NFC Championship Preview: Rams, Seahawks Set for Decisive Showdown Between Division Rivals
We’ve got a heavyweight clash on tap in the NFC Championship - and it’s not just any playoff matchup. It’s Rams vs.
Seahawks, round three. A season split, a division rivalry steeped in animosity, and now, everything on the line with a Super Bowl berth hanging in the balance.
The Rams are heading into Seattle with a chip on their shoulder and a swagger that’s hard to ignore. Call it a “road warrior” mentality - the kind of mindset that doesn’t flinch in hostile territory. And if you’ve been watching this team down the stretch, you know they’re not just confident, they’re dangerous.
Let’s rewind a bit. The first meeting between these two came in Week 11, and it was a defensive slugfest.
The Rams suffocated Seattle’s offense and walked away with a gritty 21-19 win. That was the Rams showing they could punch the Seahawks in the mouth and walk out with the W.
Then came the Week 16 rematch - and that one was an offensive fireworks show. Matthew Stafford lit up the Seahawks' defense for 457 yards and three touchdowns.
That’s not a typo. Four.
Five. Seven.
Against a defense that had spent most of the year earning praise under Mike Macdonald, Stafford looked like he was back in his prime.
And let’s talk about Puka Nacua. The rookie sensation didn’t just show up - he torched Seattle for 225 yards and two touchdowns.
That game saw the Rams rack up 581 total yards, the most by any offense in a single game all season. Even though Seattle pulled out a 38-37 win in overtime, the Rams sent a clear message: they know how to move the ball on this defense, and they’re not intimidated by the No. 1 seed.
“They’re a team on a mission,” said NFL insider Peter Schrager. “They’re not scared of the Seahawks.”
And frankly, there’s no reason they should be. They’ve already beaten Seattle once, and in their minds, they probably feel like they should’ve swept the season series.
Seattle, on the other hand, has been leaning into a more conservative game plan lately, especially with Sam Darnold under center. Darnold’s had issues protecting the football when pressured, so the Seahawks have gone run-heavy to minimize mistakes. It’s worked to an extent - they’ve stayed in games and protected leads - but it’s a tightrope walk.
That’s where the Rams’ defensive front comes into play. If they can bottle up the run, force Darnold into obvious passing situations, and crank up the pressure, it could get dicey for Seattle. The Rams know that if they grab an early lead and make Darnold beat them with his arm, their odds of punching a ticket to the Super Bowl go way up.
This one’s got all the makings of a classic - two teams that know each other inside and out, with contrasting styles and a whole lot of history. The Rams are rolling in with momentum and belief. The Seahawks have the home-field edge and a defense that’s been elite all year.
Now it comes down to execution. One game.
Winner goes to the Super Bowl. Buckle up.