Sam Darnold’s Patriots Problem: Can He Finally Flip the Script in Super Bowl 60?
If there’s one thing every NFL quarterback has to master, it’s the ability to forget. Forget the last play, forget the last pick, forget the last game.
Sam Darnold? He might just be the league’s gold standard in short memory.
And he’ll need every bit of that selective amnesia heading into Super Bowl 60, where he’ll face a familiar foe that’s haunted him since his rookie year: the New England Patriots.
For Darnold, the Patriots have been more than just another AFC opponent. They’ve been a recurring nightmare - a team that’s consistently brought out the worst in him. From his infamous “seeing ghosts” moment to a string of lopsided losses, Darnold’s history against New England is well-documented and, frankly, brutal.
But here’s the twist: this isn’t the same Sam Darnold. Not anymore.
From Minnesota to Seattle, Darnold has looked like a different quarterback over the last two seasons - more poised, more confident, and finally living up to the potential that made him a top-three pick back in 2018. And now, standing on the doorstep of the biggest game of his career, he’s got a shot to exorcise some demons in the most dramatic fashion possible.
Let’s take a closer look at Darnold’s rocky road against the Patriots - and why this time might just be different.
Darnold vs. the Patriots: A History of Struggles
Career Record vs. Patriots: 0-4
Completion Rate: 52.0% (66-of-127)
Passing Yards: 691
Touchdowns: 1
Interceptions: 9
Passer Rating: 41.2
There’s no sugarcoating it - Darnold’s numbers against New England are rough. Four starts, four losses, and a passer rating that barely cracks 40. He’s thrown nine picks and just one touchdown in those games, and each matchup has ended in a double-digit defeat.
Let’s rewind through each of those games:
Dec. 30, 2018 - Patriots 38, Jets 3
Darnold’s rookie season ended with a thud in Foxborough. The Jets were already limping to the finish line, and the Patriots showed no mercy.
Tom Brady tossed four touchdowns, while Darnold managed 167 passing yards on 16-of-28 passing. He didn’t throw a pick, but he did lose a fumble, and the Jets’ offense never sniffed the end zone.
Hours later, head coach Todd Bowles was out. The Darnold era in New York was off to a rocky start.
Oct. 21, 2019 - Patriots 33, Jets 0
This one lives in NFL lore - the infamous “seeing ghosts” game.
On Monday Night Football, Darnold was mic’d up and caught on camera telling coaches he was “seeing ghosts” as Belichick’s defense swarmed him. He finished with just 86 yards on 11-of-32 passing, threw four interceptions, and posted a passer rating of 3.6. Yes, 3.6.
It was a nationally televised meltdown, and the phrase has followed him ever since.
Ahead of Super Bowl 60, Darnold was asked about that moment. He cracked a smile and said, “I almost forgot about it, so thanks.” That’s the short memory talking again - and maybe a little well-earned confidence.
Jan. 3, 2021 - Patriots 28, Jets 14
Darnold’s final game in a Jets uniform came against, who else, the Patriots. This time, it was a more competitive showing - 266 yards, one touchdown, and two picks on 23-of-34 passing. But it still ended in a loss.
The Jets had finally found a bit of rhythm late in the year, winning two straight, but couldn’t keep it going. Three months later, Darnold was traded to Carolina, and the Jets hit reset with Zach Wilson.
Nov. 7, 2021 - Patriots 24, Panthers 6
New team, same result.
Darnold’s lone start against the Patriots outside of a Jets uniform didn’t go any better. He threw three interceptions - including a pick-six to J.C.
Jackson - and Carolina never found the end zone. The Panthers dropped to 4-5 after starting the year 3-0, and Darnold’s job security began to unravel.
A Career Rewritten
Fast forward to today, and Darnold’s story has taken a sharp turn.
After bouncing around the league, he found new life in Minnesota in 2024 and continued that resurgence in Seattle in 2025. Over those two seasons, he’s racked up 28 wins - more than he had in his first six years combined. His career record now stands at 49-41 (.544), a remarkable turnaround from the 21-35 mark he carried into 2024.
Here’s how his journey has unfolded:
| Season | Team | W | L | Win % |
|---|
| 2018 | Jets | 4 | 9 | .308 | | 2019 | Jets | 7 | 6 | .538 |
| 2020 | Jets | 2 | 10| .167 | | 2021 | Panthers | 4 | 7 | .364 |
| 2022 | Panthers | 4 | 2 | .667 | | 2023 | 49ers | 0 | 1 | .000 |
| 2024 | Vikings | 14 | 3 | .824 | | 2025 | Seahawks | 14 | 3 | .824 |
| Career | - | 49 | 41 | .544 |
It’s not just the wins. It’s how he’s winning - with composure, smarter decisions, and a better understanding of how to manage a game.
He’s no longer forcing throws into tight windows or letting one mistake snowball into a disaster. He’s playing like a quarterback who’s been through the fire and come out stronger.
Super Bowl 60: One Last Ghost to Chase Away
And now, here comes the ultimate test - a Super Bowl matchup against the very team that’s haunted him for years.
The Patriots, now led by Mike Vrabel, aren’t the same dynasty Darnold faced in his early years. But the mystique of that uniform - and the weight of his own history - still looms large.
Darnold doesn’t need to be perfect in Super Bowl 60. He just needs to be the version of himself we’ve seen over the last two seasons - the one who’s calm in the pocket, confident in his reads, and unshaken by the moment.
He’s already rewritten the narrative of his career. Now, he’s got one last chapter to author - and a chance to finally flip the script against the Patriots on football’s biggest stage.