Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald is standing behind Sam Darnold as Seattle’s starting quarterback, despite a brutal stretch of turnovers that has dropped the defending Super Bowl champions to 3-3.
Sam Darnold (Credits: ESPN)
Darnold has thrown seven interceptions in four games since returning from a glute/hip injury suffered in the season opener — matching his touchdown total in that span — and he entered Week 6 ranked 29th in Total QBR (34.4). Across five starts this season, he has 1,033 yards, seven touchdowns and a league-leading seven picks.
The Broncos Loss Stung
Thursday’s 17-14 overtime loss to the Denver Broncos was the latest gut punch. Darnold threw two interceptions: one in game-tying field goal range late in regulation, and another in overtime that set up Denver’s 8-yard game-winning field goal drive. Seattle fell 2.5 games behind the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC West.
“It’s B.S. for me to keep turning the ball over,” Darnold said afterward. “It’s not fair to our defense, it’s not fair to our special teams, it’s not fair, really, to our entire team. So I’ve got to be better that way.”
Macdonald didn’t sugarcoat it either: “It wasn’t a performance that was good enough to win the game. We have to take care of the ball. Sam knows that. He told the team that.”
No QB Change Coming
Despite growing fan calls to turn to backup Drew Lock — who won both of his appearances this season, including the Patriots win when Darnold got hurt — Macdonald shut down the speculation. Asked by Seattle Sports’ Mike Salk whether a change was under consideration, Macdonald said simply: “No. No.”
“I think we have a lot of faith in Sam,” Macdonald added in his Friday press conference. “Sam’s played great football for us. He definitely is part of the solution, rather than the opposite.” He also acknowledged the coaching staff needs to help Darnold play better football, sharing responsibility for the offensive struggles.
Seattle now gets extra time to regroup before hosting the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday night in Week 7. Darnold says the fix starts with the obvious: take care of the ball.
Also Read: Run Game and Defense Power Broncos to 17-14 Overtime Win Against Seahawks on Thursday Night Football | Cardinals ‘Do What’s Right,’ Rule Out Rookie RB Jeremiyah Love (Ankle) vs. Rams
Source: ESPN — read the full story there.