Seahawks set up Patriots Super Bowl clash after beating Rams in barnburner | NFL
Sam Darnold threw three touchdowns, the Seahawks’ “Dark Side” defense came up with a critical fourth-down stop and Seattle advanced to the Super Bowl, beating the Los Angeles Rams 31-27 in an electrifying NFC championship game on Sunday.
“It’s amazing,” Darnold said. “Being able to do it with these guys in this locker room, with this coaching staff, that’s why it means everything to me.”
Led by second-year coach Mike Macdonald and Darnold – an eight-year veteran playing for his fifth team – the Seahawks reached their fourth Super Bowl in franchise history, and their first in 11 years. Seattle lost its final appearance against New England, its two-week opponent at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California.
With Los Angeles facing fourth-and-4 from Seattle’s six, coach Sean McVay elected to punt and Matthew Stafford’s pass was broken up in the end zone by Devon Witherspoon. The Rams didn’t get the ball back until 25 seconds remained, and Puka Nacua was tackled inbounds near midfield on the final play.
Stafford threw for 374 yards and three touchdowns, but the Rams were undone by critical errors, including a muffed punt by Xavier Smith in the third quarter. On the next play, Darnold connected with Jake Bobo for a 17-yard touchdown.
Darnold, who struggled in his playoff debut last season with the Minnesota Vikings, played through an oblique injury and completed 25 of 36 passes for 346 yards with no turnovers. Jaxon Smith-Njigba had 153 receiving yards and a touchdown on 10 catches.
“I told my team, I’ll do whatever it takes. Whatever you ask me, I’ll do it, whatever it is,” said Smith-Njigba, the NFL’s leading receiver in the regular season. “And that’s what you saw today. You just saw grit, determination, passion and you saw a group, a collective, go out there and get the job done.”
The Seahawks led 31-20 late in the third quarter thanks to Darnold’s 13-yard pass to Cooper Kupp, but the Rams got back into the game when Seahawks cornerback Riq Woolen was flagged for taunting after breaking up a pass to Nacua on third-and-12, giving Los Angeles a first down. On the next play, Stafford threw to Woolen again and Nacua beat him in the corner of the end zone for a 34-yard touchdown.
The Rams forced a punt on Seattle’s next possession and launched a 14-play, 84-yard drive that came up empty thanks to Witherspoon’s pass breakup.
Seattle remained aggressive on three final possessions, with Darnold throwing three first downs to run out most of the time.
Davante Adams and Kyren Williams received touchdowns for the Rams, and Kenneth Walker III rushed for a score for the Seahawks.
