4 Takeaways From the Seahawks' Win Over the Commanders

[ad_1] The Seahawks made a press release on Sunday night time.

Seattle gained 38-14 over the Commanders, with Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold throwing 4 touchdowns with out an incompletion within the first half. It was a dominant efficiency that was made worse for Washington when quarterback Jayden Daniels left together with his left arm in an aircast within the fourth quarter.

Listed here are my takeaways:

1. We must always take Seattle and Darnold critically This was very spectacular. We have been long gone questioning if Darnold’s 2024 success with Minnesota was a fluke, and Seattle already seemed so good for transferring on from Geno Smith and giving Darnold a $100 million contract.

Darnold has by no means seemed higher than he did within the first half Sunday night time – 16-for-16, 282 yards, 4 touchdowns and no interceptions, only a dominant exhibiting on the street towards a stable opponent. Should you wanted an infomercial on how properly offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak’s unit took benefit of Darnold’s strengths and moved the ball so persistently with ease, this was the half to observe.

Darnold got here into the night time with stats very near his breakout 2024 season: his TD/INT ratio final 12 months was 35-to-12, this 12 months was 12-to-4 earlier than Sunday, now even higher at 16-to-5. He’s completed that in an offense that traded away DK Metcalf and didn’t have extensive receiver Cooper Kupp on Sunday, partially as a result of fellow WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba has been an All-Professional receiver and a bona fide No. 1.

After Sunday’s win, this can be a top-five offense by way of scoring – they’ve misplaced solely two video games and scored 35 factors in one in every of their losses. The NFC West is a three-way logjam, with the Seahawks (6-2) proper there with the Rams (6-2) and simply forward of the 49ers (6-3). If the division doesn’t produce two wild playing cards, it should solely be as a result of they beat one another up down the stretch.

2. Daniels' horrific arm damage is crushing for Washington The loss Sunday night time means the Commanders have extra losses at 3-6 than they completed final season with at 12-5. They'd already taken a major step again, with accidents on offense and inconsistency on protection. Two of their three wins are towards the Giants and Raiders, who every have solely two wins.

Two weeks in the past, when Washington misplaced to the Cowboys by 22 factors, it didn’t seem like even a possible playoff staff, however there was hope that Daniels’ wholesome return might shift the staff into one other gear, like quarterback Lamar Jackson with Baltimore.

Now, with Daniels virtually assuredly sidelined, this can be a misplaced season of the worst variety, beginning with hopes of unseating the Eagles and making one other prolonged postseason run. Now, Washington is simply hoping that key items will probably be wholesome and a better schedule will assist them be aggressive once more in 2026.

3. Jaxon Smith-Njigba might make a run at 2,000 yards Severely! JSN got here into Sunday night time main the NFL in receiving yards and even with a light-weight second half of simple work, he completed with 129 yards, placing him at 948 after solely eight video games. Which means he’s on track for two,014 yards with an actual shot at changing into the primary NFL participant ever to get 2,000 receiving yards in a season. The mark is 1,964, set by Detroit’s Calvin Johnson in 2012, and Kupp obtained to 1,947 as lately as 2021.

Smith-Njigba has an opportunity as a result of he’s so remarkably regular – he’s had no less than 79 yards in each sport this season, and Sunday marked his fourth straight sport with precisely eight catches, a mannequin of consistency at the same time as he attracts an increasing number of protection from opposing defenses. That doesn’t imply he’ll get there, however it’s a enjoyable storyline to observe if he simply retains chugging alongside and retains it in play within the last weeks of the season.

4. Tory Horton has completed a ton for a fifth-round rookie Horton had two extra landing catches Sunday, giving him 5 for the season, not counting a 95-yard punt return additionally on his resume. Not dangerous for a fifth-round extensive receiver from Colorado State who had one landing in six video games final season earlier than his faculty profession ended with a knee damage.

Seattle has completed so properly with third-day draft picks – take into consideration linebacker Tyrice Knight and tight finish A.J. Barner within the fourth spherical final 12 months, take into consideration cornerback Riq Woolen within the fifth spherical in 2022, and that is extra of the identical.

It was a celebration for Seahawks followers in Landover, Md., on Sunday night time, with Tory Horton main the cost. (Greg Fiume/Getty Photographs)

4 ½. What's subsequent? Arizona performed Seattle shut of their first assembly, however the Seahawks actually ought to be capable to maintain the Cardinals subsequent week.

That units up the primary of two divisional showdowns with the Rams – in Los Angeles in Week 11 and in Seattle in Week 16. If both one can sweep each video games, it’s an enormous step towards successful the West, and regardless, there could possibly be a lot on the road when Seattle finishes the common season at San Francisco.

One factor Seattle should work on if it is going to be a staff that makes an influence within the postseason, somewhat than only a cameo: turnovers. The Seahawks went into Sunday’s sport at minus-4 in turnover margin, they usually picked up one towards the Commanders, however you’d be hard-pressed to discover a higher contender with a worse turnover drawback than Seattle. It may be mounted, in fact, but when it isn’t, it’s onerous to see them making an actual playoff run.

Greg Auman is an NFL Reporter for FOX Sports activities. He beforehand spent a decade protecting the Buccaneers for the Tampa Bay Occasions and The Athletic. You possibly can observe him on Twitter at @gregauman.

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