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The Arizona Cardinals better brace themselves for the storm coming their way. The 6-2 Seattle Seahawks are riding a three-game winning streak, and as they head into Week 10, they’ll be looking to extend it. And the biggest threat for the team will be the Seahawks quarterback, Sam Darnold, as wide receiver Tory Horton predicted.

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“He always plays a chip on his shoulder,” the WR praised the QB. Sending a warning to the rest of the team, he said, “He’s on fire right now. He is only going get better.” Letting all 31 teams know that he is coming.

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This was after the Seahawks’ dominant win over the Washington Commanders. The show stealer was Darnold again as he completed 21 passes out of 24 attempts for 330 yards and four touchdowns. While he had an almost flawless game, he ended with one interception during the third.

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However, that faded next to his bright performance to lead the team. As per Sportradar, Darnold became the fourth QB since 1991 to throw four touchdown passes before missing a single one, alongside Lamar Jackson, Ryan Tannehill, and Tom Brady. During the game, he successfully threw 17 back-to-back passes without missing any. With this, he achieved another feat. He wasn’t sacked throughout the game.

He tied the team record for most passes completed in a row, which is held by Warren Moon as per ESPN Insights. And if he can do what Horton claimed, he will soon add more accolades to his name. Running back Kenneth Walker III finished with 11 carries for 42 yards and added two catches for 19 yards.

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The reason behind Seattle’s success is how the rest of the team steps up. Horton also had an impressive game, getting four catches for 48 yards and two touchdowns. While this might be surprising to those who doubted the QB’s abilities in the past, head coach Mike McDonald isn’t one of them.

“Believe me when I say it: I’m not surprised,” coach Macdonald said. “We watch Sam every day and how he operates. He’s the same guy every day, which is what you love about him. We’re chasing it. The guys are determined, and it’s fun to watch.”

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He added, “Sam’s execution right now is just ridiculous.”

Not just the coach, Darnold’s teammates are in awe of the QB. And fans are even adding him to the MVP conversation.

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Is Sam Darnold an MVP candidate?

The Seahawks started the season 3-2, with Darnold. Many believe he deserves to be in the MVP conversation. Gilberto Manzano even ranked the QB at No. 5 among MVP candidates.

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“The Seahawks were holding back Darnold until they finally unleashed him in the Week 5 shootout loss to the Buccaneers,” Manzano wrote. Yes, Darnold’s late interception allowed Tampa Bay to steal the game, but Seattle would have lost by double digits if it weren’t for Darnold being perfect for nearly four quarters,” Manzano wrote.

If he can maintain this level of play for the rest of the season, it wouldn’t be surprising to see him in the conversation. His game peaked after he teamed up with wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba.

During the post-game press conference, the receiver praised his quarterback for an “excellent game,” adding, “I love playing with him.” “He’s gonna go out there and execute, and he’s gonna play the hardest. That’s all you can ask.”

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 While his performance in Week 9 is a strong case, Darnold will need to overcome more challenges ahead to keep the momentum going

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Pritha Debroy

3,476 Articles

Pritha Debroy works with the NFL Lifestyle Desk at EssentiallySports, where she explores the league beyond the sidelines and focuses on the cultural nuances of football. Bringing a fresh perspective shaped by her background in basketball lifestyle stories and cross-sport expertise, she highlights how NFL athletes build influence off the field. A graduate of the EssentiallySports Journalistic Excellence Program, our in-house initiative that trains writers under industry experts, Pritha specializes in long-form features and player-driven stories that capture the evolving identity of today’s NFL stars. Pritha combines her passion for storytelling with a thoughtful approach to sports culture and lifestyle. With strong communication skills and an eye for detail, she brings a distinctive voice to NFL journalism, delivering engaging and insightful content that resonates with readers.

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Cristin Varghese

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