I’m not foolish enough to say the Seattle Seahawks can’t win a Super Bowl with Sam Darnold at quarterback... because they just won a Super Bowl with Sam Darnold at quarterback. Plus, they're still one of the NFC's best teams, even at 4-3. They had a chance to win every game they've played.
That said, the Darnold I watched in back-to-back games against the 49ers and Broncos did not look like a quarterback capable of winning the Super Bowl. He looked like the player I remember as once being haunted by ghosts... whose existence have yet to be confirmed.
The same player Minnesota let walk after going 14-3. Just a couple weeks ago, people were actually wondering if the Seahawks should start Drew Lock.
That's the conundrum with this Seahawks team. When
things are going well, Darnold's shortcomings can be masked. Heck, he can even be good at times. But when the burden is placed on him to go win a game, good luck.
To their credit, the Seahawks aren't fooling themselves about who their Super-Bowl winning quarterback is. Rather than waiting for him to become something he's never been, they're doubling down on the formula that worked last year: play great defense, run the ball and hit a few big plays to Jaxon Smith-Njigba. That's what Tuesday's trade for Quenton Nelson was all about, and why FTW's Cory Woodroof graded the deal so favorably.
Seattle gave up a 2027 third-round draft pick and 2028 fifth-rounder for the three-time first-team all-pro, a small price to pay to keep their Super Bowl window open another year. This trade will allow Seattle to run the ball more effectively in the absence of Jadarian Price and Zach Charbonnet -- and even more effectively once those injured running backs return. Nelson will also help keep Darnold clean when he does have to pass.
COLTS FIRE SALE: George Kittle celebrates DeForest Buckner's return
We got a glimpse of what that might look like in Sunday's win over the Chiefs, when Seattle ran the ball 41 times to just 28 passes, a ratio that more accurately reflected last season's formula -- when they ranked fourth in rush attempts and 29th in pass attempts -- than previous games. Kansas City represented the other side of that dynamic, when an offensive line can't open those holes for the running back. The Super Bowl-MVP running back Seattle let walk, Kenneth Walker III, was held to just 36 yards, and even Patrick Mahomes struggled to make something happen (shoutout Seattle's defense).
It was a perfect game to remind the Seahawks what was needed to get back to the top of the mountain, and so they made the move for Nelson. That type of self-awareness is why I wouldn't doubt Seattle's ability to make another run -- even with Darnold at quarterback. They know who they are, and they lean into it.
Quick hits: More Colts deals ... Malik Beasley guilty plea ... and more
- Trade grades for the 49ers and Colts in their deal for DeForest Buckner.
- One player the Colts may not move is Jonathan Taylor, according to one insider. Regardless, the Jets are somehow the biggest winners in this fire sale.
- The Chiefs might be on the lookout for a WR and Cory Woodroof has 5 trade candidates they should consider before the deadline.
- Bryan Kalbrosky answers what's next for Malik Beasley after his guilty plea in the sports betting case.
- Nick Sirianni is defending his decision to play Saquon Barkley after another injury.
- Fans couldn't believe Dan Orlovsky after he admitted not understanding the meaning of percent.
- Madison Beer couldn't help but react after a fan shouted "fix the Chargers" at her on stage.
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This article originally appeared on For The Win: The Seahawks are Sam Darnold-proofing another Super Bowl caliber roster
