Having thrown a combined six interceptions in his last two starts in Jacksonville, Sam Darnold wasn’t about to get greedy this time. The veteran quarterback played smart, efficient football — and it paid off in a big way.
Darnold threw for 295 yards and two touchdowns, connecting with Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Cooper Kupp, as the Seattle Seahawks dominated both lines of scrimmage on their way to a 20-12 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday.
It was a bounce-back win for Seattle (4-2), who rebounded from last week’s heartbreaking loss to the Buccaneers and improved to 22-6 over the last decade in 1 p.m. East Coast kickoffs — a testament to their preparation and poise.
Jaxon Smith-Njigba was the game’s brightest star, torching Jacksonville’s secondary for eight receptions, 162 yards, and a long touchdown. His first catch came at the expense of newly acquired cornerback Greg Newsome, who was burned on his first snap as a Jaguar for a 61-yard score.
Jacksonville had traded longtime corner Tyson Campbell for Newsome just four days earlier, and his debut could hardly have gone worse.
From the opening series, the Seahawks made it clear they would dictate the pace. The Jaguars’ first three offensive snaps — a sack, a holding penalty, and a 3-yard loss — set the tone for a long afternoon.
Jacksonville (4-2) looked sluggish and unfocused after an emotional Monday night win over the Kansas City Chiefs. The Jaguars committed 10 penalties for 76 yards, gave up a season-high seven sacks, and were pushed around on both sides of the ball.
Trevor Lawrence completed 23 of 35 passes for 242 yards and a touchdown but faced relentless pressure throughout. Travis Etienne was bottled up, managing just 27 yards on 12 carries, while rookie wideout Brian Thomas Jr. had a forgettable day — dropping an uncontested third-down pass late and seeing a 54-yard touchdown wiped out by an offsides penalty on fellow rookie Travis Hunter.
Seattle wasn’t perfect offensively, converting just 1 of 11 third-down attempts, but Darnold’s decision-making was sharp throughout. His 61-yard strike to tight end AJ Barner in the final minutes allowed the Seahawks to drain the clock after yet another Jaguars penalty, sealing the win.
It marked the first time all season that Jacksonville failed to record a takeaway — a stunning development for a defense that entered Week 6 leading the NFL with 14.
Before kickoff, Jaguars defensive end and team captain Josh Hines-Allen shared a powerful moment with his 8-year-old son, Wesley, during the coin toss. As part of the NFL’s “Crucial Catch” initiative, Wesley served as an honorary captain just two months after completing treatment for pediatric cancer. Diagnosed with acute promyelocytic leukemia in December, Wesley endured six months of chemotherapy and now stands as a symbol of hope and resilience.
The Seahawks stay within the AFC South as they host the Houston Texans next Monday night. The Jaguars, meanwhile, will look to regroup as they “host” the Los Angeles Rams at Wembley Stadium in London next Sunday.
