Darnold wasn’t asked to carry the load, but he did enough while managing a lingering oblique injury on his left side. His performance came with strong ancillary contributions from Kenneth Walker in the running game, a stout defense, and Shaheed’s big plays on special teams. The win showed Seattle could win without a perfect performance from their QB. 💪🛡️
The QB’s standout moment came on a touchdown pass to Jaxon Smith-Njigba in the corner of the end zone, rolled to his left. It was a highlight reel play that underscored Darnold’s ability to execute when needed and his connection with his receivers in a low-volume game plan. 🔥🏹
After the game, Darnold offered a two-word admission about his injury status: “Yeah, absolutely.” He suggested the oblique injury isn’t going to heal fully even before the Super Bowl, indicating he’ll need to keep managing it as the team heads toward the next round. 💬🤐
Looking ahead, Seattle will need the same level of support next week in the NFC Championship as Darnold continues to play through the injury. This win was also his first postseason victory, but he’ll have to protect himself and rely on the defense, ground game, and special teams to stay competitive. The road to the Super Bowl remains challenging, and caution will be key. ⚠️🏆
