Darnold, with everything on the line against the Rams, might have just shut down the career narrative that was beginning to define him.
A lot of players had plenty on the line in the Seattle Seahawks' NFC Championship game against the Los Angeles Rams.
But perhaps none more so than quarterback Sam Darnold.
Still living with the playoff failure last season with the Minnesota Vikings, as his 14-3 team lost 27-9 to the Rams, Sam was sacked nine times, and was seeing ghosts.
Sam had to carry that with him all year, and heading into the NFC Championship game, there was a chance to put things right.
And Darnold proved that he isn't that guy anymore, going 25-of-36 for 346 yards and 3 TDs en route to a 31-27 win, and leading his team to the Super Bowl.
Vindication for Sam.
And such was his performance that you could make the case Darnold played the best game of his life, in the biggest spot, when the lights were at their brightest.
For NFL.com's Judy Battista, Darnold was a big "winner" of Seattle booking their spot in the Super Bowl.
“He simply played the game of his life in the 31-27 win over the Los Angeles Rams, throwing for 346 yards and three touchdowns (with no interceptions), often with pressure in his face,” Battista wrote.
“And that it happened against the team that picked him off four times in a game earlier this season should have finally answered the question that has dogged Darnold his entire career: No, he will not mentally unravel, and yes, he can win the big game. Now, he's on to the biggest one of his career.”
There's no doubt that Darnold had the most to lose on Sunday, and equally, the most to gain.
The Rams were the reason he was dumped by Minnesota, and in 2025, they produced a four-takeaway game as he looked like he was unraveling.
But Darnold never waivered, in fact, neither did Seattle. Standing by its quarterback's side.
And on Sunday, Sam stepped up in the biggest way possible, as he vanquished those playoff demons. The entire football world now knows he won't wilt under the pressure.
Regardless of what happens in the Super Bowl, Darnold, in just four quarters of football, ended a narrative that has plagued him for the best part of a year.
A playoff spook no more.
Darnold faced those ghosts and ran headfirst into them.
Now, he's one game away from doing what Josh Allen, Lamar Jackson, and Joe Burrow have yet to do, and that's win a Super Bowl.