Sam Darnold’s risky season could decide seattle Seahawks’ NFC fate

The Seattle Seahawks have positioned themselves as one of the NFC’s most dangerous teams, with a path to the conference’s top seed running through a Week 18 matchup against the San Francisco 49ers.

Yet beneath the wins sits a problem that refuses to fade. Ball security. Through 17 games, Seattle has given the ball away 28 times, with 26 of those miscues coming from the offense.

That figure is tied for the highest offensive turnover total in the league. Only the Minnesota Vikings, who have 29 overall giveaways, have been worse, and they are already out of the playoff picture.

At the center of the issue is quarterback Sam Darnold. In his first season leading Seattle, he has delivered stretches of strong play while also committing mistakes at an alarming rate.

Darnold ranks third in the NFL with 14 interceptions and has put the ball on the ground six times, giving him 20 total turnovers, the most by any player this season.

Not every mistake has been solely on him, but the cumulative effect has kept opponents within reach and raised concerns about how that trend will translate to postseason football.

Darnold has acknowledged the standard required at this stage of the season.

“Turnovers, they’re unacceptable no matter how they come,” he said. “This team can continue to get better. That includes me personally.”

With Seattle poised for a potential deep playoff run, the margin for error is shrinking rapidly.

Turnover history and high-stakes context raise the pressure

A closer look at Darnold’s season shows a mix of responsibility and misfortune. In the opener against San Francisco, a rush by Nick Bosa drove right tackle Abraham Lucas backward into Darnold, resulting in a fumble created more by circumstance than decision-making.

Several interceptions have also come off deflected passes, including a costly play late in a Week 5 loss to Tampa Bay when a throw glanced off a defender’s helmet and set up the Buccaneers’ winning field goal in a 38-35 finish.

Still, tipped balls have followed Darnold with unusual frequency despite his 6-foot-3 frame and conventional over-the-top delivery. That pattern, combined with loose pocket control, is the kind of detail playoff defenses are built to exploit. Seattle cannot assume generosity once the postseason begins.

There is also history weighing on this moment. Last season in Minnesota, Darnold started a Week 18 game against Detroit with a division title and the NFC’s top seed on the line.

He completed 18 of 41 passes for 166 yards in a 31-9 defeat, then struggled again in a playoff loss to the Rams. Now facing similar stakes, Darnold says the lesson is perspective.

“At the end of the day, it’s just football,” he said, emphasizing preparation over pressure.

For Seattle, the outcome will have a lasting impact beyond one night. A cleaner performance could unlock a Super Bowl run. More mistakes could end it just as quickly.