Seattle head coach Mike Macdonald mentioned quarterback Sam Arnold had “shut lots of people up” by delivering “among the finest performances in playoff historical past” to energy the Seahawks to the Tremendous Bowl.
Darnold threw three landing passes with zero turnovers as Seattle beat the Los Angeles Rams 31-27 at Lumen Field to arrange a conflict with the New England Patriots in California on February 8.
Regardless of starring within the common season, Darnold nonetheless had loads of doubters however quietened them as soon as once more with a courageous show through which he needed to overcome the results of a lingering indirect damage.
Seattle QB Darnold was unbelievable – Macdonald
He completed 25-of-36 for 346 yards after frequently linking up with favorite goal, huge receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba.
“You’ll be able to’t discuss concerning the sport with out speaking about our quarterback,” Macdonald mentioned. “He shut lots of people up tonight, so I’m actually comfortable for him.
“To come back out [and play] the way in which he performed, barely practising, barely throwing the ball, it was actually unbelievable.
“It ought to go down as among the finest performances in playoff historical past, I’d think about. It’s laborious to stack it, however I can’t think about anyone taking part in any higher.”
On Darnold’s s critics, Macdonald added: “Everybody desires to make a story about this man, however he’s been the identical man since he walked within the door.
“You don’t need me writing the tales as a result of I’d not write the narratives which are on the market. It’d be actually boring. It could be like, this man’s the person and his teammates love him and he’s aggressive as crap and he’s powerful and he’s actually gifted, and he’s a winner. That might be the story.”
Darnold was modest regardless of one other stellar exhibiting and admitted he nonetheless had loads of room for development.
He mentioned: “There’s lots of stuff that I can get higher from at this time even. I really feel like I missed some throws on the market that I shouldn’t miss. There have been some issues offensively that I really feel like we will do higher. So, we’re at all times seeking to get higher. I’m at all times seeking to get higher. That’s the good half about this sport is you win an NFC championship and also you win video games all through the season, however there may be at all times methods which you could look to get higher.”
Stafford uncertainty for Los Angeles
Darnold is locked in as QB in Seattle for subsequent season no matter occurs within the Tremendous Bowl. There’s not that certainty in Los Angeles with the Rams’ Matthew Stafford.
Stafford, 37, is underneath contract for subsequent yr however refused to decide to coming again when requested about his future after the sport.
“I can’t generalize six months of my life 10 minutes after a loss,” Stafford mentioned. “So I recognize the fellows on this locker room an entire hell of loads. All people that helped me and helped our staff be the success that we had been this yr. And that’s all I’ll reply for you.”
Requested if he anticipated to have Stafford at his disposal subsequent season, Rams coach Sean McVay snapped: “Yeah, if he nonetheless desires to play. The hell sort of query is that?
“I do know that if he desires to, he’s nonetheless taking part in at a fairly rattling good clip. I imply, he’s the MVP of the league and if he’s not … I obtained respect for everyone else, however this man performed at a degree that’s simply completely different.”
Stafford accomplished 22 of 35 passes for 374 yards and three touchdowns however was unable to stop a defeat that visibly moved McVay.
“I felt like we had been going to be the staff on that podium,” he added. “And we weren’t. And also you give Seattle the credit score, however I like this group. And I’m by no means actually brief on phrases, and I’m proper now, so it’s powerful.”
