#KCvsSEA

Darnold & Co. do their part as Dark Side smothers Chiefs

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When Sam Darnold makes two major mistakes, it’s 50-50 whether the Seahawks will overcome them. But if he limits himself to just one, the Hawks win. Always.

Behind a dominant Dark Side performance, another JSN classic and a much-improved game from Darnold and the offense, Seattle clamped down on Kenneth Walker III and Patrick Mahomes on Sunday night – handing the Chiefs their first 2026 loss, 20-3.

It was a reminder that the Seahawks are fully capable of dominating any team in the NFL and are still a force to be reckoned with as long as they do not give the ball away.

Mike Macdonald said, “We’re still a championship-caliber team, and that’s what we’re chasing.”

Continue reading Darnold & Co. do their part as Dark Side smothers Chiefs →
#KCvsSEA, Trades

With Walker’s return, Taylor trade talk begins

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As Kenneth Walker III, the NFL’s leading rusher, came back to Seattle for a Sunday night matchup between his Chiefs and his old Seahawks, the debate and speculation over Seattle’s decisions – past and potential — at running back was hot and heavy.

John Schneider was taking heat for not paying Walker (who is getting $14.3 million a year from the Chiefs), and many were discussing whether the GM should/might make a trade for a name running back such as Jonathan Taylor or Saquon Barkley.

Schneider reportedly is indeed considering pursuing Taylor, who in 2020 said he would love to be drafted by the Seahawks.

Let’s explore why Schneider let Walker go in free agency and also look at what a possible trade for Taylor would mean.

Continue reading With Walker’s return, Taylor trade talk begins →
#KCvsSEA, X's & O's

The details the offense needs to fix to avoid dropping under .500

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The Seahawks, sitting at 3-3 after having given away three games with offensive turnovers, are in danger of falling under .500 for the first time since the middle of Mike Macdonald’s first season — over 30 games ago.

The danger is real, with Kenneth Walker III and the undefeated Chiefs in town for a Sunday night showdown that could become a beatdown if the Seahawks do not come prepared on offense for once.

A win over Kansas City is exactly what the Hawks need. They need to win with a good offensive performance, to show they are done bumbling along and turning the ball over. They need to win to give Sam Darnold confidence and prove that Macdonald’s faith in him is justified. They need to win to show they can beat one of the best teams in the NFL.

Continue reading The details the offense needs to fix to avoid dropping under .500 →
NFL history, X's & O's

Are Hawks about to become 2003 Bucs?

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Mike Macdonald is not going to bench Sam Darnold, and now we have to hope he is not sending his Seahawks down the same path as the 2002-03 Tampa Bay Buccaneers – a Super Bowl champion with an elite defense that faded the next season (and beyond) due to a dysfunctional offense.

Macdonald thinks Darnold’s poor play is a symptom and not the problem – even though the quarterback has been a major factor in all three losses with six interceptions (seven in his four games total).

Macdonald thinks Darnold is still the best choice at QB.

“We have a lot of faith in Sam,” Macdonald said. “Sam has played great football for us. He’s done a lot of great things this year. He’s obviously turned the ball over more than we want to. There are things on our end that can help him play better football, and he’s part of the solution rather than the opposite.”

We have seen nothing to indicate that is true, which is why we think Darnold would benefit from sitting and watching Drew Lock play.

Continue reading Are Hawks about to become 2003 Bucs? →
#SEAvsDEN

Time to bench Darnold

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We’ve been big Sam Darnold fans ever since he came to Seattle. But he clearly has lost his edge, his poise, his focus, his accuracy.

He has thrown seven interceptions in four full games, including two in each of Seattle’s three losses. That includes the 17-14 overtime disaster in Denver on Thursday.

Darnold is not the only thing wrong with the offense, but he is the biggest. When he costs the Seahawks wins and ruins great defensive performances, when it does not seem like he is going to correct it, it is time to make a change.

