If you're searching for some confidence or optimism after the Seattle Seahawks' loss to the Los Angeles Rams in Week 11, listen to the source: the players. There is no shortage of optimism coming out of Seattle's locker room, from the defensive side of the ball to the offensive side. Listen to Cooper Kupp, who was going up against the team he won a Super Bowl with four years ago.
Kupp was likely hoping for a performance better than the one he left LA with — only three catches for 23 yards, while his quarterback, Sam Darnold, spent most of his afternoon scrambling in the backfield and throwing interceptions. Kupp, unfortunately, wasn't all that involved in the passing game, which led to a disappointing return to his former team's digs.
Kupp has never been about his stats, though, and he truly has and remains a team-first guy. This demeanor came out in a post-game media session, where Kupp backed up Darnold and Seattle's offense, expressing optimism about their game going forward. They say the veterans carry all the wisdom — Kupp is precisely that sort of veteran.
Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Cooper Kupp urges Sam Darnold to 'keep firing'
We could spend the entire week talking about Darnold's F game because that's the grade it deserves, and those conversations are bound to happen on most sports talk shows from here until next Sunday. That isn't the route Ernest Jones IV took, though, nor is it the one Kupp chose.
Kupp was quick to come to Darnold's defense after the 21-19 loss, a game in which, had Darnold played better, the Seahawks could have won. While Kupp hasn't been the focal point of Seattle's otherwise efficient offense this season, he has been productive when called upon, and he knows just how dangerous this offense is, and still can be.
Speaking to reporters after the game, Kupp praised his quarterback's resiliency in the face of opposition and also expressed confidence in the Seahawks' offense with seven games remaining on the schedule.
“That’s not an easy thing to do,” Kupp said. “You just continue to battle, continue to be the same guy. I’ve said it before, he’s steady, and the trials he’s been through, they’re not for no reason. There’s purpose and he’s learned lessons and knows that there’s waves … there’s going to be plays you want back but all you can do is keep coming back, keep firing.
“He did a phenomenal job continuing to be that steady presence for us and continuing to lead us. I know he’s going to be pissed about some of the decisions and things like that or whatever it is, but man, to be able to come back and be able to play the way he did there at the end of the game is really impressive.”
Kupp couldn't have said it better, but his choice of words may make some Seahawks fans squimish: keep firing. Seattle has risen to dominance this season, much because of Darnold's ability to sling the football downfield, and for the most part, effectively and efficiently.
It is only within the last four games (seven in his previous four, to be exact) that his interceptions have begun to surface to more noticeability.
Still, the Seahawks' best chance at winning games and making a deep playoff run is in the hands of Darnold, and he must keep firing; otherwise, the threat of Seattle's offense will dwindle, as will the Seahawks' hopes of a championship. Kupp is no fish, but a veteran with winning experience. If he's remaining confident, maybe Seahawks fans should, too.
The Seahawks are still one of the NFL's most lethal offenses; one game shouldn't have the power to disregard that. The challenge Seattle faces now is coming back next weekend with a proper bounce-back game, and it's likely Kupp is hoping to be more involved, unselfishly, of course.