I would have to say…yes. Why not? He has a great team supporting him on both sides of the ball. His offensive line is excellent and the Hawks can run the ball. The Seattle defense is one of the most physical in the NFL.
Plus…everyone in the franchise is hungry, as is the fanbase in Seattle.
Sam Darnold’s one left obstacle of getting to the Super Bowl is Matthew Stafford of the LA Rams. Darnold became one of only a select few NFL quarterbacks to win 14 games in a regular season this year. He did the same last year with Minnesota.
This team isn’t Minnesota though. This team is built to advance to the Super Bowl in northern California opposite the winner of the AFC Championship Game in Denver. I’ll be wearing my Denver Bronco’s stocking cap and rooting for my second city today. Green Bay is obviously my team…but the Bronco’s are now my AFC team since the ‘Fam’ lives there.
If Nick Foles as a backup could lead the Philadelphia Eagles to a Super Bowl championship…then I would say to Sam Darnold…’Don’t throw picks and play a turnover free game.’ Pretty much what I said when Peyton Manning in the sendoff to his magnificent NFL career won his second Super Bowl because of that iconic/stellar Denver defense.
The Chicago Bears did not avance beyond the Rams because of three turnovers. The Buffalo Bills did not advance beyond the Denver Broncos because of five turnovers. The LA Rams advanced over the Carolina Panthers on the road because they played a clean turnover game.
‘Turnover clean’ will be the double mantra in both games today played in Seattle and Denver.
So do I feel good about Jarrett Stidham today in the Bronco’s first game verus Drake Maye and the New England Pats? At best…I feel if Coach Payton and the defense can get the lead early and never put Jarret Stidham in horrible 3rd and long situations…it could be a ‘possibility’ for Denver to advance.
Jarrett Stidham hasn’t thrown a pass in an NFL game in two years. Just saying. Riding a bike and avoiding the New England Mike Vrabel pass rush aren’t exactly the same thing…if you know what I mean.
But for Sam Darnold…this has to be his time to define his NFL quarterback legacy. This needs to be a rock solid game by Sam Darnold. Nothing historic statwise…just a solid game for sixty minutes managing the game.
Ten inches of snow here at the Deer Creek mini-ranch. I have been feeding the deer, turkeys, birds and other wildlife, but otherwise I’m not leaving the mini-ranch until Tuesday.
A perfect day to drink hot coffee and watch both NFL championship games.
Mike J