With a trip to the NFC Championship on the line, all eyes are on Saturday night’s clash between the San Francisco 49ers and the Seattle Seahawks-and one name is stirring plenty of conversation: Sam Darnold.
The Seahawks may be favored heading into this matchup, but there’s still a cloud of uncertainty hanging over their quarterback. ESPN’s Stephen A.
Smith didn’t mince words when he voiced his skepticism about Darnold’s ability to rise to the moment. And honestly, it’s a fair concern.
Darnold’s talent has never really been the issue-it’s the inconsistency, especially under the playoff spotlight, that keeps people holding their breath.
“You know he can ball,” Smith said. “But he can also hurt you and lose a football game for you.”
That’s the Darnold paradox in a nutshell. He’s got the arm, the tools, the flashes of brilliance.
But he also has a history of letting the moment get too big, and that history isn’t ancient. Just last postseason, Darnold's outing with the Vikings unraveled under pressure, a performance that still lingers in the minds of fans and analysts alike.
And this 49ers defense? They’re not the group you want to be second-guessing against.
San Francisco’s pass rush is built to create chaos, and they specialize in turning hesitant quarterbacks into turnover machines. Smith pointed out that Darnold “has a tendency to get rattled,” and if he starts seeing ghosts again-something Jets fans know all too well-San Francisco will be quick to capitalize.
Still, in classic fashion, Smith isn’t completely writing off Seattle. He’s riding with the Seahawks to get the win, but not without caveats.
The key, he says, is keeping Darnold on a tight leash. Seattle’s recent shift toward a more conservative offensive approach could be the blueprint-minimize Darnold’s exposure, lean on the run game, and let the defense do the heavy lifting.
And that defense, led by Mike Macdonald, has been elite. Fast, physical, and opportunistic, they’ve carried Seattle through rough patches before. If they can pressure Brock Purdy, contain Christian McCaffrey, and force a turnover or two, they’ll give Darnold the breathing room he needs-not to win the game for them, but to avoid losing it.
“I think the Seahawks win this game in spite of the mistakes Sam Darnold is likely to make,” Smith said. It’s a backhanded vote of confidence, but it might be all Darnold needs. For Seattle fans, the hope is simple: that this time, the ghosts stay buried, and the moment doesn’t get the best of their quarterback.