The NFC Championship Game is living up to the hype - and then some. After a pair of razor-thin regular-season matchups, the Los Angeles Rams and Seattle Seahawks are once again locked in a tight battle, with Seattle holding a 17-13 edge at halftime in front of a raucous home crowd at Lumen Field.
This one started fast. Seattle wasted no time setting the tone, forcing a quick Rams three-and-out before striking quickly on offense.
Sam Darnold, who’s been quietly efficient all postseason, uncorked a 51-yard bomb to Rashid Shaheed on a vertical route that put the Rams’ secondary on its heels early. Four plays later, Kenneth Walker III did what he does best - made a man miss in tight space and danced into the end zone from two yards out.
Just like that, 7-0 Seahawks.
But credit the Rams’ defense - they regrouped. After that opening touchdown, they tightened up and held Seattle to just a field goal and two punts on the next three drives. Aaron Donald and company started getting pressure, and the secondary began clamping down on the deep ball.
On the other side, the Rams’ offense took a little while to find its rhythm. After settling for a pair of long field goals - 44 and 50 yards - they finally broke through with a methodical 12-play, 87-yard drive that showcased Sean McVay’s creativity.
The touchdown came on a beautifully designed play: Matthew Stafford found Kyren Williams wide open for a 9-yard score. How did he get that open?
McVay dialed up a misdirection masterpiece. Puka Nacua and Konata Mumpfield both ran crossing routes to the right, pulling the defense with them, while Williams leaked out of the backfield untouched.
Stafford didn’t miss him. That gave L.A. its first lead of the night, 13-10, with under two minutes to play in the half.
But Seattle wasn’t done. With just 1:55 on the clock, Darnold went back to work.
He hit Jaxon Smith-Njigba - the NFL’s 2025 receiving yards leader - on a strike over the middle for 42 yards, putting the Seahawks in striking distance. Two plays later, Smith-Njigba lined up in the backfield, ran a deep out, and found himself wide open for a 14-yard touchdown.
It was a statement drive - and a momentum swing - as Seattle reclaimed the lead with just 20 seconds left before the break.
Darnold's first-half numbers tell the story: 12 of 18 for 209 yards and a touchdown. Smith-Njigba has been his go-to guy, hauling in seven catches for 115 yards and that late-half score. Stafford, meanwhile, went 8 of 15 for 125 yards and a touchdown, with Nacua doing the bulk of the damage - four catches for 75 yards.
Now the stakes get even higher. Seattle gets the ball to start the second half, with a chance to double up and potentially create some breathing room. But if the first 30 minutes are any indication, this one’s going down to the wire.
The NFC crown - and a Super Bowl date with the AFC champion New England Patriots - hangs in the balance. Buckle up. This one’s far from over.