Seahawks Face Turnover Woes After Consecutive Losses

The Seattle Seahawks are grappling with persistent turnover issues as they look to rebound from two consecutive losses. Quarterback Sam Darnold's performance has been a focal point, with a notable number of interceptions contributing to the team's recent setbacks.

In their latest game, a 17-14 overtime loss to the Denver Broncos on Thursday night, Darnold threw two interceptions. One of these, in overtime, directly led to the Broncos' game-winning field goal. The Seahawks also lost a fumble in the second quarter. This follows a pattern from the previous week, where Seattle suffered a 32-29 defeat against the San Francisco 49ers. In that game, Darnold had two interceptions, and the team lost two fumbles, including one recovered by the 49ers in the end zone.

Earlier in the season, a Week 3 matchup against the Washington Commanders also saw significant turnover troubles, culminating in a 33-31 loss where Darnold threw a pick-six.

Sam Darnold has now accumulated seven interceptions, tying him for the most in the NFL. He missed time due to injury, and six of his interceptions have occurred in the team's losses. Against the Broncos, Darnold completed 27 of 51 passes for 278 yards and was sacked five times. The Seahawks' lone touchdown in that game came on a one-yard run by George Holani.

Darnold acknowledged his role in the turnovers, stating, "I just think it’s B.S. for me to keep turning the ball over. It’s not fair to our defense, it’s not fair to our special teams group, it’s not fair really to the entire team, so I’ve got to be better that way."

This season, the Seahawks have committed 12 turnovers, just one less than the league-leading Chargers. Each of Seattle's three losses has involved at least three turnovers.

The team has an upcoming bye week, followed by a home game against the Kansas City Chiefs on October 25. Coach Mike Macdonald expressed confidence that the issues are fixable. "There’s things that we need to get better at quickly, and we know those things. They’re within our control, and that’s what we do. We find solutions, and we get things figured out. We move forward, and we evolve," Macdonald said. "The best teams in this league, they do that, and that’s what we want to be. We want to be one of the best teams in the league, as we know. We believe we can be."

Despite the offensive struggles, the Seahawks' defense, dubbed the “Dark Side,” limited the Broncos to 168 total yards and an average of 2.9 yards per play. Broncos quarterback Bo Nix managed only 107 passing yards, and top receiver RJ Harvey had just 31 yards. Denver finished with 74 rushing yards. Inside linebacker Ernest Jones IV recorded nine tackles and a sack.

Seattle's pass protection also needs improvement, as Darnold was hit 17 times against Denver, marking the second consecutive game with five sacks. Offensive inefficiency was further highlighted by Seattle converting only three of 14 third-down attempts against the Broncos.

Jaxon Smith-Njigba had a productive outing against Denver, catching 12 passes for 134 yards. He currently leads the NFL with 717 receiving yards and seven touchdowns, putting him on pace for a potential 2,000-yard season. He expressed hope for the team's turnaround, emphasizing the importance of sticking to the process and practicing hard.

Seattle's tight ends have not been a significant factor in the passing game, with AJ Barner leading the group with 15 catches for 138 yards and no touchdowns through six games. Elijah Arroyo left the Broncos game in the first half with a shoulder injury.

The 14 points scored against Denver snapped a streak of four consecutive games where the Seahawks had scored at least 29 points. They will face the undefeated Kansas City Chiefs after their bye week.