Seahawks fans who jump onto social media after a rough Sam Darnold outing may want to brace themselves.
The reaction was already rolling in before Darnold even threw the interception that was returned for a touchdown in Week 3. Plenty of people were ready to call for Drew Lock, leaning on the fact that Lock had won the first two games of the season. But that kind of quick-hit outrage ignores the bigger picture, and it also ignores who Seattle actually has under center.
Darnold is going to remain the Seahawks’ QB1, no matter how loud the internet gets.
The easy takes tend to come from people who either aren’t watching closely or don’t care much about context. A highlight clip shows the pick, and that becomes the entire story.
It’s the kind of reaction social media was built for. It’s also the kind of reaction that misses what Darnold has become.
He was only inefficient early in his career, back when he was still trying to find his way. He figured things out three seasons ago, and over the last two seasons before 2026, he was excellent. Even now, some people will keep leaning on the old labels - the quarterback who can’t win the big one, the guy who sees ghosts - despite the fact that he won a lot of important games last season.
Week 3 against Washington wasn’t a disaster, either. Yes, Darnold threw an interception he shouldn’t have, and he had another ball hit a Washington player’s helmet and change direction. But he still finished 31 of 45 for 379 yards and four touchdowns, with a quarterback rating of 105.7.
That game wasn’t lost by Darnold. The defense and turnovers were the problem, including a bad fumble by running back Jadarian Price inside Seattle territory.
Darnold has also shown he can take the criticism without making it into a sideshow. He isn’t going to push back against a false narrative, and he’s earned that ability to tune out the noise over years in the league. Some pundits, meanwhile, seem more interested in getting attention than in getting the quarterback right.
Lock deserves credit too. He isn’t going to gripe about being a backup or try to talk his way into the starting job. He understands his role and has been a good teammate.
But if Darnold has a rough one against the Chargers, the Seahawks still aren’t making a quarterback change. Lock’s first two wins don’t alter the reality: Darnold gives Seattle its best shot to win, and he’s already proven it.
In Other News...
Seahawks Fans Suddenly Have A Real Reason To Worry About The Future
New Seahawks owner Vinod Khosla says he has no immediate plans to alter the team or how it operates, which should offer some short-term comfort to a fan base that values stability as much as success. Even so, his latest comments left one important issue hanging in the air: the long-term question of where the franchise will call home once the current lease at Lumen Field runs out in 2032.
Khosla also made clear he is still learning the ropes of running an NFL team, and he suggested his comments about the teams future location could be part of the broader chess match that comes with stadium talks. For Seattle fans, that may not mean an actual move is imminent, but it does mean the next chapter of ownership comes with a topic nobody can quite ignore. [Read more 🡒]
Seahawks Have One Defensive Strength To Trust As Changes Loom
The Seahawks left Week 3 with more questions than answers on a defense that gave up 27 points to Washington and faded in the moments that mattered most. For all the issues in the back end and along the edge, the interior defensive line was one part of the unit that held up, with Leonard Williams, Jarran Reed and Byron Murphy providing at least a measure of stability in the middle.
That matters now because Mike Macdonald has already signaled changes are coming before Week 4, and Seattle needs to sort out which pieces can be trusted as the staff adjusts. The front inside gives the Seahawks a starting point, but the bigger challenge is turning one dependable strength into something the rest of the defense can build around. [Read more 🡒]
Seahawks Still Have A Pass Rush Question Worth Watching
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Matt Uche offers a more complicated profile, with an 11.5-sack peak in 2022 but a quieter stretch since then, and Jadeveon Clowney remains a familiar name now back with the Houston Texans on a $5.5 million contract. For Seattle, the question is not just who can help right away, but who is actually available and realistic enough to pry loose. The Seahawks have options to monitor, but the list also underscores how tricky it can be to find a proven edge rusher without overpaying for uncertainty. [Read more 🡒]