The Seattle Seahawks are on a roll, but they will face a major challenge in Week 11. That’s because the team will be taking on the Los Angeles Rams, who boast a 7-2 record like the Seahawks heading into this contest. The Rams aren’t taking this game lightly, as head coach Sean McVay knows just how much of a challenge the team has going up against Sam Darnold and company.
After struggling quite a bit early in his career, Darnold managed to revive his career in 2024 with the Minnesota Vikings, earning him a three-year, $100.5 million contract from Seattle in free agency. Darnold’s transformation from one of the biggest busts in NFL history to one of the top quarterbacks in the league has been stunning to say the least, and ahead of this matchup, McVay made it clear just how much respect he has for the Seahawks’ quarterback.
Sean McVay Gushes Over Sam Darnold Before Seahawks-Rams Clash
Darnold was selected by the New York Jets with the No. 3 overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft, but he played so poorly for them that the team cut bait with him after just three seasons. After spending time with the Carolina Panthers and San Francisco 49ers, Darnold landed with the Vikings, and he promptly turned himself into the star the Jets once believed he could become.
In 2024, Darnold threw for 4,319 yards and 35 touchdowns, earning him his first Pro Bowl selection of his career. The problem is that Darnold crumbled under the pressure late in the season, and with the team having selected J.J. McCarthy in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft, they opted to turn things over to him and let Darnold walk in free agency.
That move has come back to bite the Vikings because Darnold has starred for the Seahawks, while McCarthy has struggled. In nine games, Darnold has thrown for 2,262 yards and 17 touchdowns, and his quarterback rating of 77.7 is tops in the league. Darnold has proven that his 2024 campaign wasn’t a fluke, and McVay knows that his team is going to face a big challenge in Week 11.
“I’ve seen a lot of the same things that made him great last year in Minnesota,” McVay said of Darnold last week. “I think he’s in a really good system. I think he does an excellent job of recognizing whatever the coverages are and being able to get the ball to where it should be … I’m seeing a guy that’s playing with a lot of confidence that’s been earned … It’s impressive. I’ve got a lot of respect for Sam.”
Seahawks Looking to Take Full Control of NFC West in Week 11
GettyJACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA – OCTOBER 12: Head coach Mike MacDonald of the Seattle Seahawks looks on during the second half against the Jacksonville Jaguars in the game at EverBank Stadium on October 12, 2025 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Don Juan Moore/Getty Images)
Both the Seahawks and Rams have picked up some impressive wins this season, but this is easily the most important game for either side. Whoever wins will take control of the top spot in the NFC West division, which is a massive advantage to have down the stretch of the campaign. Considering how the San Francisco 49ers also boast a 6-3 record and are getting their star quarterback, Brock Purdy, back in Week 11, that only adds to the importance of this game.
Darnold will have to successfully outduel Matthew Stafford if Seattle wants to win, and that’s going to be easier said than done, as Stafford has been just as good as the Seahawks’ new star quarterback this season. Kickoff for this game is scheduled for 4:05 p.m. ET, and it’s clear that, for a regular-season game, the stakes couldn’t get much higher than they are here.
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