Sam Darnold takes responsibility for costly turnovers in Seahawks' overtime loss to Broncos

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold has shouldered the blame for his team's 17-14 overtime loss to the Denver Broncos on Thursday night, describing his two late-game interceptions as "unacceptable." The defeat at Empower Field at Mile High marked a frustrating setback for the reigning Super Bowl champions, who now hold a 3-3 record and sit 2.5 games behind the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC West.

Darnold had successfully rallied the Seahawks from a 14-3 fourth-quarter deficit, orchestrating an 11-play, 67-yard drive that culminated in a 1-yard touchdown run by George Holani and a successful 2-point conversion to Rashid Shaheed. However, the momentum shifted when Darnold threw an interception on third-and-1 while targeting Tory Horton. After Jason Myers forced overtime with a 34-yard field goal, Darnold’s second interception—this time on a third-and-7 attempt to Shaheed—ultimately set up the Broncos for the winning score.

Darnold, who has thrown seven interceptions in the four games since returning from a glute injury, expressed frustration with his recent ball security. "I just think it's B.S. for me to keep turning the ball over," Darnold told reporters. "It's not fair to our defense, it's not fair to our special teams group, not fair really to the entire team." He noted that on his final interception, he bypassed an open Cooper Kupp, admitting he became "greedy" rather than trusting his progressions.

The turnover issue has become a recurring theme for Seattle, which has committed 12 turnovers in six games. Notably, 10 of those turnovers occurred during the team's three losses, leading to 44 points for their opponents. Following the game, defensive tackle Leonard Williams praised Darnold for his accountability in the locker room, stating that the team maintains confidence in their quarterback’s ability to overcome this difficult stretch.