Darnold throws with his right hand but is unusually comfortable delivering passes while moving to his left. Left-side bootlegs have been rare across the league, and since 2021 there have been about 4,000 bootlegs with only 999 headed to the left. The Seahawks must reclaim this element of the playbook, even as defenses have started to shut it down.
In 2025, Darnold led the league in left-bootleg dropbacks through Week 11, with 21 left bootlegs for 359 yards and an EPA of 11.0, often targeting crossing routes in the middle. Defenses adjusted by attacking the left edge to deny space, and the efficiency of those plays plummeted in the final seven weeks. A tweak—such as faking a roll one way and throwing the other, or increasing right-side rollouts—could revive the attack.
There are concrete examples of the concept working, including a deep completion to Jaxon Smith-Njigba in Week 12 and a Week 9 TD to Cody White. Darnold has also battled an oblique injury, which adds urgency for Seattle to roll him away from pressure into space to throw deep. The plan against San Francisco will likely involve heavy pressure, so finding a way to reestablish the bootleg and keep him comfortable will be critical.
Bottom line: Darnold’s performance may decide Seattle’s playoff fate. If he can avoid turnovers and leverage a reworked bootleg game, the Seahawks can counter the 49ers’ aggression and control the game; otherwise, San Francisco’s defense will make life difficult. Some analysts have floated dramatic scenarios about blitz-heavy plans, underscoring how central Kubiak’s adjustments are to Seattle’s success. 🏈️🌀💥
