Patriots Fan Bill Simmons Poses Sam Darnold Question Before Super Bowl LX
'We've seen him flame out'
Sam Darnold can complete a storybook career resurrection when leading the Seattle Seahawks to a Super Bowl LX win over the New England Patriots. Bill Simmons wondered if the quarterback is receiving too much benefit of the doubt before Sunday’s big game.
Simmons, a noted Boston sports supporter, asked on “The Bill Simmons Podcast” if the public is suddenly too trusting of Darnold. The Ringer founder noted that the 28-year-old yielded an NFL-worst 20 turnovers during the season.
Darnold seems to have drastically shifted his public perception after completing 57 of 79 passes with no interceptions in Seattle’s last three wins. The Seahawks closed the regular season by defeating the San Francisco 49ers for the NFC West title before winning a second-round rematch.
“Sam Darnold had the most turnovers in the league — in the league!” Simmons said. “And up until Week 18 (against) San Francisco, everybody was like, ‘I don’t know.’ San Francisco is a 1.5-point favorite on the road, missing half their team. We were like, ‘I don’t know with Sam Darnold.'”
Darnold closed the 2024 campaign on a low note, as his Minnesota Vikings suffered a first-round playoff loss to the Los Angeles Rams. However, the former No. 3 pick got payback by amassing 346 passing yards and three touchdowns in an NFC Championship Game win over the Rams.
Simmons suggested everyone has forgotten Darnold’s shaky past too easily because of his most recent performance. He’s not as confident that the Seahawks can bank on another superb outing from the former New York Jets castoff.
“Gets to the playoffs. ‘I don’t know,'” Simmons said. “Looked really good against the Rams. ‘Sam Darnold, I trust him completely.’ Are you sure? We’ve seen him flame out in these games.”
