Darnold's Masterpiece: QB's Perfect Half Decimates Commanders

Read Time:2 Minute, 42 Second

LANDOVER, M.D.—The Seattle Seahawks arrived at FedEx Field coming off their bye week with a point to prove, and quarterback Sam Darnold delivered the message in the most definitive way possible. In a stunning display of precision and efficiency, Darnold led the Seahawks to a commanding 38-14 rout of the Washington Commanders on Sunday Night Football, announcing Seattle as a clear threat in the NFC.

The victory, Seattle’s third straight, pushed their record to $6-2$ , tying them atop the competitive NFC West. For Darnold, who signed a big contract with the Seahawks in the offseason, the performance was arguably the best of his entire career, putting him squarely in the discussion for the season’s biggest individual awards.

The Perfect Half: Darnold’s Historic Start

The game was effectively over by halftime, thanks to Darnold’s near-flawless performance against a reeling Washington defense.

100% Perfection: Darnold completed all 16 of his pass attempts in the first half for 282 yards and an astounding four touchdowns, leading the Seahawks to a 31-7 halftime lead. His passer rating at the break was a perfect 158.3.
NFL History: He became only the fourth quarterback since 1991 (joining Tom Brady, Lamar Jackson, and Ryan Tannehill) to throw four touchdown passes before throwing his first incomplete pass.
Franchise Record: Darnold extended his streak to 17 consecutive completions into the third quarter, matching a Seahawks franchise record held by Warren Moon.

“Someone at halftime said to me that I hadn’t thrown an incompletion,” Darnold joked after the game. “So I think he’s to blame for throwing an incompletion in the second half.”

Weapons Abound: JSN and Rookie Contributions

Darnold’s accuracy was magnified by the incredible performance of his receiving corps, even without star wide receiver Cooper Kupp in the lineup.

Jaxon Smith-Njigba (JSN): The $23$ -year-old wideout continued his historic tear, catching eight passes for 129 yards. He now leads the NFL in receiving yards ( $948$ ) and tied Steve Largent’s franchise record with his sixth $100$ -yard game of the season.
Rookie Production: Seattle’s next generation stepped up huge. Rookie wide receiver Tory Horton hauled in the first two touchdowns, while practice squad elevation Cody White had a 60-yard catch-and-run touchdown, showing the depth of the Seahawks’ offense.

The offensive dominance allowed the Seahawks to score touchdowns on each of their first four possessions, giving their defense a massive cushion.

Defense Keeps Commanders Grounded

While Darnold put on the show, the defense, coached by Mike Macdonald, was quietly outstanding, holding Washington’s offense in check throughout the night.

The Seahawks recorded four sacks and pressured Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels on nearly $50\%$ of his dropbacks.
Seattle’s defense held Washington to just 290 total yards, marking the sixth time in eight games they have held an opponent under $300$ yards and $20$ or fewer points.

The defensive pressure ultimately led to disaster for Washington, as quarterback Jayden Daniels exited the game in the fourth quarter with a devastating left arm injury while being tackled.

Darnold’s performance—finishing 21-of-24 for $330$ yards, four touchdowns, and a $141.0$ passer rating—was exactly what Seattle needed to solidify its status as a top contender in the NFC.