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Well, it wasn’t quite Rocky vs Apollo, but the heavyweight (sorry, that was mean) battle between the Seattle Seahawks’ much maligned kicker and Rivers doing his best Dennis Quaid “The Rookie” impression was some of the best bad football I can remember.
It was a historic day in Seattle for a lot of reasons. We saw a Seahawks team that looked like they may have been looking ahead to their date with the Los Angeles Rams, instead find themselves in the fight of their lives as the 44 year old gunslinger had Seattle on the ropes. The all-field goal performance brought Seattle their first 11 win season since 2020, and only their fourth win in 50 seasons in which they failed to score a touchdown.
It was a wacky one to say the least, so let’s break it all down.
First Down: Thank you, Jason Myers
Mr. Smelling salts to the rescue! On a night where the offense found itself stuck in quicksand, and never able to break through to the end zone, it was Myers who carried the day, and kept Seattle in the hunt for the NFC West title. A career best six-for-six on field goals made, Myers’s game winning 56-yard field goal was his second game winning kick of the season.
It hasn’t always been roses for Jason in Seattle, but 2025 has been a real breakthrough season. The 11 year veteran is 37 for 42 on field goal attempts, both career highs. He’s also a perfect 42 of 42 on extra points. This year has been a revelation for Seattle’s special teams unit, and it was cool (although stressful) to see Myers have his special moment in a special season.
Second Down: Thank you, Phillip Rivers
I was fortunate enough to be at the game Sunday, and you could just feel that we were about to watch something special when Phillip Rivers walked out onto the field.
No, he didn’t look like the guy that used to cook NFL defenses to a Hall of Fame career, but he was an absolute gladiator that entered a brutal arena and walked out upright and with the respect of the entire sporting world.
He’s a little crazy, but you kind of have to be to do what he did. I still find it equally terrifying and inspiring that he almost pulled that upset off. He truly is an inspiration to never being afraid to say yes to a challenge, no matter the odds.
This journey he is on will delay his inevitable trip to Canton for another five years, so enjoy these bonus final games we are witnessing. Hopefully he pulls off some magic against the 49ers as well.
Third Down: Sam Darnold delivered
Was this Sam Darnold’s best game as the Seahawks quarterback? No, but I believe it was his most important. On a night the Seahawks couldn’t score a touchdown, there was no running game, and the offensive line was getting bludgeoned, Sam had to fight through it as a potential franchise quarterback. The results may not have been sexy, Darnold finished 22/35 for 271 yards. He had zero turnovers, only took one sack, and led six scoring drives.
Most importantly, when the Seahawks needed him most, Sam led two go ahead drives in the final minutes to help save the Seahawks. He wasn’t perfect, but he delivered when it mattered most. Sometimes, you just have to find a way to win, and for Seattle to reach their goals, you can make a strong case he will need to deliver when it matters most, in every game here on out.
Fourth Down: ‘Black Sunday’ and its effect on Seattle
Sunday was really a dark day for the NFL, outside of Seattle. Horrific injuries that will have a massive impact on this playoff season, and possibly 2026.
In Kansas City, the dynasty came crashing down, with Patrick Mahomes tearing his ACL as the Chiefs were eliminated. In Denver, the Green Bay Packers blew a second half lead to the Broncos while losing star edge rusher Micah Parsons to a torn ACL. In Los Angeles, the Rams might be without star wide receiver Davante Adams for their battle with Seattle, after he appeared to suffer a hamstring injury running for a deep ball.
The odds of the Chiefs making the playoffs were slim, but the consequences of losing Mahomes may have massive repercussions for that franchise and the entire AFC going forward.
In the NFC, no Parsons really changes the ceiling of what this Packers team is capable of. All of the sudden, they have gone from sneaky top seed contenders, to possibly missing the playoffs.
For the Rams, the potential loss of Adams against the Seahawks is big. While he only caught one pass in the previous meeting in LA, it was for a touchdown, and he definitely alters the game plan for the Seahawks when he’s on the field. If he can’t play, I expect the Rams will have to adjust, with Puka Nacua drawing all the attention.
It’s the type of loss that could swing a game that looks incredibly tight, which in turn could swing the NFC West and the entire playoff landscape.
