Ex-Vikings QB Suffers Week 1 Nightmare
Sam Darnold played somewhat decently during his Seattle Seahawks debut on Sunday, but when it mattered the most, the man fumbled the ball — literally — and cost his team the game.
An ex-Vikings quarterback endured a Week 1 nightmare, capped by a game-sealing mistake that had fans buzzing. Here’s how it unfolded.
The San Francisco 49ers won the rivalry contest by a score of 17-13, and Darnold was left holding the bag after the loss.
Sam Darnold Debut Post-Vikings = Rocky Start
The Seahawks fell to the 49ers, and a Darnold gaffe sealed the deal.
Sam Darnold Fumbles with Game on the Line
San Francisco kicker Jake Moody allowed the Seahawks to remain in the Week 1 contest by missing two field goals, a trend that is gradually becoming Moody’s modus operandi.
Darnold and friends trailed 17-13 after a Brock Purdy touchdown pass to little-known tight end Jake Tonges. Thankfully for Seattle’s sake, Darnold would have a chance to get his Seahawks era off to a hot start with a potential game-winning drive.
Then, this happened in the redzone:
The transaction ended the game, and Darnold’s storybook afternoon emphatically fell by the wayside.
Pedestrian Performance Otherwise
Outside of the game-losing fumble, Darnold delivered 150 passing yards on 23 attempts, with 16 completions. He ended with a 56.1 ESPN QBR, somewhat serviceable, especially in a new offense.
Sadly, Darnold will only be remembered for the fumble — that’s just how the world works, particularly with a 24-hour news cycle that will showcase the game-ending turnover.
Darnold ranked 20th among 30 peers per quarterback EPA+CPOE on Sunday. In his Week 1 debut with the Vikings last season, he checked in at No. 2 among 32 passers.
Plenty of Chances to Rebound
Darnold can right the ship as early as next week. He doesn’t have to let a loss against the 49ers define his Seahawks chapter.
It’s just that Darnold desperately needed a signature moment — as early as Week 1. The last two times he played football, Week 18 of 2024 and in the Wildcard Round, he performed like utter rubbish for the Vikings, so much so that Minnesota didn’t re-sign Darnold in 2025. It handed the keys to J.J. McCarthy and let Darnold walk to Seattle, despite Darnold’s otherworldly 35 touchdown passes in Minnesota.
To undo the wretched memories of his final two games in Minnesota — the guy crumbled when the team needed him the most — Darnold required an impressive debut.
Now, he must wait a week for redemption.
Jalen Milroe in the Chamber
What’s more, Seattle drafted Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe in Round 3 back in April. Before too long, that promising passer will get a look in the Seahawks’ offense. It was Darnold’s responsibility to hold that off indefinitely.
While Seattle won’t bench Darnold imminently, fumbling with the game on the line served as red meat for the pro-Milroe section of the Seahawks’ fan base. They’re out there.
Seahawks-Themed Media on Darnold
Seattle Times‘ Tim Booth on Darnold: “Define the debut of Sam Darnold. Go ahead. Try to encapsulate what it looked like and felt like with a new quarterback in a new offense in his first game with the Seahawks. It’s tough, right?”
“Because ultimately no matter what the impression was of Darnold’s first game, it will be defined by his final play. The opportunity was there Sunday afternoon at Lumen Field for Darnold to do what any quarterback dreams about, and certainly one in the first game with a new team. Nothing announces yourself to new teammates, fans, even competitors more than leading a game-winning drive in Week 1 at home against a division rival.”
Seattle’s offense, led by Darnold, ranked 28th in the NFL during Week 1 per EPA/Play among 30 qualifying teams.
Booth continued, “Unfortunately for Darnold, that will not be the story coming from the Seahawks’ 17-13 loss to San Francisco. There was no end-zone celebration in the dying seconds. No sports radio chatter feting Darnold for his ability to spark the offense in the final moments and lead a winning drive.”
“Instead, the final image from Darnold’s debut will be him dropping the ball. Almost literally. Darnold’s chance at leading the Seahawks to a winning score ended at the San Francisco 16 with less than a minute remaining when his hand bumped the back of right tackle Abraham Lucas causing a fumble that the 49ers recovered.”
Darnold’s Seahawks travel to Pittsburgh for a date with the Steelers on Sunday, a club that just won a thriller over the New York Jets in Week 1.
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