When Sunday night’s game hit halftime, Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold was unaware that he had not thrown an incompletion in the first 30 minutes of play against the Commanders.
Darnold was 16-of-16 in the first half and said after the 38-14 that “someone at halftime said to me that I hadn’t thrown an incompletion.” Darnold would complete his first pass of the second half to tie Warren Moon’s franchise record for consecutive completions, but then had his first misfire to end the streak.
Darnold joked that the player who told him about the streak was to blame for it ending, but Darnold knew that he was in a groove even if he didn’t quite grasp the magnitude of how well he was playing on the way to going 21-of-24 for 320 yards and four touchdowns.
“You can feel that kind of flow and feel like every single play that we’re calling is for the exact defense that they’re rolling out there,” Darnold said, via a transcript from the team. “Sometimes that flow just happens, especially in football. It feels good when it happens, but you just gotta take advantage of it when you get those looks for those plays that are being called.”
Sunday night jumped out because of the completion streak and the fact that it happened with a depleted receiving corps, but Darnold’s been feeling the flow all season and offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak’s scheme has proven to be a perfect fit for the well-traveled quarterback. That is part of why the Seahawks are looking like a real contender in the NFC as they move into the second half of their season.
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Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels’ season may be over after he suffered a dislocated left elbow late in Sunday night’s blowout loss to the Seahawks.
Daniels will undergo an MRI today to determine the extent of the injury and whether he’ll be able to play again this year, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN. At this point Daniels is considered out indefinitely.
The Commanders were losing 38-7 with 7:29 remaining in the fourth quarter when Daniels was sacked by Seahawks linebacker Drake Thomas. As Thomas took him to the ground, Daniels put his left hand down to break his fall, and his left elbow bent awkwardly.
The injury is devastating for Daniels, who last year started all 17 regular-season games, led the Commanders to the NFC Championship Game, and was the NFL’s best rookie. This year Daniels has already suffered three different injuries, with Sunday night’s seeming to be the most serious by far.
The injury will also lead to much scrutiny on Commanders head coach Dan Quinn, who kept Daniels in a game that was long over by that point.
With the Commanders now 3-6 and facing the prospect of playing the rest of the season without their starting quarterback, a season that started with Super Bowl aspirations now looks lost.
Sam Darnold put together a terrific night, leading the Seahawks to a blowout 38-14 victory over the Commanders on Sunday Night Football.
Darnold completed his first 17 passes on Sunday night, finishing the first half 16-of-16 with four touchdowns. He finished the night 21-of-24 for 330 yards with four TDs and an interception. With Seattle up big in the fourth quarter, Drew Lock came in for mop-up duty to finish the night.
Darnold’s first two touchdowns went to Tory Horton, as the rookie receiver caught a 4-yard touchdown late in the first quarter and a 25-yard TD midway through the second. Darnold’s next touchdown came 11 seconds later after Seattle’s special teams forced a fumble on a kickoff, as the quarterback hit tight end Elijah Arroyo for a 26-yard score.
The quarterback then connected with receiver Cody White for a 60-yard score to go up 28-0.
Darnold’s 17 consecutive completions tied Warren Mon’s franchise record.
Jason Myers hit a 41-yard field goal at the end of the second quarter and AJ Barner put in a 1-yard touchdown in the third on a tush-push play to give Seattle its 38 points.
On the other side, it was a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad night for the Commanders, as the club has likely lost its quarterback for a significant period of time. Still in the blowout contest midway through the fourth quarter, Jayden Daniels suffered an arm injury as he braced his fall while being sacked inside the 5-yard line.
Daniels’ left arm was immediately placed in an air cast before he walked off the field to the locker room for an X-ray.
Daniels, who has already missed three starts this year due to injury, was constantly pressured all night before he was injured, with Seattle sacking him four times. He ended his night 16-of-22 for 153 yards with an interception, plus 10 carries for 51 yards with a touchdown.
While Seattle’s Jaxon Smith-Njigba did not score a touchdown on Sunday night, he did post eight catches for 129 yards. Smith-Njigba already has six 100-yard games this season, which ties Steve Largent’s franchise record. Smith-Njigba also became the fifth player in the Super Bowl era with at least 75 yards in each of his first eight games of a season, plus he joined Isaac Bruce as the only players 23 or younger with at least 900 receiving yards in their first eight games of a season.
Now at 6-2, the Seahawks will host the division-rival Cardinals next Sunday afternoon.
At 3-6, the Commanders will be at home to play the Lions — but they will have to do so without their starting quarterback.
Washington’s bad night has gotten much, much worse.
Quarterback Jayden Daniels suffered a significant left arm injury midway through the fourth quarter. While the Commanders have not yet announced him as out, he is obviously not going to return to the contest.
On second-and-goal from the Seattle 2-yard line, Daniels didn’t have anything initially and left the pocket to his right. But as he was sacked by linebacker Drake Thomas, he used his left arm to brace his fall. Daniels’ arm was twisted in the process and was turned improperly as he was on the ground after the play was blown dead.
Daniels’ arm was immediately placed in an air cast as he was walked from the field to the locker room for an X-ray.
Chris Rodriguez finished the drive with a touchdown, making the score 38-14, Seahawks. But Washington’s season is now hanging in the balance.
Daniels’ night ended with him going 16-of-22 passing for 153 yards with an interception. He rushed 10 times for 51 yards with a touchdown.
The Seahawks have added to their already massive lead.
Tight end AJ Barner took in a tush-push style QB sneak for a 1-yard touchdown late in the third quarter, making the score 38-7, Seattle.
The touchdown capped a nine-play, 60-yard drive for the first points of the second half.
