Quarterback Sam Darnold isn’t sugarcoating anything as the Seattle Seahawks gear up for the Super Bowl. Speaking after their 31-27 win over the Los Angeles Rams, Darnold shared an honest update on his health and how it translated onto the field. He dismissed concerns about limited practice time and seemed more confident to face the New England Patriots next month.

“Not really, I think, I’ve actually talked to my teammates about this, but I think we, middle of the season, week nine or ten, I think it might have been a bigger problem,” he said on if his reduced reps caused problems, via ESPN‘s Brady Henderson’s post on X. 

“But with all the reps that we’ve accumulated throughout the season and throughout training camp, OTAs, all that stuff, I wasn’t really concerned about timing or anything like that on certain reps.”

Sam Darnold also spoke about playing through an oblique injury for a second straight week. He said he felt good physically and even described the moment as “almost poetic,” referencing the Cougar Cup. The 28-year-old was injury-free throughout the campaign. It was until he hurt his oblique just two days before the divisional game against the San Francisco 49ers. 

Since then, he practiced in a limited capacity. Though he didn’t receive an injury designation before Sunday’s game, his reduced participation raised concerns. Meanwhile, Seattle navigated the situation cautiously, dividing Darnold’s practice reps between backup quarterback Drew Lock. Additionally, the coaches also limited his deep throws during the week and allowed him to make only short and medium ones.

That plan paid off as Darnold delivered a moderate, clean performance during a 41-6 win over the Niners, posting 124 yards and one score. With Seattle holding a first-quarter 17-0 lead, the QB made just 17 passes before handing over the job to Lock once the outcome was secure. And this time, he not only finished the game but brushed off all concerns through his performance.

He recorded nearly 350 passing yards and three touchdowns. Sam Darnold seems to be riding high on this postseason success. But his history against the Patriots hasn’t been very kind.

Sam Darnold recounts past struggles against New England

Just one year after Sam Darnold entered the NFL, he found himself struggling against the Patriots. Turns out, the night was etched into his memory as he described it as “seeing ghosts.” Back then, he played for the New York Jets, and the Patriots’ defense once rattled him by forcing four interceptions and a fumble. They edged out the Jets in a lopsided manner, with the loss following the QB for years.

Now, Darnold is set to face the same opponents next month, but the match carries way higher stakes. Reporters recently asked about the horrific night after the Seahawks’ win over the Rams. Darnold simply explained why it happened the way it happened. 

“There was a lot that I didn’t know back then,” he said. “So you know, I’m just gonna continue to learn and grow in this great game. You know, there’s a lot of stuff I can get better from today, even. I feel like I missed some throws out there that I shouldn’t miss. You know, there were some things offensively that I feel like we can do better, so we’re always looking to get better.”

In Darnold’s opinion, no matter how big the win, there’s always something to improve. This healthy mindset already paves the way for his success. But his confidence also stems from the fact that things have changed drastically since the 2019 game. He had a breakout season with the Minnesota Vikings last year. That year earned him a reputation as one of the NFL’s most explosive signal callers.

This regular season, he threw for over 4,048 yards and 25 touchdowns. He was also instrumental in leading Seattle to a 14-3 record and the NFC’s top seed. He roared against the Rams, and he will now carry the winning momentum in redefining his story against New England.