After turnover-filled loss, Seahawks focusing on ‘process’

For most of last season, turnovers loomed as the Seattle Seahawks’ biggest Achilles heel.

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Seattle ultimately fixed the problem down the stretch, becoming the first Super Bowl champion to go its entire postseason run without committing a turnover.

But on Sunday, the issue came back to the forefront.

Rookie running back Jadarian Price lost a fumble and Sam Darnold threw two costly interceptions – including a pick-six in the closing minutes – as the Seahawks saw their franchise-best 12-game win streak end with a 33-31 loss to the Washington Commanders.

Seattle’s three turnovers directly led to 20 Washington points, which largely negated the Seahawks’ 437-258 advantage in total yardage.

“We were minus-three in the takeaway department,” Seattle head coach Mike Macdonald said. “In the NFL, what wins games is great situational football and taking care of the rock and playing complementary football and stacking plays.

“We didn’t do those things today and they did, so credit to them.”

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Darnold completed 31 of 45 passes for 379 yards and four touchdowns in his return from a glute injury that had sidelined him since the opening series of the season.

But the two-time Pro Bowl quarterback’s return was marred by two pivotal mistakes.

On the opening series of the second half, Darnold threw a pass over the middle that deflected off defensive tackle Tim Settle’s helmet and was picked off by rookie linebacker Sonny Styles. That led to a three-play, 43-yard TD drive that gave the Commanders a 24-10 lead.

Later on, Seattle trailed 27-24 with a little over four minutes remaining and the ball just inside midfield. Darnold rolled left on a play-action fake and tried to squeeze a pass over the middle to tight end AJ Barner, but second-year linebacker Kain Medrano jumped the route and raced the other way for a 50-yard pick-six that stretched Washington’s lead to 33-24.

“Just a bad decision,” Darnold said. “Got out there, the end did a good job of not letting me escape to the outside. Had to make a quick decision and should have dirted it at his feet. … That’s a ball I’ve gotta throw away.”

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The Seahawks’ other turnover came on their second series, when cornerback Amik Robertson knocked the ball out of Price’s hands on a carry. Washington recovered the fumble on the Seattle 21-yard line and scored four plays later to take an early 7-0 lead.

It was the second lost fumble in as many games for Price, who also had three fumbles with Notre Dame last season. After the fumble, Emanuel Wilson took over the primary running back duties for the rest of the first half. Price’s next carry didn’t come until early in the third quarter.

“We decided to calm it down and bring him back after the half,” Macdonald said of the team’s rookie first-round draft pick. “But he’s gonna be fine. He’s gonna figure it out. He’ll be fine.”

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Seattle committed 28 turnovers in the regular season last year, which was second-most in the NFL. Darnold was responsible for the bulk of those giveaways, turning the ball over a league-high 20 times with 14 interceptions and six lost fumbles.

But prior to Sunday, the Seahawks had turned the ball over only once in their past six games. They closed last season with four straight turnover-free games from Week 18 through the Super Bowl, and then committed only one turnover through their first two games this season.

After Sunday’s loss, the Seahawks emphasized a process-over-results approach.

“To not get the result you want, it hurts,” veteran wide receiver Cooper Kupp said. “But all it means is going back to the grindstone and finding ways to improve. Regardless of what that scoreboard says, it would be that same process coming in Monday and getting back to work.”

Seattle’s loss on Sunday was its first since Week 11 of last season, when Darnold threw four interceptions in a 21-19 defeat to the Los Angeles Rams. Linebacker Ernest Jones IV stood up for Darnold in his postgame press conference that day, delivering an impassioned defense of his quarterback that helped galvanize the Seahawks.

The rest was history, as Seattle rattled off 10 straight victories en route to the Lombardi Trophy.

“I know how we’re gonna respond,” Jones said after Sunday’s loss. “We’re gonna go to work, we’re gonna beat up on each other on Wednesday. Thursday, we’re gonna love up on each other. Friday, we’re gonna have a little fun.

“And as Saturday and Sunday roll around, we’re gonna go do what we’re supposed to do.”

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