Explosive plays and clutch offensive drives propel the Seahawks past the Rams, securing their Super Bowl berth in a thrilling NFC Championship showdown.
The 12th Man in pro football resides in Seattle, born as a force multiplier for their beloved Seahawks.
Seattle’s No. 1 scoring defense in the NFL faced off against quarterback Matthew Stafford and the league-leading Los Angeles Rams offense in the NFC Championship Game on Sunday.
The Seahawks came into the game as -2.5-point favorites. They left the field victorious as Seattle defeated the Rams 31-27 and earned a trip to Super Bowl LX vs. the New England Patriots.
A lot happened in this game on Sunday before a charged-up Lumen Field crowd. Here are the takeaways from the Seahawks Super Bowl-clinching victory. ...
Explosive Plays
The Seahawks wasted no time on their first possession, dialing up a 51-yard strike from quarterback Sam Darnold to Rashid Shaheed on 3rd down and 5. Four plays later, running back Kenneth Walker scored from 2-yards out to take an early 7-0 lead.
In the first quarter, the Rams were held to just two first downs and ran only 10 plays on offense. By contrast, the Seahawks ran 18 plays, gained seven first downs and 147 total yards as Seattle led 10-3.
After a punt by Seattle, Stafford connected with Nacua for 21 yards, then Blake Corum ran for 19. With 2:00 left in the half inside the Seahawks 10-yard line, Stafford connected with Kyren Williams, who ran untouched into the end zone to take the lead at 13-10.
Both teams traded punts late in the first half, and the Seahawks got the ball back with 0:54 left in the half. Darnold found Jaxon Smith-Njigba for 42 yards. On 2nd and goal with 0:20 left on the clock, Darnold found Smith-Njigba alone in the end zone to take back the momentum and the lead at 17-13 at halftime. Smith-Njigba caught seven passes for 115 yards and a touchdown in the first half.
First Half Field Goals vs. Touchdowns
The Rams being forced to settle for two field goals by the Seahawks defense kept the game close in the first half. One field goal was the result of a sack on Stafford that killed a drive.
Turnovers
The Seahawks got the football to start the second half, but were forced to punt. The Rams fumbled the punt, and the Seahawks recovered. On the next play, Darnold connected with Jake Bobo for a touchdown to increase their lead to 24-13.
Stafford Answers
After the miscue on special teams, something that has haunted the Rams all season, Stafford drove the Rams right back down the field. He found Adams for 29 yards, and then found Adams again in the end zone for a score that cut the Seahawks lead to 24-20. It was now a one-score game, and it was Stafford’s second touchdown pass of the day. The Rams would not go quietly into the night.
Darnold Answers
The Seahawks answered the bell in this prize fight as Darnold drove Seattle down the field and scored on a Darnold pass to Cooper Kupp to make it a two-score game and increase their lead to 31-20. It was Darnold’s third TD pass of the game.
Penalties are Like Daggers
On 4th and 12, the Rams were forced to punt. But an unsportsmanlike conduct on Seattle gave the Rams a fresh set of downs. On the next play, Stafford connected with Nacua on a deep route to the pylon for a touchdown. The Rams trailed by four points at 31-27 at the end of the third quarter.
15 Minutes Until Super Bowl LX
On the Seahawks first possession of the fourth quarter, Darnold was the victim of his third sack that put the Seahawks in long down and distance situations. The Rams defense forced a Seattle punt.
On the Rams possession, on 4th and 1, Stafford scrambled for the first down to keep the drive alive. Stafford directed the NFL’s top offense down into the Seahawks red zone and on 3rd down and 4, Stafford’s pass was knocked away incomplete. The Rams went for it on 4th and 4 as Stafford threw to the end zone, but the pass was batted away. Seattle took over on downs.
On a drive that started in the shadow of their own goal line, Seattle controlled the clock the rest of the way, converting and keeping drives alive as the clock ticked down. The Rams did get one last chance, but came up short as the clock struck all zeros.
In the third meeting this season between these two teams, Darnold saved his best game against the Rams for when it counted the most: 346 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions. Njigba, who could not be covered or stopped, finished with 10 catches for 153 yards and a touchdown.
The Seahawks are the NFC champs, as they improved to 15-3 ... and now they - and The 12th Man - move on to Super Bowl LX.