How does Seahawks QB Sam Darnold's historic NFC Championship game compare all-time?
Darnold put forth one of the best performances at the conference championship level in recent memory
The Seattle Seahawks had a playoff run for the ages en route to their second Super Bowl championship in franchise history. They obliterated the San Francisco 49ers to the tune of 41-6 in the Divisional Round. Seattle then outlasted the explosive LA Rams in a 31-27 shootout.
Finally, the Seahawks earned revenge on the New England Patriots by dominating them 29-13 in Super Bowl LX. Oh, not to mention they did it in the 49ers' home stadium and celebrated in San Francisco's locker room. You simply couldn't script it better even if you tried.
However, one aspect of Seattle's remarkable run that I feel is getting a tad overlooked is just how incredible quarterback Sam Darnold performed in the NFC Championship game. Plenty of buzz about the Seahawks this season revolved around wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba, their defense, and Kenneth Walker III in the playoffs. All deservedly so!
But we need to be talking more about what Sam Darnold did in the conference championship because it was one of the best performances we have seen from a quarterback in recent years. No, that is not an exaggeration. Darnold's 346 passing yards are tied with Aaron Rodgers (who had the same total in a loss in 2020) for fifth most by a quarterback in a conference championship game over the last decade.