Seahawks Overcome Late Scare, Defeat Rams 31-27 to Advance to Super Bowl LX
Sam Darnold’s Career Performance and Fourth-Down Stop Send Seattle to Championship Showdown with Patriots
SEATTLE, WA — In a heart-stopping finish that had 68,000 fans at Lumen Field roaring, the Seattle Seahawks survived a late rally to defeat the Los Angeles Rams 31-27 in Sunday’s NFC Championship Game, earning their first Super Bowl berth since the 2014 season.
The victory — Seattle’s second win in three meetings with their NFC West rivals this season — sets up a highly anticipated rematch with the New England Patriots on February 8 at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California. The Seahawks opened as 4.5-point favorites in early Super Bowl LX betting lines released Sunday night.
Defense Delivers When It Matters Most
With the game hanging in the balance and 4:49 remaining on the clock, Seattle’s top-ranked scoring defense delivered the defensive stand of the season. Facing fourth-and-4 from the Seattle 6-yard line, Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford targeted tight end Terrance Ferguson in the back of the end zone.
But Pro Bowl cornerback Devon Witherspoon was perfectly positioned, swatting away Stafford’s pass to preserve the 31-27 lead and effectively seal Seattle’s trip to the Super Bowl.
“The two biggest plays in this game were by the Seattle Seahawks defense,” FOX Sports analyst and former Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski said during the postgame broadcast. “When the Rams were going down there, third-down-and-goal, fourth-and-goal, the Seattle Seahawks defense put the handcuffs on the Rams’ receivers in crunch time, and that’s why they’re going to the Super Bowl.”
Following the crucial stop, Seattle’s offense methodically drained the clock, running all but 25 seconds off before punting the ball back to Los Angeles deep in their own territory. Without any timeouts remaining, the Rams couldn’t mount a miracle comeback on their final possession.
Controversial Taunting Penalty Nearly Derails Victory
The dramatic finish came after Seattle nearly gave the game away with an ill-timed penalty. After the defense had forced a stop on third-and-12 in the third quarter, cornerback Tariq Woolen was flagged for taunting, handing the Rams an automatic first down.
Los Angeles capitalized immediately. On the very next play, Stafford connected with star receiver Puka Nacua on a deep touchdown pass, cutting Seattle’s commanding 31-20 lead to just four points with more than a quarter still to play.
The sequence breathed new life into the Rams’ championship hopes and set the stage for the nail-biting fourth-quarter finish that followed.
Darnold Silences Doubters with Stellar Performance
Quarterback Sam Darnold, who has faced persistent questions about his ability to perform in high-pressure situations, delivered arguably the best performance of his seven-year NFL career when it mattered most. Playing through an oblique injury for the second consecutive week, Darnold completed 25 of 36 passes for 346 yards and three touchdowns without throwing an interception.
The performance marked a stunning turnaround from earlier struggles this season, including a four-interception nightmare in Seattle’s Week 11 loss to these same Rams.
“If Seattle’s offense comes out and plays like this, they’re hard to beat,” FOX Sports analyst Michael Strahan said. “Sam Darnold, 346 yards. Ken Walker was running like there was no tomorrow.”
Darnold set the tone early, orchestrating a touchdown drive on Seattle’s opening possession that was capped by a Kenneth Walker III rushing score. After Los Angeles grabbed a 13-10 lead late in the second quarter, Darnold engineered a masterful 74-yard scoring drive in just 36 seconds, finding wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba for a touchdown that sent Seattle into halftime with a 17-13 advantage.
Third Quarter Surge Extends Lead
The Seahawks came out firing in the third quarter. After a muffed Rams punt return set up Seattle in the red zone, Darnold connected with Jake Bobo for his second touchdown pass of the game, extending the lead to 24-13.
Darnold’s third and final touchdown pass — a 13-yard strike to Cooper Kupp — gave Seattle a commanding 31-20 advantage with 4:52 remaining in the third quarter, before the taunting penalty and Nacua’s subsequent touchdown shifted momentum back to Los Angeles.
Smith-Njigba Continues Breakout Campaign
Jaxon Smith-Njigba was spectacular in his first NFC Championship Game, hauling in 10 receptions for 153 yards and a touchdown. The second-year wideout has emerged as one of the NFL’s elite receivers this season, leading the league in receiving yards during the regular season while earning All-Pro and Pro Bowl honors.
Smith-Njigba is also a finalist for NFL Offensive Player of the Year, and his performance Sunday showcased exactly why. Among his highlights was a spectacular one-handed grab that drew oohs and ahhs from the Lumen Field crowd.
“The rapport between him and Darnold is undeniable,” ESPN betting analyst Eric Moody said. “He has had at least eight receptions in 11 of 19 games and is averaging 9.4 targets this season.”
Kupp’s Revenge Game Against Former Team
In one of the game’s most compelling storylines, former Rams All-Pro and Super Bowl LVI MVP Cooper Kupp delivered key plays against the team that traded him to Seattle before the season.
Kupp’s most crucial contribution came with 3:11 remaining in the fourth quarter. On third-and-8, he made a twisting, corkscrew catch — stretching every muscle to reach the first-down marker while appearing to bobble the ball after being brought to the ground. Officials ruled he completed the catch and gained the first down, allowing Seattle to continue their game-sealing drive.
