The Seattle Seahawks‘ dominant win over the San Francisco 49ers has now pushed their record to a massive 14-3. Along with helping them secure their top position in the NFC West, a first seed is also confirmed for the team. However, despite the unmatched status, their quarterback, Sam Darnold, still sees areas of improvement in his own game.

While speaking in a recent press conference, Sam Darnold appreciated his team’s overall offensive unit. But the 28-year-old didn’t back down from pinpointing his flaws.

“We just got a resilient group, no matter what happens,” Darnold said. “I feel like I missed a couple throws, or I feel like I had sharps open on that first drive in the end zone. I feel like I could have just put the ball on him and let him score.”

Darnold played a commendable game in the Seahawks’ 13-3 win over the 49ers. The quarterback completed 20 of 26 passes for a total of 198 yards with a pass rating of 97.9.

The Seahawks opened with a strong rushing drive capped by Zach Charbonnet’s 27-yard touchdown run. This set the tone while Darnold managed the game from the pocket. They also sustained other scoring opportunities, including long drives that resulted in Jason Myers’ field goals, where Darnold moved the offense into scoring range without forcing risky throws.

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Darnold also protected the ball throughout and therefore avoided sacks and turnovers even as San Francisco applied occasional pressure. However, this isn’t the only pressure that Darnold has to handle. The QB entered the Week 18 matchup against San Francisco under demands that go beyond playoff seeding. Seattle is chasing the top NFC record, but Darnold is fighting for credibility and long-term trust. While Darnold’s efficient, turnover-free performance was exactly what Seattle needed, the pressure on him extends far beyond a single game.

Analyst Ryan Clark said Darnold faces more pressure than any quarterback this week, making it clear that every decision and throw will be heavily scrutinized.

Last season, Darnold failed to deliver in similar high-stakes moments, collapsing late in the regular season and again in the Wild Card round. Those performances still impact the way his play is evaluated. A win alone is not enough, his execution has to be convincing.

A massive $1 million bonus awaits Sam Darnold following the latest achievement

Besides the pressure and troubles, Sam Darnold’s performance throughout the season has been worth rewarding, and his contract with the Seahawks demands the same. Sam Darnold earned a $1 million bonus on Saturday while leading the Seahawks to the No. 1 seed in the NFC. Darnold crossed the 4,000-yard mark for the season during Seattle’s 13-3 victory over the 49ers. This activated a $500,000 incentive in his contract (per Spotrac).

He also raised his season completion rate above 67.5 percent, which unlocked an additional $500,000 bonus. The incentives were reached as part of his overall performance across the season and were finalized during the Week 18 win against the San Francisco 49ers. The game also secured the team’s home-field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs.

While he received this sum, Darnold narrowly missed adding another incentive to his contract on Saturday. He needed to push his passer rating to 100 for the season, but finished the game at 97.92. This left the bonus on the table. Other bonuses are linked to how far the team advances. This includes payouts for wins in the divisional round, the NFC Championship Game, and the Super Bowl. The Week 18 victory also earned a first-round bye, giving the team extra time to prepare and the advantage of playing at home as the playoffs begin.