Sam Darnold — Week 5: Two Interceptions, Five Sacks

Sam Darnold gave the 49ers too much in a 32-29 loss in Seattle: 18 of 29, 195 yards, 1 touchdown, 2 interceptions and 5 sacks. He was worth -10.5 expected points added (EPA) on 35 dropbacks, -0.30 per dropback. EPA is what a play was worth given down, distance and field position.

The game ended on his last throw. Down 32-29 with 54 seconds left, Seattle faced fourth and 10 at midfield. Darnold threw short left to Cooper Kupp, who was pushed out at the San Francisco 41 after 9 yards, and replay upheld the spot short of the line to gain: -14.8 points of win probability, the biggest swing of his day. A 35-yarder to Jaxon Smith-Njigba had opened the drive before three straight incompletions.

Both interceptions went to Renardo Green. The first, on third and 10 at the Seattle 11 on the game's first third down, cost -3.8 EPA, and the 49ers scored a touchdown on that short field. The second, a deep throw for Elijah Arroyo on the second snap of the second half, down 21-13, cost -5.1.

The 5 sacks were one more than his 4 through Week 4; the last, on third and 5 at the San Francisco 17 with 7:41 left, left Seattle kicking the tying field goal.

Through Week 4 he was -0.6 EPA on 75 dropbacks, -0.01 per dropback. His completion percentage over expected (CPOE), how often he completed passes against what their difficulty predicted, was +0.1 after +2.9 through Week 4. The turnovers and sacks did the damage.

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_Data via nflverse._