The Ringer NFL Show Mike Macdonald Needs to Trust Sam Darnold More, With Jacson Bevens
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Sep 26, 2025 Jacson Bevens, host of the Cigar Thoughts podcast and a Seahawks analyst, brings his insights on Seattle's thrilling win over Arizona. He questions Mike Macdonald's conservative strategies and emphasizes the need to trust Sam Darnold, who’s proving his worth. They discuss the Seahawks' playoff potential and how Jaxon Smith-Njigba is emerging as a game-changer. Bevens also critiques the Cardinals' struggles, highlighting their coaching issues and lack of consistency. It's an engaging breakdown of the Seahawks' promising season!
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United Pilot Celebration Story
- Jacson Bevens shared a light story about a United Airlines pilot celebrating a passenger's recovery with drinks and donuts.
- The brief anecdote set a casual tone before the football discussion began.
McDonald’s Conservative Game Management Limits Upside
- Mike Macdonald tends to play conservatively to protect Sam Darnold and trust the defense, which can shrink offensive upside in key moments.
- Both hosts argued letting Darnold play more aggressively on critical drives would likely produce better outcomes than repeatedly running or settling for field goals.
Put The Ball In Darnold’s Hands On Key Drives
- Give Sam Darnold the ball in high-leverage passing situations instead of defaulting to the run or conservative choices.
- Use Darnold's success on deep and third-down throws to finish drives and avoid settling for long field goals.