Did That Really Happen?

So, was I dreaming last night, or did that actually happen? The Seattle Seahawks and the Los Angeles Rams played in possibly the greatest Thursday Night Football game ever played and possibly the most important Thursday Night Football game ever played. In my opinion, it was the game of the NFL season, and you can absolutely make an argument that it was the game of the decade.

Both teams came into this matchup at 11–3. This was a game about controlling your destiny, not just for the NFC West division lead, but for the number one seed in the NFC. Win this game, and you control whether the Super Bowl runs through your stadium.

For most of the night, it looked like the Rams had control.

The Rams were up 30–14 with nine minutes to go, and once again, Sam Darnold looked terrible in a big spot against the Rams. This would have been the third straight time it happened.

Last year in the playoffs with the Vikings, he was awful against the Rams. Earlier this season, the Seahawks lost a close 21–19 game despite Darnold throwing four interceptions. On Thursday night, the situation remained unchanged. Two awful interceptions. One of them came deep in Rams territory in a goal-to-go situation.

As a Seahawks fan, this felt like the worst-case scenario all over again. Losing to the Rams. Losing control of the number one seed. Going into the playoffs, I did not trust this team’s ability to make a deep run despite how talented they are, because it felt like Sam Darnold was holding them back yet again.

And then, everything changed.

Rashid Shaheed returned a punt for a touchdown. The defense forced a three-and-out. Then Sam Darnold drove the Seahawks down the field and threw an absolute dot to A.J. Barner.

What followed was the wildest two-point conversion I’ve ever seen. Zach Charbonnet casually picked up the ball after what looked like a dead play and crossed the goal line. Just like that, it was 30–30, and we were heading to overtime.

In overtime, Puka Nacua and Matthew Stafford were going off as the Rams scored a touchdown and took a 37–30 lead. It felt like it was over.

But then, in the biggest spot of his career, Sam Darnold delivered. He drove the Seahawks down the field and threw a touchdown pass to Jaxon Smith-Njigba to make it a one-point game.

And then came the decision. Mike Macdonald deserves credit. Klint Kubiak deserves credit. They trusted Sam Darnold to throw a game-winning two-point conversion. To Eric Saubert, of all people.

And it worked. The Seattle Seahawks pulled off one of the craziest comebacks I have ever seen, winning the game 38-37.

Now, with two games left in the season, a Seahawks team whose win total was projected at 7.5 going into the season now sits at 12–3, fully controlling their destiny for the NFC’s number one seed, with the Super Bowl potentially running through Lumen Field. We all know how hyped that crowd gets.

As a fan, I genuinely can’t believe it. I’m torn, because that felt like a franchise-altering win. It felt like a culture-changing win.

Even though the defense didn’t play well for much of the game, they stepped up when it mattered most. Despite Sean McVay and Matthew Stafford torching them for nearly 600 yards of total offense and Puka Nacua going for 225 yards and two touchdowns, the Seahawks found a way to win.

Sam Darnold didn’t play well for most of the night. But he finally had a moment. The greatest moment of his NFL career. And just like that, the Seahawks are in the driver’s seat to make the Super Bowl run through Seattle.

However, it's not all perfect for me right now. I’m somewhat conflicted. It feels like we should finally put our faith in Sam Darnold after leading this comeback. But he was still bad for about 50 minutes of that game.

I don’t know if I should trust him more or if I should trust him less. All I know is this Seahawks season has been incredibly special. I’m not sure I’ll ever have a more fun season, because the expectations were nowhere near this high.

I projected them to make the playoffs. I did not think we would be here with two weeks left in the season. And Sam Darnold needed that moment more than anyone.

For years, Sam Darnold has heard it. That in big games, he sees ghosts. That in big moments, he turns back into New York Jets Sam Darnold.

And even though he looked like that for most of the night, he executed when his team needed him most. When I needed him most to put any real faith in the Seahawks heading into the postseason.

If the Seahawks win their next two games, Sam Darnold will be the author of back-to-back 14-win seasons for two different franchises after being labeled a bust and a journeyman for the start of his career.

But to be fair, I’ve got to see him play like this again in a big spot to fully trust him in a big spot, and he should get that chance soon.

Everything is lining up for the same scenario as he faced last year. If the Seahawks and 49ers keep winning, Week 18 will almost assuredly be a Sunday Night Football game in San Francisco, with the number one seed in the NFC and the NFC West title on the line.

Last year, with the Vikings, Darnold went into Week 18 against the Lions with the same stakes and got dominated.

This year is a chance to exorcise even more demons.

Because it all comes down to him. If Sam Darnold can show up in the big moments, the Seattle Seahawks can win the Super Bowl this season.

If the defense stays in elite form, if Jaxon Smith-Njigba continues to be one of the best receivers in the NFL, and if this team goes anywhere, it will be because Sam Darnold consistently plays like he did in the final minutes of that game.

Go Seahawks.

Sam, we need that, and thank you for leading us to our first playoff appearance since 2022, but I've got bigger ambitions on my mind.

Let's go!