That's kind of ignoring the fact that Darnold doesn't need anyone to create a narrative around him. He has done it himself. It is virtually universally agreed that the only question mark as to whether this Seahawks team can win it all is Sam Darnold.
As for Geno, again, as with Russ before him and now Sam, if you state a certain fact about him, it's taken to the extreme and misrepresnted
Seahawks 2024 Grade Card: How Did Geno Smith, QBs Perform?
https://share.google/unSRVmurmQypswvTn
...So that i don't get accused of being a Geno himer, I will let a 3rd party speak to how the QB who played here last year performed on an offense that outside of him and JSN, was one of the worst in the league.
Some here are sooooo fast to defend Sam and his INts and say it's the o lines fault they aren't protecting him better. The hypocrisy in that defense is that the QB who played here last year was top 5 in turnover worthy plays - top 5 as in he was one of the best in not having those plays. Despite being one of the most pressured QBs behind a line that couldn't protect and for an OC who wasn't qualified to be in the NFL. Meanwhile, Kubiak is getting HC calls.
The last QB here was one of the leagues best against pressure.
Smiths TO rate was 2.6%
Darnold 's is 4.0%
To put that in direct comparison for those who want to excuse Sam's errors and crucify Smith, Sam is gonna turn the ball over every 25 plays he is directly involved in. Smith turned it over ever 38 plays.
Darnold is ranked 33rd in TO worthy plays despite having a strong o line, running game and defense.
Geno was ranked 4th despite having no o line, no running game and an OC who would receive zero interest as anyones HC, let alone anyone else's OC.
'Tracking' Geno in Vegas on a team that top to bottom is an embarrassment to the league and holding his performance up in comparison to Sam's here in Seattle is more than anything else, transparent when it comes to motivation.
If Sam turned the ball over a league leading amount under an OC garnering HCing attention and behind an O line that is one of the better in the league and allowed just 11 sacks through the first 11 games, how do you think 'Sam tracking' would go if he played on the 2025 Raiders team?
That's rhetorical. The answer is obvious.
At the end of the day, we are the 1 seed. Sam's play over the first 9 games of the year and in a few key moments thereafter is a big part of why we are here.
And
He is also the reason we could lose to any team we face in the playoffs / SB. Outlining the reasons why is unnecessary because we all know exactly why that is. It doesnt matter that we have the best OC we have had in 6 years. It doesn't matter that we have the best ground game since the Chris Carson days. It doesn't matter that we have the best O line in probably a decade. Sam Darnold COULD implode regardless. That's just fact. Not prediction. Not nay saying. Not hating. It's a clear eyed assessment of how he has played in Seattle to date.
Geno Smith was many things when he was here. He was never seen as THE reason we might not win a game.
He turned it over, but not at the rate Sam does.
He wasn't always perfect, but there wasnt a defensive scheme that could definitevely stop the passing game while he was here. Sam has struggled against light box 2 high looks for 9 weeks. Geno played on an offense that defenses knew would pass sometimes more than 65% of plays and STILL was better than 70% completion, and top 5 in TO worthy plays and INT rate.
Geno is gone. Sam is here. He is the QB for the Hawks and our chances of winning another SB and honesty establishing a true dynasty rest in large part on his shoulders. I hope to God he plays well and makes good on what we failed to do 12 years ago. If Sam succeeds, this team will win. Thats what we all want.