While quarterback Sam Darnold is no longer perfect — he threw an interception earlier in the third period — he is still pretty close. He’s completed 21-of-24 passes for 330 yards with four touchdowns and an interception.
At the end of the third quarter, Seattle is still averaging 9.5 yards per play.
On the injury front, Washington cornerback Marshon Lattimore has been ruled out with a knee injury. He had to exit the contest early in the second half. He was initially announced as questionable but downgraded a short time later.
The Seahawks will have to play the rest of Sunday’s game against the Commanders without their defensive signal-caller.
Linebacker Ernest Jones has been ruled out of the contest with a knee injury.
Jones came off the field late in the second quarter after having his right leg rolled up on. He was shown on the NBC broadcast heading back to the locker room from the sideline.
Jones recorded six total tackles on Sunday night before exiting the contest.
Drake Thomas has taken over as the defensive signal-caller, with Tyrice Knight also entering the game at linebacker.
Seattle leads 31-7 early in the third quarter.
Sam Darnold is putting on a show on Sunday night.
The Seahawks’ quarterback threw four touchdowns without an incompletion in the first half, leading Seattle to a dominant 31-7 lead at halftime.
Darnold threw a touchdown to cap each of Seattle’s first four possessions — a 4-yard strike to Tory Horton, a 25-yard pass to Tory Horton, a 26-yard pass to Elijah Arroyo, and a 60-yard pass to Cody White.
Jason Myers hit a 41-yard field goal at the end of the second quarter to give Seattle 31 points.
The quarterback started the game 16-of-16 for yards with his four TDs — good for a perfect 158.3 passer rating. Darnold had never completed even 15 consecutive passes in a game before Sunday night, according to the NBC broadcast.
Jaxon Smith-Njigba led the team with seven catches for 119 yards.
Seattle also got dominant play from its defense and special teams for much of the half. Safety Ty Okada made an outstanding interception off Jayden Daniels to set up the team’s second touchdown. Then a forced fumble on the kickoff allowed the Seahawks to score two TDs in 11 seconds with Darnold’s 26-yard scoring strike to Arroyo.
The Commanders didn’t get anything going offensively until late in the second quarter, when Daniels put Washington on the board with a 1-yard score with just 53 seconds on the clock. He finished the first half 7-of-11 for 64 yards with a pick. He also has the team lead with 37 rushing yards on seven carries with a TD.
Seattle is averaging a whopping 12.2 yards per play, totaling 330 yards in the first half. The Seahawks have 15 first downs and are 5-of-5 on third down.
On the other hand, Washington has nine first downs, 140 total yards, and is 2-of-6 on third down. The club is averaging 5.0 yards per play.
Seattle will receive the second-half kickoff.
The Commanders are quickly unraveling against the Seahawks on Sunday night.
Seattle has scored two touchdowns in 11 seconds to take a 21-0 lead midway through the second quarter.
First, Jayden Daniels threw his second interception of the season and Sam Darnold connected with receiver Tory Horton for the duo’s second touchdown of the night.
Seahawks safety Ty Okada recorded his first career interception early in the second quarter, making an outstanding interception along the sideline. Washington quarterback Jayden Daniels was heavily pressured and may have been trying to throw the ball away. But Okada was able to leap up, pick the ball off, and tap two toes in bounds before his elbow hit out of bounds for the takeaway.
Horton capped the ensuing seven-play, 60-yard drive with a 25-yard touchdown reception deep down the right side. Horton was wide open on the play.
Then, Washington returner Jaylin Lane — in for the injured Luke McCaffrey — fumbled the ensuing kickoff, with Seattle recovering it deep in Washington territory.
Darnold took advantage of the opportunity with one play, hitting tight end Elijah Arroyo with a 26-yard touchdown to put Seattle up by three touchdowns.
Darnold has started the game 10-of-10 for 142 yards with three touchdowns — good for a perfect 158.3 passer rating.
Washington needs to get things going on offense in a hurry. But on defense, Commanders cornerback Trey Amos is questionable to return with a hip injury.
For Seattle, cornerback Josh Jobe is being evaluated for a concussion.
Seattle has gotten on the board first in Sunday night’s matchup with Washington.
Quarterback Sam Darnold tossed his 13th touchdown of the season, giving the Seahawks a 7-0 lead.
Darnold’s 4-yard touchdown to rookie Tory Horton capped a 10-play, 90-yard drive that took 8:07 off the clock.
Darnold has started the game 6-of-6 for 67 yards. Jaxon Smith-Njigba caught two passes for 27 yards on the opening possession and also took an 11-yard carry.
Kenneth Walker also had five carries for 26 yards.
The Seahawks were able to overcome first-and-25 after a chop block to keep the chains moving and get down the field.
For the Commanders, returner Luke McCaffrey was shaken up on the opening kickoff. He was initially declared questionable with a shoulder injury but has now been downgraded to out.
The Seahawks are officially without one of their key offensive players for Sunday night’s game against the Commanders.
Cooper Kupp is inactive for the contest after he was listed as questionable.
Kupp was limited in practice on Thursday, having suffered a hamstring injury. He did not practice on Friday.
Kupp has recorded 24 catches for 293 yards with one touchdown in seven games this season.
On the other side, left tackle Laremy Tunsil and defensive tackle Johnny Newton are both active.
The rest of Seattle’s inactives are cornerback Derion Kendrick, quarterback Jalen Milroe , receiver Jake Bobo, linebacker Jared Ivey, offensive lineman Mason Richman, and receiver Dareke Young.
For Washington, Terry McLaurin, tight end Colson Yankoff, cornerback Noah Igbinoghene, quarterback Josh Johnson, linebacker Kain Medrano, offensive tackle Trent Scott, and offensive tackle George Fant are inactive.
