Yahoo Sports NFL on Sam Darnold

ArticleNFL power rankings: Nick’s picks for how teams stack up before Week 2September 17, 2026

From the article

losing Sam Darnold and starting Drew Lock for the foreseeable future had an effect.

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STACKED’s take

Negative signalInjury

Darnold lost for foreseeable future; Seahawks drop to No. 3 despite defensive strength.

Sam Darnold was lost for the foreseeable future, forcing the Seahawks to start Drew Lock despite winning 13-10 against the Patriots. This injury drop Seattle from No. 1 to No. 3 in power rankings despite the defense and Mike MacDonald's operation remaining top-notch.