Yes, that was a frustrating fourth quarter. The Seahawks had complete control of the game, dominated the Cardinals for more than three quarters and yet somehow found a way to nearly lose.
However, I also think it’s important to focus on what should be the main takeaway — the performance of Sam Darnold.
The quarterback had a brilliant game — showing great touch, accuracy, poise, control and execution in the key moments. It was almost worth going through all of the unnecessary tension and stress to see Darnold just say to the team, ‘don’t worry — I’ve got this‘ — before delivering a critical 22-yard pass to Jaxon Smith-Njigba to set-up the game winning kick from Jason Myers.
This is the kind of performance that will instil confidence in team mates, coaches and fans. It’s not that Darnold needed a game like this — but it certainly doesn’t do any harm.
On top of this, kudos to Smith-Njigba for finding a way to make big plays at the end given the Cardinals did a good job keeping him out of the box score for so long. Myers also deserves credit for nailing a high-pressure kick after a critical miss moments earlier.
The fact is the Seahawks were by far the better team and flirted with throwing away all their good work through sloppiness. Riq Woolen penalties, Devon Witherspoon getting beat in coverage, the missed kick, JSN’s hold in the red-zone to nullify Zach Charbonnet’s second touchdown, Ken Walker’s habit of running into negative plays.
However, they didn’t lose. The Rams were in the exact same situation against the Eagles last Sunday — dominant for three quarters then staring at defeat. They lost, after similarly chucking away a winning position.
I’m also going to defend Klint Kubiak because he strangely is getting a decent amount of flak for ‘conservative play-calling’. With 5:44 left in the game and with a seven-point lead, this was Kubiak’s sequence:
1st down — incomplete pass
2nd down — four-yard run
3rd down — 36-yard completed pass
This isn’t conservative that late in the game — it’s pretty aggressive. It’s understandable after that why he called three more runs. They were in scoring position, needed to kill some clock and a sack would’ve pushed them out of field goal range. If Myers makes his kick, it’s a well managed situation and they win more comfortably.
There’s also a decent chance the Head Coach made the call to run the ball in that situation.
Had Kubiak called one or two passes after the 36-yard completion and Darnold was then sacked, people would’ve complained even more.
It’s also worth saying that when they needed a big play-call to win the game, he dialled up the 22-yard completion to JSN. This time Myers made his kick. So rather than criticise Kubiak — I think he should be praised. Seattle had a balanced attack, had 155 rushing yards and if it wasn’t for the flag on JSN or key defenders having a rough fourth quarter — this would’ve felt like a very accomplished game from the offense.
And it’s Kubiak’s offense that Darnold, the star of the day, is excelling in.
