If fans needed any further proof that the Seattle Seahawks are capable of winning the Super Bowl this season, they need look no further than Week 18 against the San Francisco 49ers. Seattle's defense was overpowering, and quarterback Sam Darnold avoided the mistakes that had haunted him previously.
Seattle won the game 13-3, but the game wasn't really that close. Oddly, Seahawks kicker Jason Myers missed two field goals, one from just 27 yards, or otherwise Seattle would have won by more than two touchdowns. While the defense was the key reason Seattle is now the top seed in the NFC in the postseason, Darnold proved he can win big games, too.
He didn't throw a touchdown pass, and he didn't have an interception. Instead, he played with poise, took a few chances that would have given the 49ers hope, and was the game manager that head coach Mike Macdonald hoped he could be.
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold in full control in Week 18
He did miss some incentives for the season. He couldn't get to 28 touchdown passes, and his quarterback rating won't be 100 (each would have given him an extra $500,000), but he won't care. He is leading a dangerous team, and he is playing as if he won't let the team down.
After defeating San Francisco, Seattle will have a bye in the first round of the playoffs. The Seahawks will have home-field advantage as long as it lasts in the playoffs up until the Super Bowl, and there should be no doubt that the team can beat anyone.
Early in Sam Darnold's career, he admitted to "seeing ghosts" as his New York Jets lost to the New England Patriots. He will likely be dogged by that for many years, but the number of people disrespecting him will diminish. He's proving he can stay under control.
Darnold finished 20 of 26 for 198 yards, and he was sacked twice. In fact, his only real mistake of the game came when he took a sack on Seattle's first drive, and after the Seattle Seahawks had the ball 1st-and-goal at the 1-yard line.
As for the San Francisco 49ers offense, Seattle limited them to just 173 total yards, nine first downs, and two for nine on third downs. Impressive is not a strong enough word for Mike Macdonald's defense.