Mike Macdonald is a winner – a no-nonsense coach who fixes problems. This is a big problem that is not likely to fix itself, and the solution is to bench Darnold and let Drew Lock – who was very competent in his two games to start the season — lead the offense.

Continue reading Time to bench Darnold →
#SEAvsDEN, State of the team

Too early to call Schneider’s offseason a fail

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Did John Schneider fail his Seahawks this year?

That is what some fans think in the wake of a 3-2 start that has seen the top three draft picks go on IR, the backup running backs fail as Kenneth Walker III has led the league in rushing with Kansas City, and Rashid Shaheed underperform his new contract.

It’s all been pretty disappointing — and some of it even predictable. But it is early yet and we are not inclined to judge anything after five games, other than the obvious fact that turnovers have killed Seattle in its two losses and the offense is definitely askew.

Continue reading Too early to call Schneider’s offseason a fail →
#SFvsSEA

Will Hawks bring 49ers down to Earth again?

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The 49ers have cruised through the first month of the season as the perceived best team in the NFL. But that status is about to be put to the test in an early NFC West battle royale between the Niners and the Seahawks in Seattle.

The last time the teams met, Seattle destroyed San Francisco 41-6 in the 2025 divisional playoffs. Of course, this is a new season, and the 49ers have cruised to a 4-0 start behind an average score of about 31-16 – sweeping the Rams, Dolphins, Cardinals and Broncos.

Brock Purdy has not been sacked and has thrown 11 TD passes vs. one pick – yielding a passer rating of 126.2 that leads all regular NFL starters (Seahawks backup Drew Lock actually has the top rating at 127.3 off his two games in place of Sam Darnold).

In the last two meetings last season – the season finale and the divisional playoff – Seattle sacked Purdy five times, picked off two passes and forced a fumble while holding the 49ers to a total of nine points.

How did the Hawks do it — and can they repeat that against a hot 49ers offense?

Continue reading Will Hawks bring 49ers down to Earth again? →
The roster

Hawks decline to sign Mixon; Charbs’ return delayed another week

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(UPDATE: This post originally included thoughts on Joe Mixon signing, but the Seahawks decided not to sign him.)

A lot of fans seem to be pretty displeased with Seattle’s backfield, despite Emanuel Wilson’s excellent game in the 30-23 win over the Chargers.

It’s understandable, with Kenneth Walker III leading the NFL in rushing for Kansas City, Jadarian Price on injured reserve and Zach Charbonnet still a couple weeks away from his season debut. A backfield of Wilson, George Holani and Velus Jones Jr. is not that inspiring.

The Seahawks seem to agree. They had Joe Mixon in for a visit, but they reportedly changed their minds on signing him after his physical. They did add rookie UDFA Robert Henry Jr. to the 53 from Washington’s PS. And then they added Dontae McMillan to the PS instead of Mixon.

Continue reading Hawks decline to sign Mixon; Charbs’ return delayed another week →
#SEAvsLAC

Plenty to fix as undefeated 49ers come to Seattle

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The Seahawks are 3-1, but they are not very happy about how they have gotten there. That’s because they have not played very clean games the past two weeks.

Mike Macdonald was subdued after the Seahawks had to hold on for a narrow, penalty-filled 30-23 win over the Chargers on Sunday. It’s probably because he knows the 49ers are 4-0 and firing on all cylinders as they come to Seattle this week, while his team has played pretty sloppy football.

After a bad loss at Washington in Week 3, the Hawks came out with a vengeance against the Chargers – at least on defense. But that side played a little too aggressively at times, allowing the Chargers to rally from 21 points down to make it a one-score game in the fourth quarter.

It didn’t help that referee Scott Novak’s overzealous crew assessed a ridiculous 30 penalties to the Hawks and Chargers – a bunch of them completely uncalled for.

Continue reading Plenty to fix as undefeated 49ers come to Seattle →