The raw numbers for quarterback Sam Darnold are great. Through Week 10, the Seattle Seahawks QB1 is third in the NFL in quarterback rating (116.5), first in total QBR (77.7), and first in yards per attempt and net yards per attempt. He's been very good.
But many of his statistics are built in the [first half of games](https://12thmanrising.com/seattle-seahawks-sam-darnold-might-have-just-turned-greatest-half-qb-play-ever). Under new offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak, the Seahawks are getting off to much faster starts than in previous seasons. This might have led to a more conservative approach in the second half in some cases, but that doesn't explain one glaring issue.
That is that Darnold is a different quarterback in the second half than he is in the first half. That isn't a good thing. Also of note, Darnold has the fourth-highest interception rate in the NFL at 2.6, and he only trails much-maligned Geno Smith, Tua Tagovailoa, and Carson Wentz.
Seattle Seahawks should worry about Sam Darnold's second half mistakes
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Through Week 10, Darnold has thrown six interceptions and fumbled four times in total. 10 turnovers in nine games isn't awful, but the timing of when those turnovers are occurring is a trend that needs to be corrected quickly. Seven of them have come in the second half of games. Two have come on the final drives, and in both of Seattle's losses.
Ball control late in games has been a problem. In Week 1, right tackle Abe Lucas was pushed into Darnold as Seattle was trying to score a touchdown to win the game. The quarterback fumbled.
In Week 5, Darnold was trying to get his offense into Tampa Bay Buccaneers territory to at least try for a game-tying field goal, if not a game-winning touchdown. Darnold threw a pass that nicked off one of his own players' helmets, and the ball ended up being an interception.
[One of the knocks](https://12thmanrising.com/nfl-expert-waves-white-flag-criticism-seattle-seahawks) on the quarterback during his career is that he can't win the big games. His last two games of 2024, when he was with the Minnesota Vikings, one of them a playoff game, were ugly. We don't know yet if Darnold can win the late-season, important games with the Seahawks.
What we do know is that for some reason, he is worse late in games, even as the offense has been elite in the first half of games. Due to that and a terrific defense, Seattle is 7-2 and tied for first place in the NFC West. Perhaps the team's biggest challenges still lie ahead, with two games against the Los Angeles Rams.
Sam Darnold being great only in the first half won't work in those games for the Seattle Seahawks. The quarterback will need to be excellent throughout. If he isn't, Seattle will lose both games.