Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold opened his postgame comments with a confident, three-word message after Sunday’s 18–16 win over the Indianapolis Colts at Lumen Field: “Never a doubt.”
But Darnold didn’t try to sugarcoat what the game actually looked like.
Seattle didn’t score a touchdown. Kicker Jason Myers carried the scoring load with six field goals, including a 56-yard game-winner with 18 seconds left.
And Darnold made it clear the Seahawks know they’re flirting with danger if they keep leaving points on the field.
“I think for us we have to start faster and we have to finish in the red zone,” Darnold said. “It’s becoming a theme and we have to get it figured out… our defense is playing really, really good football and that starts with me.”
Seahawks Win 18-16, But Darnold’s Message Wasn’t a Celebration
On paper, it’s another win for a Seahawks team that continues to stack them up. In the moment, it was also the kind of win that can expose problems you can’t ignore.
Darnold repeatedly returned to two specific areas: third downs and the red zone.
“We have to play better,” he said. “Like I said, we have to be better on third downs, and be better in the red zone. We will be better.”
That’s the tension Seattle is dealing with after the Colts game. The Seahawks did enough to win late — but they also spent most of the afternoon settling.
Darnold acknowledged the Colts “did some good stuff defensively” and said the Seahawks will need to “watch the tape.” He also pointed the finger at himself on plays that stalled out.
“Some of the protection stuff was on me, holding onto the football,” Darnold said.
What It Means for Seattle Moving Forward
The good news for the Seahawks: Darnold’s comments sound like accountability, not panic.
“It’s just about going out there and executing,” he said. “We just have to do a better job of all 11 doing our job, and that starts with me.”
The bad news: if the “theme” continues, it’s hard to count on a six-field-goal plan every week, even with Myers playing at an elite level.
“J Mey has been incredible all year,” Darnold said. “We hopefully don’t need to use him as much as we are, but he’s been doing a great job for us.”
That line landed because it’s honest. Myers winning games is a luxury. Myers having to win games can become a problem, especially as Seattle turns toward division-heavy football and tighter margins.
Late-Drive Win Still Matters — and Darnold Said So
For all the offensive frustration, Seattle did get one thing it will need later: a pressure-packed, late-game drive that actually worked.
“It’s great to be able to get in those situations where you have to have a two-minute drill or a late drive to put us into a position to win and get it done,” Darnold said.
He noted the Seahawks rehearse those moments.
“We practice those situations throughout the week,” he said.
That showed up after Indianapolis briefly took a 16-15 lead late. Seattle responded quickly, set up Myers, and walked off with the win.
Now the “theme” Darnold admitted is in the spotlight heading into a quick turnaround: Seattle hosts the Los Angeles Rams on Thursday, December 18, on Thursday Night Football.
Like Heavy Sports’s content? Be sure to follow us.
This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
The post Seahawks’ Sam Darnolds Admits a Troubling “Theme” After Ugly 18-16 Win over Colts appeared first on Heavy Sports.