The Seattle Seahawks are right where they want to be: back home, preparing to host the NFC Championship Game with a Super Bowl berth on the line. After grinding through one of the toughest divisions in football and emerging as NFC West champions, they now sit as the No. 1 seed in the conference-and they’ve earned every bit of it.
Seattle edged out both the Rams and 49ers in a three-team race for the division crown, then took care of business in the Divisional Round with a convincing win over San Francisco. Now, it’s the Rams standing in their way once again.
These two squads split their regular-season matchups in dramatic fashion. The Rams took the first game 21-19 in Week 11, while the Seahawks got their revenge in a wild overtime thriller, 38-37, in the rematch.
That second game was one for the books-Seattle clawed back from a massive deficit, tied it up with back-to-back two-point conversions, and sealed the win in OT with a gutsy play call.
If there’s a theme heading into this NFC title clash, it’s resilience-and it starts with Sam Darnold.
Yes, that Sam Darnold.
The former top-three pick has found new life in Seattle under head coach Mike Macdonald. After a short-lived resurgence with the Vikings last season, Darnold hit free agency and landed in the Pacific Northwest, where he’s done more than just manage games-he’s led.
This year, he threw for over 4,000 yards, with 25 touchdowns and 14 picks, completing nearly 68% of his passes. Not perfect, but efficient, confident, and, most importantly, clutch.
His chemistry with breakout star Jaxon Smith-Njigba has been undeniable. The second-year wideout didn’t just take a step forward-he took a leap into elite territory. With 119 catches, nearly 1,800 yards, and 10 touchdowns, Smith-Njigba has become the go-to guy in Seattle’s offense and a nightmare matchup for defenses across the league.
And then there’s Cooper Kupp-yes, the former Ram-who’s brought his signature toughness and reliability to the Seahawks’ receiving corps. Kupp’s numbers (47 catches, 593 yards, 2 TDs) don’t jump off the page, but his impact goes beyond the stat sheet. He’s been that third-down safety valve, the guy who makes the tough grabs in traffic and keeps drives alive.
Tight end A.J. Barner has also carved out a meaningful role in this offense, giving Darnold another reliable target in the short-to-intermediate game. And while the Seahawks lost running back Zach Charbonnet to a torn ACL, his physical style and clutch 2-point conversion in the last Rams game remain a defining moment in Seattle’s season.
Still, Darnold’s performance against the Rams has been a mixed bag. In their first meeting, he was rattled-279 yards, four interceptions, and no touchdowns.
The Rams’ defense feasted on his mistakes. But in the rematch, he looked more composed: 270 yards, two touchdowns, two picks.
Not flawless, but far more in control.
That second game told us a lot about Darnold’s growth. Down 30-14 in the fourth quarter, he helped engineer a furious comeback.
Rashid Shaheed sparked it with a 58-yard punt return touchdown, and Darnold followed it up with a 26-yard strike to Barner. Then came the back-to-back two-point conversions-first to Puka Nacua, then a bulldozing run by Charbonnet-to tie it up.
In overtime, after the Rams scored, Darnold answered with a 9-play, 65-yard drive, capped off by a 4-yard touchdown to Smith-Njigba. The game-winner?
A gutsy two-point conversion pass to backup tight end Eric Saubert.
That’s the kind of poise Seattle needs from Darnold on Sunday.
Now, let’s talk about the Rams. After a midseason hot streak that included six straight wins, they’ve cooled off, going 3-3 to close the regular season.
They survived the Panthers in the Wild Card round, then pulled out a gritty overtime win against the Bears at Soldier Field. But since their 45-17 blowout of the Cardinals in Week 14, they haven’t looked quite as dominant-especially on defense.
That’s a key factor. The Rams were opportunistic in their first meeting with Darnold, but they haven’t consistently brought that same edge in recent weeks. If Darnold can avoid the kind of turnovers that plagued him in that first game, the Seahawks are in a strong position.
He doesn’t need to light up the scoreboard. What he does need to do is play smart, efficient football.
Hit his guys on short and intermediate routes. Keep the chains moving.
Stay within himself. If he can complete somewhere around 19 of 27 passes for 250-plus yards, with two touchdowns and-this is the big one-just one interception, Seattle will take that every time.
Because here’s the truth: Darnold doesn’t need to be the hero. Seattle’s defense has been among the league’s best all season, and their special teams-especially with Shaheed in the return game-can flip the field in an instant. What Darnold needs to do is protect the football, make the throws that are there, and trust the system around him.
The Seahawks are built to win this kind of game. And if Darnold keeps his composure, connects early with Smith-Njigba and Kupp, and avoids giving the Rams’ defense any free momentum, Seattle could very well be packing their bags for Las Vegas.
One more win, and they’re Super Bowl bound.