INGLEWOOD, Calif. — As Ernest Jones IV was strolling by Sam Darnold on his technique to his postgame information convention Sunday at SoFi Stadium, the Seattle Seahawks center linebacker supplied the quarterback just a few phrases of encouragement.
Then Jones backed Darnold with ardour and profanity.
“Sam’s been balling,” Jones stated. “If we need to attempt to outline Sam by this sport, Sam’s had us in each f—ing sport. So, for him to sit down there and say, ‘That is my fault,’ no it is not. It was performs that defensively we might have made … alternatives the place we might have gotten higher stops. It is soccer, man. He is our quarterback. We have got his again, and in case you’ve acquired something to say, fairly frankly, f— you.”
Jones’ protection of Darnold got here after the quarterback delivered his worst efficiency of what has in any other case been a superb first season with the Seahawks. In a battle of 7-2 groups that might give the winner sole possession of first place within the NFC West, Darnold threw 4 interceptions and no landing passes in Seattle’s 21-19 loss to the Los Angeles Rams.
“I am unable to flip the ball over as a lot as I did at present,” Darnold stated. “I will be taught from it, watch the tape, develop from it. You have to give credit score to the Rams. Clearly, they seem to be a actually good protection, a extremely good group. However I’ve acquired to be higher, personally.”
The Seahawks entered Week 11 because the NFL’s third-highest scoring group regardless of 16 turnovers (together with 10 by Darnold), which have been tied for second most. They could not survive 4 extra giveaways in opposition to one of many main MVP candidates in Matthew Stafford and a stingy Rams protection — although they nearly did.
Backed up at his personal 1-yard line with one timeout and 1:41 left within the sport, Darnold drove the Seahawks 56 yards to arrange a 61-yard area purpose attempt to win the sport as time expired. However Jason Myers — who had made 4 earlier area targets — wasn’t shut.
Seattle’s protection held Stafford and the Rams to 249 yards and 2-of-11 on third down. The Seahawks gained 414 yards however went 1-of-4 within the purple zone.
“Relating to us being backed up on the 1-yard line, that was simply, ‘Let’s go play ball,'” Darnold stated. “We’re nonetheless on this regardless of the turnovers and all of the issues that occurred previous to that. That is an enormous credit score to our protection, the best way that they performed all day. I simply want I might have performed higher for our protection and simply everybody on the group.
“It stings and it sucks. It ought to suck. I am simply going to proceed to grind and be taught from this one the following couple days.”
Darnold’s Professional Bowl marketing campaign with the Minnesota Vikings final season ended with a loss to the Rams within the wild-card spherical, when Los Angeles’ protection smothered him on their technique to 9 sacks. He entered Week 11 because the NFL’s chief in Whole QBR partially due to how properly he has prevented sacks. He did not take any on Sunday, however his obvious dedication to avoiding them may need labored in opposition to him.
On his fourth interception, he tried a leaping dump-off cross to tight finish Elijah Arroyo whereas attempting to navigate a collapsing pocket.
In response to ESPN Analysis, three of Darnold’s 4 interceptions got here whereas he was below strain.
“They do a very good job of disguising shell and all these issues,” Darnold stated. “I really feel like plenty of defenses do the identical factor. I really feel like their cross rush, their linebackers, their safeties simply all being on the identical web page and enjoying actually good soccer, they do it at a excessive degree, they appear like actually good gamers.
“However once more, these are self-inflicted wounds, turning the ball over like that. Typically, it is simply higher to attempt to throw the ball away and even take a sack when nothing’s there.”
The Seahawks had run the fewest performs of any group this season whereas trailing. They trailed all through on Sunday, although by no means by greater than 11 factors.
Darnold completed 29-of-44 — each season-highs — for 279 yards.
Seattle extensive receiver Cooper Kupp, who caught three passes for 23 yards in his first sport in opposition to his former group, credited Darnold for remaining “regular” regardless of his struggles.
“You possibly can see simply the trials that he is been by way of … they don’t seem to be for no cause,” Kupp stated. “There is a function. He is realized classes, and he is aware of that there is waves and there is ups and there is going to be valleys, there’s going to be performs that you really want again, however all you are able to do is preserve coming again, preserve firing.”
Seattle coach Mike Macdonald stated Darnold put the Seahawks in place to win on the finish.
“I am not shocked. That is who Sam is. He is accomplished it since day one with us. And he is an final competitor, and he is an incredible quarterback — and he is our quarterback. We love him.”
The Seahawks’ loss snapped their 10-game highway successful streak courting again to final season. In response to ESPN Analytics, their possibilities of successful the NFC West dropped from 33% to 19%, although they’ve one other sport in opposition to the Rams in Week 16 at Seattle’s Lumen Discipline.
The Seahawks, now 7-3, will play the Tennessee Titans (1-9) in Nashville subsequent Sunday.
“We will recoup,” Macdonald stated. “We will go get again and assault the heck out of this week identical to we might if the sector purpose went in. Inspired by our group; clearly, very upset we misplaced. We would like to have the ability to win a sport like that given all of the circumstances, however we did not. But it surely’s an extended season, and we’ll transfer ahead.”