Sam Darnold’s Redemption Arc Faces Its Defining Chapter Tonight
Sam Darnold has strung together two solid seasons as a starting quarterback - a stretch that’s given the Seahawks stability at a position that’s been anything but in recent years. He’s played efficient football, avoided major injury, and helped guide Seattle into the thick of the NFC playoff picture. But there’s still one glaring question hanging over his resurgence: Can he deliver when the lights are brightest?
That’s been the sticking point. And it’s not just a narrative - it’s backed by the tape.
Let’s rewind to last season. Week 18.
The Vikings were in the driver’s seat with a shot at the No. 1 seed. All they had to do was handle business against the Lions in Detroit.
But Darnold couldn’t get it done. His passes lacked conviction, floated on him, and too often missed their targets.
The offense sputtered, and the opportunity slipped away.
Then came the wild-card round against the Rams. That one wasn’t just on Darnold - it was a full-system breakdown.
But even going into that game, there were rumblings around the building: if the Vikings made it through and Darnold struggled again, Daniel Jones might be the guy to start in the divisional round. That tells you how much confidence had eroded in crunch time.
Fast forward to this season. The Vikings moved on from both quarterbacks.
Darnold landed in Seattle, and to his credit, he’s played well. He’s looked comfortable in the system, taken care of the football for the most part, and helped keep the Seahawks in the playoff hunt.
But the big-game bug still lingers.
Case in point: the first matchup against the Rams this season. Darnold threw four picks.
Four. And yet, somehow, the Seahawks were still in it until the final minutes.
That tells you how good the rest of the roster is - and how much more dangerous this team could be if Darnold cleans it up when it matters most.
Which brings us to tonight.
This isn’t just another December game. This one has weight.
The winner grabs the inside track to the NFC West crown and the No. 1 seed. It’s the kind of game that defines seasons - and quarterbacks.
And for Darnold, it’s another chance to flip the script.
Because if the 49ers keep doing what they’ve been doing, this race is going to come down to the wire. We could be looking at another Week 18 showdown, winner-take-all, with Darnold under center and everything on the line.
He’s been here before. Now it’s time to see if he’s learned from it.