The stage is set in Seattle. The Seahawks are gearing up to host the Los Angeles Rams in the NFC Championship Game, and it’s not just any playoff matchup-it’s the third clash between these two NFC West rivals this season. This time, the stakes couldn’t be higher: a trip to the Super Bowl is on the line.
Seattle is coming in hot, riding the momentum of a dominant 41-6 dismantling of the San Francisco 49ers-a performance that turned heads across the league. That was the kind of statement win that can shift the narrative around a team in January.
The Rams, meanwhile, had to sweat it out in their divisional round, needing overtime and a clutch field goal to edge past the Chicago Bears. It wasn’t pretty, but in the postseason, style points don’t matter-survive and advance is the name of the game.
But when division rivals meet for the third time in a season, things tend to get a little unpredictable. Familiarity breeds tight margins, and games like this often come down to execution, detail, and poise under pressure. And that brings us to one of the most important players in Sunday’s showdown: Sam Darnold.
Darnold’s Record vs. the Rams: A Red Flag?
Let’s talk numbers. Darnold has faced the Rams six times in his career, and the results haven’t exactly been encouraging.
He’s 2-4 in those matchups, completing 66% of his passes for an average of 238.3 yards per game. On paper, that’s not terrible-but dig a little deeper, and the concerns start to mount.
He’s thrown just as many interceptions as touchdowns (1.2 per game), and his 84.0 passer rating reflects the inconsistency. Perhaps most alarming?
He’s been sacked an average of 3.5 times per game by this Rams defense.
Now, not all of those games are equally relevant. His first two matchups came early in his career and arguably shouldn’t carry too much weight in this context. But even if you set those aside, he’s still just 1-3 against Los Angeles-and 0-1 in the playoffs.
That lone postseason meeting came last year, when Darnold was still with the Vikings. The Rams ended his season with a 27-9 beatdown in which he was under siege all game long.
Darnold took nine sacks that day. Sure, Minnesota’s offensive line was banged up, but Darnold didn’t help his cause-he held onto the ball too long and made some shaky reads under pressure.
It was the kind of game that sticks with a quarterback, especially when the same opponent is staring him down again in January.
A Tale of Two Games This Season
Fast forward to this year, and Darnold’s two outings against the Rams tell a story of growth-but also of risk. In their first meeting, he had a nightmare outing, tossing four interceptions in what was easily his worst performance of the season. And yet, Seattle only lost that game by two points-a testament to how well the rest of the roster held up despite the turnovers.
The rematch, though, was a different story. At home, Darnold bounced back with a gutsy performance, throwing for 270 yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions in an overtime win.
It wasn’t flawless, but it was progress. And more importantly, it showed that he can respond to adversity against this defense.
What’s at Stake
The Seahawks have been the class of the NFC this season, and they’ve earned the right to host this game. But playoff football doesn’t care about regular-season records. It comes down to execution, and for Seattle, that starts with Darnold taking care of the football.
If he plays clean, the Seahawks are in great shape. Their defense is rolling, their run game is clicking, and the home crowd will be behind them. But if the turnovers creep back in, if the pressure gets to him the way it has in past meetings with the Rams, things could unravel quickly.
This game is a defining moment for Darnold. He’s shown flashes of the quarterback Seattle hoped he could be when they brought him in. Now he has a chance to take them to the Super Bowl-and shake off some of the baggage that’s followed him throughout his career.
Sunday is about more than just a trip to the big game. It’s about trust, leadership, and proving you can deliver when it matters most.
For Sam Darnold, the opportunity is right in front of him. The question is: can he seize it?