Sam Darnold made things very awkward here.

Sam Darnold was in no mood to talk to ESPN’s Laura Rutledge after leading his Seattle Seahawks to a statement win over the San Francisco 49ers on Saturday.

The Seahawks defeated their archrivals 13-3 to secure the NFC West and the conference’s No. 1 seed. The NFC road to Super Bowl 60 will run through Seattle, while the 49ers will be forced to begin the postseason on the road.

After the Seahawks’ big win, Laura Rutledge attempted to get a post-game interview with Darnold. The 28-year-old, however, had no interest in speaking to Rutledge.


This scene was eerily similar to what happened in Week 14. Laura Rutledge tried talking to quarterback Justin Herbert after the Los Angeles Chargers defeated the Philadelphia Eagles in overtime. Herbert refused, citing his wish to celebrate with his team.

Per NFL.com, Sam Darnold’s 2025 regular season ends with a 67.7 completion percentage for 4,048 yards, 25 touchdowns and 14 interceptions. Now, he’s just two home wins away from playing in the Super Bowl.

The Seahawks now get to enjoy a two-week break before their first playoff game.

Luka Doncic ‘destroys’ the Mavs on his return. Gets standing ovation and shows love to Mark Cuban

Luka Doncic hits 45 points in his first game in Dallas since being traded to the Los Angeles.

It’s rare for a home crowd to cheer the visiting team, but Luka Doncic’s return to Dallas was no ordinary night.

Just days before February’s trade deadline, the Mavericks shocked the NBA by sending their 26-year-old superstar to the Lakers—a move that outraged fans and sparked backlash toward GM Nico Harrison.

On Wednesday, Doncic played his first game back in Dallas since the trade. The arena was filled with fans in both his old Mavs and new Lakers jerseys, many chanting “Fire Nico” in protest.

Despite the emotion in the air, Doncic delivered a dominant performance, scoring a game-high 45 points to lead the Lakers to a 112-97 win. It was a powerful return for one of the league’s brightest stars—and a night Dallas won’t soon forget

The Mavericks pay tribute to Luka Dončić

While the Mavericks’ decision to trade Luka Doncic remains heavily criticized, they handled his return to Dallas with undeniable grace. The organization made sure his first game back as a Laker was met with respect and appreciation.

Every seat in the arena was draped with a T-shirt reading “Hvala za vse,” which translates from Slovenian to “thank you for everything.” It was a thoughtful nod to Doncic’s heritage and impact on the franchise.

Before tip-off, during the starting lineup announcements, the Mavericks played a tribute video showcasing some of Doncic’s most iconic moments in a Dallas jersey. The emotional gesture clearly resonated—moving Doncic to tears in front of the crowd that once called him their own.

Luka Doncic ‘DESTROYS’ his old team

Luka delivered a dazzling performance against his former team, putting up 45 points on 16-of-28 shooting, including 7-of-10 from beyond the arc. He also added 8 rebounds, 6 assists, and 4 steals in a game that showed exactly why he’s one of the best in the league.


From the opening tip, Doncic was locked in. By halftime, Doncic had racked up 31 points on 11-of-16 shooting in just 19 minutes—marking the 10th time in his career he’s scored 30 or more in a single half.

Though his scoring slowed in the second half, he continued to lead effectively, securing both a Lakers win and an unforgettable showing for the fans in Dallas.