The Seattle Seahawks are in the driver's seat for the NFC West title and the first-round bye. But first, they need to beat the San Francisco 49ers in Week 18.
Entering the playoffs, regardless of whether they are the 1 seed or as low as the 6 seed, the Seahawks have one major issue they need to address by then.
As Brady Henderson of ESPN points out, the Seahawks have a Sam Darnold problem. While he's been a solid quarterback and is a Pro Bowler, his turnovers this season might come to haunt the Seahawks.
Seahawks have a major Sam Darnold turnover problem
"They've given the ball away 28 times this season, second most in the NFL," Henderson writes. "Their two turnovers Sunday came via a Sam Darnold fumble and interception."
Those two turnovers added to a lofty season-long total for the Seahawks, and put them with the second most in the NFL. Generally speaking, teams that turn the ball over that much won't make much headway in the playoffs.
While their defense can force just as many, if not more turnovers, relying on the defense to make up such slack is a recipe for disaster.
More: Seahawks' Sam Darnold has $5 million at stake in incentives this season
Darnold's two turnovers in Week 17 gave him 20 on the year, the most in the NFL this season. He has 14 interceptions and six fumbles.
To put it simply, that's not good enough for the Seahawks. He needs to secure the ball much better if the Seahawks want any hope of making the Super Bowl.
Darnold has been great for the Seahawks this season and is way better than Geno Smith at the moment. But if these turnover woes aren't fixed, the Seahawks could be at great risk of getting bounced from the playoffs before a deep run is made.
This is a big issue for the Seahawks, and one that Darnold can begin correcting in Week 18, as they make the trip to San Francisco to face a 49ers team eyeing the NFC West and the NFC's 1 seed.
More Seahawks News:
- NFC playoff standings, explained: How 49ers, Seahawks others can clinch No. 1 seed after Week 17 wins
- Seahawks have a good omen on their hands thanks to Pope Leo XIV
- New report reveals Seahawks-era complaint by DK Metcalf in ongoing fan saga
- Where Seahawks sit in NFC West, playoff picture after Week 17 win vs. Panthers
- Seahawks' Jaxon Smith-Njigba has eerily similar stats to Rams' Puka Nacua entering Week 17