I still can’t believe Sam Darnold won a Superbowl

[Legatron4]

I was just going through my usual weekly Rams highlights, watching the new guys and I decided to finally rewatch the NFC championship. I’m am still in total shock that Sam Darnold has a ring. It actually might be the most bewildering thing to ever happen in the NFL. I truly do not understand how in the world this was ever able to take place.

I mean, look at this year by year stat line. How the fuck did he just randomly become good? None of it makes sense. I don’t think I’ll ever get over it.

2025 2025	SEA	4,048 4,048​	25 25​	14 14​	99.1 99.1​
2024 2024	MIN	4,319 4,319​	35 35​	12 12​	102.5 102.5​
2023 2023	SF	297 297​	2 2​	1 1​	85.1 85.1​
2022 2022	CAR	1,143 1,143​	7 7​	3 3​	92.6 92.6​
2021 2021	CAR	2,527 2,527​	9 9​	13 13​	71.9 71.9​
2020 2020	NYJ	2,208 2,208​	9 9​	11 11​	72.7 72.7​
2019 2019	NYJ	3,024 3,024​	19 19​	13 13​	84.3 84.3​
2018 2018	NYJ	2,865 2,865​	17 17​	15 15​	77.​

Anyway, rant over. It just blows my mind.

 

[HitStick]

I was just going through my usual weekly Rams highlights, watching the new guys and I decided to finally rewatch the NFC championship. I’m am still in total shock that Sam Darnold has a ring. It actually might be the most bewildering thing to ever happen in the NFL. I truly do not understand how in the world this was ever able to take place.

I mean, look at this year by year stat line. How the fuck did he just randomly become good? None of it makes sense. I don’t think I’ll ever get over it.

2025 2025	SEA	4,048 4,048​	25 25​	14 14​	99.1 99.1​
2024 2024	MIN	4,319 4,319​	35 35​	12 12​	102.5 102.5​
2023 2023	SF	297 297​	2 2​	1 1​	85.1 85.1​
2022 2022	CAR	1,143 1,143​	7 7​	3 3​	92.6 92.6​
2021 2021	CAR	2,527 2,527​	9 9​	13 13​	71.9 71.9​
2020 2020	NYJ	2,208 2,208​	9 9​	11 11​	72.7 72.7​
2019 2019	NYJ	3,024 3,024​	19 19​	13 13​	84.3 84.3​
2018 2018	NYJ	2,865 2,865​	17 17​	15 15​	77.​

Anyway, rant over. It just blows my mind.

That’s easy….

Jets
Jets
Jets
Carolina
Carolina


Then he gets good coaching from Shannahan

Goes to a decent team with a decent coach.

Goes to a stacked team.

It’s not rocket science. Very few quarterbacks can out play bad coaching. I seriously doubt any quarterback can do it in his first three years

 

[fearsomefour]

I agree with Hit Stick.
Darnold has elite traits, first round traits.
He finally got good coaching that knew how to play to his strengths.
As far as Darnold winning a Super Bowl being the strangest one......
Both Trent Dilfer and Tony Banks disagree.

 

[Psycho_X]

He was great under Kevin O'Connell when protected. But they asked him to win the games for them with mediocre defense and once his protection broke down he couldn't handle it. Seahawks didn't ask him to win it for them just not turn it over and rely on defense.

 

[jjab360]

That’s easy….

Jets
Jets
Jets
Carolina
Carolina


Then he gets good coaching from Shannahan

Goes to a decent team with a decent coach.

Goes to a stacked team.

It’s not rocket science. Very few quarterbacks can out play bad coaching. I seriously doubt any quarterback can do it in his first three years

Exactly. That and some QBs need time to develop but the NFL has just become a "win now" league and teams don't have the patience to wait for that to happen. A bad team drafted a good QB prospect and watched a good team reap the benefits.

 

[jjab360]

He was great under Kevin O'Connell when protected. But they asked him to win the games for them with mediocre defense and once his protection broke down he couldn't handle it. Seahawks didn't ask him to win it for them just not turn it over and rely on defense.

We broke that Vikings team in the playoffs and they couldn't handle it and blamed it on Darnold. I feel for KOC as a former Ram but he unexpectedly had a good thing going with Darnold and royally fucked it up by sticking to the plan with McCarthy. They had plenty of practice reps to evaluate so I don't know how they didn't see last year's disaster coming.

 

[Merlin]

Sam wasn't good enough for years. But to his credit he worked hard and elevated his game. And it makes me fuckin sick he won that title with Seattle.

 

[TexasRam]

Darnold averaged 160 yards and 1 TD in the Niners divisional game and Super Bowl. Let the defense and special teams win the games. Not even average QB production numbers.

It’s the championship game vs us where he shined. Our terrible secondary that we ignored in free agency and the draft to go for a TE.

We learned our lesson.

Darnold is still a game manager that will require a healthy Elite defense to lead the way or he is toast.

 

[dang]

Sam wasn't good enough for years. But to his credit he worked hard and elevated his game. And it makes me fuckin sick he won that title with Seattle.

Darnold was good enough to expose a C- Rams DB group. And it didn’t hurt that he had a RB who peaked in the playoffs.

 

[Merlin]

He definitely capitalized on our shit secondary. But I still think he was underestimated. Dude did a lot of good things for Minnesota that year, winning that many games was impressive by itself. And he got the job done.

Seattle's a defensive team. But defense is also a QB's best friend. Limits your mistakes, gets you the ball back, lets you play hero.

 

[Rambitious1]

Darnold was good enough to expose a C- Rams DB group. And it didn’t hurt that he had a RB who peaked in the playoffs.

And let’s not forget that last year many of the perennially good teams picked that season to have a bad year.

 

[Coliseum Ram]

I agree with Hit Stick.
Darnold has elite traits, first round traits.
He finally got good coaching that knew how to play to his strengths.
As far as Darnold winning a Super Bowl being the strangest one......
Both Trent Dilfer and Tony Banks disagree.

LOL, Tony Banks DID NOT, win a Super Bowl. At least not playing.

 

[Coliseum Ram]

Sam wasn't good enough for years. But to his credit he worked hard and elevated his game. And it makes me fuckin sick he won that title with Seattle.

Kupp winning with Seattle makes me FAR sicker than Darnold winning it.