The Seattle Seahawks defeated the Los Angeles Rams 31-27 in the NFC Championship on Sunday, securing their first Super Bowl berth in 11 years and setting up a rematch with the New England Patriots in two weeks at Levi’s Stadium.
Sam Darnold threw for three touchdowns and 346 yards, completing 25 of 36 passes with no turnovers while playing through an oblique injury. The Seahawks’ defense came up with a critical fourth-down stop in the closing minutes to seal the victory over their divisional rivals.
With Los Angeles facing fourth-and-4 at the Seattle 6-yard line, coach Sean McVay elected to go for it rather than attempt a field goal. Matthew Stafford’s pass was broken up in the end zone by Devon Witherspoon. The Rams didn’t get the ball back until there were 25 seconds left, 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. A muffed punt by Xavier Smith in the third quarter gave Seattle possession deep in Los Angeles territory. On the next play, Darnold connected with Jake Bobo for a 17-yard touchdown that shifted momentum.
Jaxon Smith-Njigba had 153 yards receiving and a touchdown on 10 catches. The balanced offensive performance complemented Seattle’s defensive effort, which held when it mattered most.
Led by head coach Mike Macdonald and Darnold, an eight-year veteran playing for his fifth team, the Seahawks finished the season 16-3 and reached the fourth Super Bowl in franchise history. Seattle lost its most recent Super Bowl appearance to New England, the team they’ll face again in two weeks.
The victory marks a remarkable turnaround for a Seahawks team that entered the season with questions about quarterback stability and defensive identity. Macdonald’s first season as head coach ends with a conference championship and a chance at the franchise’s second Super Bowl title.
For Seattle sports fans, the win delivers the city’s first Super Bowl appearance since the 2014 season. Lumen Field erupted as the final seconds ticked away, the 12s celebrating a championship game win that sends their team back to the sport’s biggest stage.