The play was reviewed but stood, effectively crushing the Rams’ hopes of getting the ball back with enough time to score.
Kupp also caught a third-quarter touchdown pass from Darnold, proving his value in his debut season with the Seahawks after years of torturing their secondary in a Rams uniform.
Walker Powers Ground Game
Running back Kenneth Walker III was a workhorse for Seattle, rushing for 111 yards and a touchdown while also contributing as a receiver. Walker has recorded at least 29 receiving yards in each postseason game this year, giving the Seahawks a dual-threat option out of the backfield.
Walker’s performance was especially crucial with backup Zach Charbonnet sidelined for the postseason with an ACL injury suffered in the divisional round.
Rams’ High-Octane Offense Falls Just Short
The Rams, who led the NFL in scoring during the regular season, gave Seattle’s elite defense everything it could handle. Los Angeles racked up 479 yards of total offense, with Nacua finishing with nine catches for 165 yards and a touchdown.
Stafford completed 28 of 42 passes for 327 yards and two touchdowns, but the veteran quarterback couldn’t deliver in the game’s most critical moment when his fourth-down pass fell incomplete.
However, when it mattered most, Seattle’s defense — which allowed just 17.2 points per game during the regular season — stood tall and delivered the championship-clinching stop.
Macdonald’s Vision Comes to Fruition
The victory represents a remarkable achievement for second-year head coach Mike Macdonald, who became the youngest head coach in NFL history when hired at age 36 in January 2024. Under Macdonald’s leadership, the Seahawks finished the 2025 regular season with a franchise-record 14 wins and captured the NFC’s No. 1 seed.
Macdonald laid out his championship vision in the team’s very first meeting on April 8, 2024, telling players to visualize what success would look like — and 21 months later, it’s becoming reality.
“After that first meeting, everybody was bought in,” receiver Jake Bobo said. “You knew he’d get us there; you didn’t know it was going to be this quickly.”
The former Baltimore Ravens defensive coordinator has transformed Seattle’s defense into an elite unit while getting the most out of Darnold, a former third overall pick who has bounced between five teams during his career before finding a home in the Pacific Northwest.
Patriots Shock Broncos in Snow
While the Seahawks battled the Rams, the Patriots were staging their own dramatic victory in Denver. New England defeated the Broncos 10-7 in a snow-covered AFC Championship Game, with second-year quarterback Drake Maye leading the Patriots to their first Super Bowl appearance since the Tom Brady-Bill Belichick era ended.
The Patriots’ improbable run has been guided by first-year head coach Mike Vrabel, who engineered one of the NFL’s greatest single-season turnarounds by taking a team that went 4-13 in 2024 to 14-3 in 2025.
Historic Super Bowl Rematch Awaits
Super Bowl LX will mark the second meeting between these franchises on football’s biggest stage. In Super Bowl XLIX following the 2014 season, the Patriots famously defeated the Seahawks 28-24 on Malcolm Butler’s goal-line interception of Russell Wilson in the final seconds — one of the most controversial play calls in NFL history.
“The last time Seattle was in the Super Bowl, it was against the Patriots, and the Patriots won, and it was the start of the second dynasty,” Gronkowski said. “Is it gonna be the start of the third dynasty?”
For Seattle, it’s a chance at redemption 11 years in the making. For New England, it’s an opportunity to capture a seventh Super Bowl title, which would break their current tie with the Pittsburgh Steelers for the most championships in NFL history.
Championship Matchup Details
Super Bowl LX
Date: Sunday, February 8, 2026
Time: 6:30 p.m. ET
Location: Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara, California
Network: NBC
Halftime Performer: Bad Bunny
The Seahawks are currently favored by 4.5 points over the Patriots, with the total set at 46.5 points. Sam Darnold is the betting favorite to win Super Bowl MVP at +130 odds, followed by Drake Maye at +235, Jaxon Smith-Njigba at +550, Kenneth Walker at +600, and Patriots running back Rhamondre Stevenson at +2500.
Improbable Journey to Championship Game
Both teams were extreme long shots entering the season, with the Seahawks listed at 60-1 odds and the Patriots at 80-1 odds to win the Super Bowl. If Seattle wins the championship, they would have the longest preseason odds (60-1) for a champion since the 2001 Patriots — the team that launched Tom Brady’s legendary career.
The Seahawks will now have two weeks to prepare for their showdown with the Patriots, as both teams look to cap off remarkable seasons with championship glory.
Game Statistics
Passing:
- Sam Darnold (SEA): 25-of-36, 346 yards, 3 TDs, 0 INTs
- Matthew Stafford (LAR): 28-of-42, 327 yards, 2 TDs, 0 INTs
Receiving:
- Jaxon Smith-Njigba (SEA): 10 receptions, 153 yards, 1 TD
- Puka Nacua (LAR): 9 receptions, 165 yards, 1 TD
- Cooper Kupp (SEA): 6 receptions, 82 yards, 1 TD
Rushing:
- Kenneth Walker III (SEA): 24 carries, 111 yards, 1 TD
Total Offense:
- Los Angeles Rams: 479 yards
- Seattle Seahawks: 412 yards
Time of Possession:
- Seattle Seahawks: 33:47
- Los Angeles Rams: 26:13
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