Sam Darnold — Week 4: Picked on His First Throw, Then Won
2026 NFL Season · Half-PPR Scoring · Tuesday, Oct 6
Darnold completed 13 of 22 for 168 yards, two touchdowns and an interception, and was sacked three times by the Chargers. His first throw was intercepted at the Chargers' 44; his touchdowns went 23 yards to Emanuel Wilson after a dropped punt and 6 yards to Tory Horton on third and 1, in a 30–23 win.
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The full read
Nothing to nothing, 14 46 left in the first quarter, first and 10 at the Chargers' 45. Seattle had the ball there because Thomas had intercepted Justin Herbert on the Chargers' first snap. On his own first snap Sam Darnold threw short left for Emanuel Wilson, and Tuipulotu intercepted at the Chargers' 44. −5.7 expected points added — expected points added is what a play was worth given down, distance and field position — and −6 and a half points of win probability, the chance of winning the game after the play against before it, the costliest Seattle pass or run of the day. The Chargers kicked a field goal. Four minutes later a dropped punt gave Seattle the ball at the Chargers' 23, and on the first snap Darnold threw short right to Wilson, five yards behind the line. Wilson went the rest of the way for the touchdown, +2.2, and Seattle led for good.
The line: 13 of 22, a hundred 68 yards, two touchdowns, one interception, three sacks, −5.2 expected points on 25 pass plays. Nine of 14 for a hundred 16 before halftime, four of eight for 52 after, with Seattle ahead by 14 or more from the start of the second half until midway through the fourth quarter. The second touchdown was third and one at the Chargers' six with 10 26 left in the third, up 20 to six, short right to Tory Horton. On third down he threw eight times, completed three and converted two; the other conversion was the 28-yarder to Jaxon Smith-Njigba on third and 16 in the second quarter, the only completion among his three throws of 20 or more yards in the air. A first-quarter third and three ended in an intentional grounding penalty and a punt. He ran once for eight yards and knelt twice to finish it.
Back in June the preview read Darnold as the steady pocket passer of the championship season, 68 percent completions, and pointed at the completion rate once September started counting. Sunday was 59 percent, on 22 throws, the fewest of any Seattle game this season, beside 31 runs. Through four weeks he is 45 of 69, 65 percent, for 560 yards, six touchdowns and three interceptions, and Seattle is three and one.
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