Colin Cowherd Podcast - INSTANT REACTION: Seahawks Dominate Patriots To Win The Super Bowl, Sam Darnold’s Incredible Career Arc

All right, this one hit me. I was joking with the guys about crying, then Seattle handled New England 29 to 13 with Sam Darnold clean, Walker chewing clock, and Myers piling on points. I thought the Pats could throw a bit, but this turned into a blowout; did that surprise you?

Not with that offensive line against Seattle’s front. You can’t run on them, so you must pass, and their left tackle looks like a guard; Mike Macdonald coached a masterpiece that felt MVP-level from the sideline.

Shanahan basically called a rout if Sam avoided turnovers, and Vrabel’s first-quarter hyper-aggression screamed they needed a Darnold mistake. Sam’s arc is wild—reckless talent to the league’s best game manager, taking sacks, throwing it away, using his legs only when it’s there; he feels top ten right now.

Christian McCaffrey said it well: Sam’s attitude never wavered. In this Kubiak-Shanahan system his arm and decision-making unlock stuff that old-school game managers didn’t have; it’s a genuinely great turnaround story.

Five playoff touchdowns, no picks, 700 total yards, a ring—more than the teams that moved off him in decades. First half looked like I expected, but New England’s defense wore down, and even Collinsworth said Drake May wasn’t ready; the Pats are still rebuilding that line and need more help at tight end and receiver.

Sam settled in because he’s seen it all; Drake got rattled by disguise and pressure. Seattle’s special teams are nails and that defense against a leaky line was a mismatch, just like Houston exposed earlier.

People called it boring, but that was New England’s only path: hit big throws with Drake and keep Sam mistake-free. Stars still popped—Walker, Witherspoon, Gonzalez—and Seattle’s roster looks young with few holes, maybe one more receiver.

I’d keep stacking the defensive line. Witherspoon looked like a heat-seeking missile, and Schneider keeps finding offensive value later; they run like the coastal Packers, steady regardless of the coach.

The NFC West might house three of the league’s top five coaches, and Macdonald’s a likable defensive savant.

John Schneider preaches coach-GM marriage and modern collaboration. Football bakes in humility—guys embrace a teammate who’s been through it—which is why Sam’s redemption from a meme to a champ lands so hard.

He came in with linebacker grit, got labeled, and didn’t fold into a career backup. Last year proved he wasn’t a passenger, and now the window’s open.

Mobility matters in today’s game. Sam kept plays alive all night, while a less mobile veteran like Stafford has to win from tight pockets.

Sam’s pocket movement has leveled up; Drake May runs more because he’s still learning the pictures. Darnold now slides, resets, and throws like a vet—very Brady-like laterally.

Seeing ghosts is also what happens when you’re hit nonstop; Drake missed layups because the hits and coverage rotations scrambled him. North Carolina didn’t prep him for this tempo.

At one point it was eight drives, eight punts. Vrabel will probably tell him privately no one was winning behind that protection—you could see from the first snap they couldn’t run or even live in quick game.

Functional strength is real; you can’t fake anchor at left tackle, and pass rushers hunt weak links. Drake forced throws like young Elway in that Niners blowout; you could’ve given MVP to Walker, Myers, or honestly Macdonald.

Seven sacks is the difference between a muddy pocket and quicksand. Experience shows up in audibles and poise; Drake wasn’t ready to carry it when asked to throw a lot.

Josh Allen’s got to be sick. The Pats were a year early and exposed; even great coaches can’t scheme around a line that can’t block.

Washington versus New England shows why ownership and coaching stability matter. Vrabel’s opening script told you they couldn’t chase; they’ll be better soon, but this was the AFC window for Buffalo.

That conference is a quarterback gauntlet, and Herbert’s going to be judged only in January now.

So where do you rank Sam in the NFC? With the arm and movement, I’d take him over a bunch; it wouldn’t shock me if next year the two best are Caleb Williams and Sam Darnold.

Caleb needs consistency, but coaching stability travels. The NFC’s high end isn’t the AFC’s; expect a similar playoff cast with Seattle, the Rams, Niners, Packers, and the Eagles.

We’re seeing more coaching churn and it’s easier to spot risers; Seattle looks like a yearly lock unless the OC swap whiffs.

Sam chose the right home. Minnesota’s messy; Seattle’s infrastructure with Macdonald and a Hall of Fame-caliber GM in Schneider gives him runway and likely an extension.

Adversity makes you grateful. I can see Sam taking reasonable team-friendly deals to keep this core together after living the other side.

Team-friendly will still be huge money, but fit matters. Don’t overpay the wrong quarterbacks or chase bad head-coaching openings; the situation can bury you.

Former NFL scout John Middlekauff’s here, and the Seahawks are champs, 29 to 13. Walker’s MVP, Myers set a record, and Darnold stayed clean—his arc feels complete.

That trophy probably added a billion to the sale price.

Eight or so sounds right if a whale buys control and syndicates the rest. I’m happy, I’ll sleep well, and I’m off to see my sister—see ya.