Rams defense looking forward to flashing 'receiver skills' vs. Sam Darnold, Seahawks 

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The Los Angeles Rams plan to keep giving Sam Darnold fits.

Chris Shula’s defense has rattled the Seattle Seahawks quarterback. Dating back to last season with the Minnesota Vikings, Darnold has thrown seven interceptions and turned the ball over eight times against the Rams, the most by any quarterback against a single opponent. He’s also been sacked 16 times in that span, tied for most.

Darnold led the NFL with 20 giveaways in 2025, with 14 INTs and six lost fumbles. Six of those 14 interceptions came against L.A. Safety Kamren Kinchens snagged two of the four Rams’ INTs in their Week 11 meeting.

“Usually, you hope a guy doesn’t make the same mistake twice,” Kinchens said of Darnold, via the Los Angeles Times. “In my case, I’m hoping he makes the same mistake twice, because that’s more picks for me.”

Four of the second-year safety’s six career INTs have come against Seattle. He was asked if the Seahawks are his favorite team to face.

“Yes,” Kinchens said, “Because they like to test the secondary. They have good receivers and Sam Darnold wants to throw the ball down the field and push it down the field.

“That’s a lot of opportunities, and I love when I get to show people my receiver skills.”

The Rams know that to get a chance at those picks, they must pressure Darnold.

“No rush,” cornerback Cobie Durant said. “No picks.”

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Darnold, who is dealing with an oblique injury, has been excellent in his first season in Seattle, but pressure can force issues.

Of Darnold’s 20 giveaways, 11 came under pressure in 2025 (tied for most with Joe Flacco). Six of the QB’s interceptions came under pressure, tied for fourth-most. Per Next Gen Stats, Darnold was pressured on just 29.4 percent of dropbacks, sixth-lowest in the league, but 7.2 percent of those dropbacks under pressure resulted in a giveaway, tops in 2025.

The Rams pressured opponents on 38.0 percent of dropbacks (fifth-highest). In Week 11, they pressured Darnold on 28.9 percent of his dropbacks, with a 33.3 percent rate in Week 16. Per NGS, Darnold had a 26.7 passer rating under pressure against the Rams in 2025, with 5.4 yards per attempt, zero TDs and three INTs. Not under pressure, those numbers leaped to 7.7 YPA, two TDs, three INTs and an 83.2 passer rating.

The Rams acutely used stunts and pressure schemes to rattle Darnold. In the third meeting, Shula knows Seattle will be ready for what he throws at the QB.

“I don’t think either of us are going to be tricking each other,” the DC said.

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