Sam Darnold's Struggles vs New England: What He Must Do to Win Super Bowl LX

Sam Darnold’s play against the New England Patriots has never been positive. Across four career starts versus the Patriots, Darnold has struggled mightily. 

He has averaged 172 passing yards per game, one total passing touchdown, and nine interceptions. It’s been a statistical nightmare that has helped define the “seeing ghosts” narrative that followed him early in his career. 

Despite this, he has a chance to make things right in the Super Bowl. Here, we will explain Darnold’s past against the Patriots, discuss New England’s defense and say what the quarterback must do to win the Super Bowl. 

Darnold’s History Against New England

Most of Darnold’s damage against the Patriots came during his Jets tenure, when he didn’t have a lot of support. Bill Belichick’s defenses consistently baited him into mistakes, disguising coverages pre-snap that he wasn’t ready to see. 

The result was a young quarterback pressing, and this ended in a lot of turnovers for Darnold. He is still a turnover-prone quarterback, but it has improved. 

Even when the quarterback moved on to Carolina, the issues persisted. While the Panthers’ matchup with New England was less disastrous, it still featured bad overall play from the quarterback. 

Different Time for Darnold

What makes this Super Bowl matchup fascinating is how Darnold can make things right. This is no longer a young quarterback trying to survive, but one that is thriving. 

Darnold enters the Super Bowl playing the best football of his career, in his first season with Seattle. He still throws interceptions, but he has a very short memory. 

While the ghosts of past performances still show, the quarterback on the field is not the same player New England tormented years ago. He will be ready for the Super Bowl. 

The Patriots’ defense still presents a lot of challenges for Darnold. New England remains elite at taking away a quarterback’s strengths and forcing uncomfortable decisions. 

They thrive on confusion and they will likely try to stop the run to put all the pressure on the quarterback. Their pass rush may not always get home, but it will heat the quarterback up, rushing progressions. 

How Does Sam Darnold Succeed?

Darnold must protect the football. The only way the Patriots have a realistic chance of winning is if the quarterback turns the ball over consistently. 

The Patriots are content to let opponents move the ball in small chunks because they have been able to cause critical mistakes. 

Darnold cannot force throws or he will put his defense in a tough spot. Taking sacks, throwing the ball away, and trusting field position is the way to beat New England. 

Darnold’s mobility could be an X-factor. He made some plays with his legs in the NFC Championship, and the runs were back-breaking. 

While he’s not a true dual-threat quarterback, he’s athletic enough to extend plays and pick up yards. New England can’t forget about his legs or they won’t win. 

Sam Darnold’s history against New England is ugly, but there is a reason the Seahawks are favorites. Seattle is -4.5 on FanDuel Sportsbook and -235 on the money line. 

If Darnold avenges his bad play against the Patriots, there is no reason why the Seahawks won’t prevail.

Bet on Your Big Game Favorites at FanDuel