Neither team scored in the final quarter, as the Seahawks stopped the Rams on fourth-and-4 at Seattle’s 6-yard line with just under five minutes remaining. Darnold led the Seahawks on an 11-play drive, draining 4:29 of the clock and preventing the Rams from going on a late miracle drive.
Darnold credited the support he’s received up and down the roster as the reason he’s been able to thrive with the Seahawks.
“It’s great. I feel that support. Not just with their words, but the way everyone treats each other in the building,” Darnold said. “I’m happy to be a part of this team, this group and this coaching staff, I’m really happy to be here. I’m happy to be in this position. I’m just going to continue to do my best to put this team in positions to win football games.”
Darnold’s right-hand man throughout the game, as he has been most of the season, was Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who finished the game with 10 catches for 153 yards and his first TD of the night. The NFL’s leading rusher and Darnold have developed a tight bond in their first season together, with each elevating their respective games.
“The work Sam puts in on and off the field, in the film room, knowing what to expect, knowing how to get open and get the ball and change the game, honestly, I’ve got to give him a lot of credit,” Smith-Njigba told NFL Network’s Stacey Dales. “I just want to make it easy for him and be there for him, be open, be open and make it as easy as possible. It’s been a great first year.”
The often questionable Darnold entered this postseason with a reputation as a journeyman on his fifth team in eight seasons, and his first playoff game ended in a nine-sack loss to the Rams last season. As the guy the Jets and Panthers both unceremoniously let go. As, at most, the fourth-best quarterback in the 2018 NFL Draft class, with Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson winning MVP awards and Baker Mayfield leading two different franchises to playoff victories.
Now Darnold has a chance to become the first QB from that class to win a Super Bowl. He actually played the game two years ago as a backup for the 49ers, but Darnold can win it as Seattle’s starter – and his focus is entirely on his team, not on his fellow QBs in the league.
“It’s unbelievable,” Darnold said. “Obviously they’re great players, but it’s more about the team. Just the hard work we’ve put in this season.”
Darnold answered plenty of questions along the way this season by leading the Seattle Seahawks to a 14-3 record and earning the top seed in the NFC even while leading the NFL in turnovers this season.
Six of his interceptions came against the Rams. Darnold threw four interceptions in the loss in Week 11. In the Week 16 win against them in Seattle, Darnold had two more. On Sunday there is zero picking and zero feeling. Darnold has twice thrown for more yards than he did Sunday in his career, including a five-TD game against the Falcons. But no game has meant more to Darnold’s career than Sunday’s win.
Now with two impressive playoff victories, Darnold has the third-highest passer rating (122.4) in a single postseason Super Bowl, trailing only Matt Ryan in 2016 (132.6) and Patrick Mahomes in 2019 (131.5).
“I’ll tell you, I’m not a quarterback expert,” Macdonald joked, “but there’s definitely some dynamic quarterback going on in that play after 14.”
Darnold’s support doesn’t just come from his offensive linemates. After Darnold’s four-INT game earlier this season, Seahawks linebacker Ernest Jones vociferously defended Darnold and offered some choice words for anyone who was doubting him back then. And now?
“Everything I said, (I) stood by it,” Jones said. “Sam’s a baller, like I said, man. Doubt Sam if you want. Sam’s going to show up every time. That’s what we’ve known, and that’s why I stood up for him tonight, and I’d do it again.”
Seahawks defensive lineman Leonard Williams, who worked alongside Darnold during those dark days with the Jets, had nothing but flowers for his quarterback, citing Darnold as a model for Seattle’s ability to overcome adversity.
“His resilience, his composure, his leadership. He’s overcome a lot,” Williams said. “Still somehow has doubters and once again he’s proven the doubters wrong.”
Now, Darnold is one win away from a career-defining victory. That it comes against the Patriots is no small irony. After all, he’s 0-4 against them in his career, all hits and in his Jets days, throwing for one TD and nine interceptions.
In a four-INT game against the Patriots in, Darnold was seen on camera that night saying he was “seeing ghosts.” Asked about that game Sunday, Darnold said, “I almost forgot about it, so thank you.”
And after his performance in the NFC Championship game, almost everyone else has too.