Seahawks want Sam Darnold to be 'shocking' in rematch vs. Rams

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold tossed four interceptions during the club's 21-19 loss to the Los Angeles Rams in Week 11.

The 11-3 Seahawks will host the 11-3 Rams with first place in the NFC West on the line on "Thursday Night Football" in Week 16. While speaking with reporters on Tuesday, Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald shared what he wants to see from Darnold in the much-anticipated rematch. 

Will Sam Darnold silence critics with outing vs. Rams? 

"I want Sam to play like I want our football team to play, which is decisive, shocking, and relentless," Macdonald said, per John Boyle of the Seahawks' website. "Have it be really clear on what you want to do in the game and in that play, so he can go rip it. Shocking is like, 'Hey, it's the execution. It's the beauty of the details. It's all the preparation that feeds into those basic fundamentals that make it come to life, and then just stick at it.' We're just not going to stop, and Sam's demonstrated those things."

While with the Minnesota Vikings in January 2025, Darnold lost 82 yards on nine sacks, had a second-quarter fumble returned for a touchdown and threw an interception in a wild-card playoff loss to the Rams. Thus, one couldn't be blamed for wondering if he sees "ghosts" whenever he faces the division foe.

That said, Darnold committed just two turnovers as the Seahawks notched wins over their past four contests. 

"I think Sam's making really smart decisions," Macdonald said about the decrease in giveaways. "...Our runners have taken care of the football, which has been great. It's just something we try to attack every day, and I think the guys realize that when we do take care of the football, how good of a football team we are and what our record is. It's everything involved, a constant evolution as well."

Does Sam Darnold feel he has something to prove vs. Rams? 

Meanwhile, Darnold insisted that he views the Rams as "just another opponent." That doesn't mean he's ignoring what will be on the line at Lumen Field this Thursday. 

"That's the kind of football you want to be playing in December, meaningful football," Darnold said. "We take that head on in the locker room, and we love it."

As of Wednesday morning, DraftKings Sportsbook had the Seahawks as 1.5-point home underdogs against the Rams.