattle Seahawks Win
Darnold closed out the game 22-of-34 passing, the two picks and threw two two-point conversions. But, he’s not satisfied.
“I didn’t think we played our best football,” Darnold said after the game. “I certainly didn’t play my best football. We’ve got a lot of work to do there, but at the end of the day we won. That team in that locker room, all the guys in that locker room, we work so hard for moments like this.”
Darnold added, “Obviously, we’ve got a lot of work to do, and we’re going to continue to push and get better, but those guys in the locker room deserve a win like that against a really, really good team.”
Seahawks Player Handed NFL Punishment Hours After Win Over Rams