The Seattle Seahawks survived a tense finish to beat the Los Angeles Rams 31-27 in the Seahawks NFC championship on Sunday. A late taunting penalty gave the Rams new life, but Seattle’s defense made a game-saving stop to secure the win.
The victory capped a fierce NFC West rivalry. The teams had split their regular-season series, but this time, the stakes were higher: a Super Bowl berth. The Seahawks will face the New England Patriots next.
Sunday’s game was a back-and-forth battle. The Rams closed a 31-20 deficit after a Seahawks taunting penalty and had a chance to take the lead with 4:49 left in the fourth quarter.
On a critical fourth-and-4, quarterback Matthew Stafford targeted tight end Terrance Ferguson in the end zone. But cornerback Devon Witherspoon broke up the pass, keeping Seattle ahead 31-27.
Seattle then ran nearly all of the remaining 25 seconds off the clock before punting to Los Angeles. Without a timeout, the Rams could not mount a comeback.
The Seahawks also got a key first-down conversion from former Rams star Cooper Kupp. On a third-and-8 with 3:11 left, Kupp stretched to reach the marker while bobbling the ball. Officials ruled it a catch, keeping the drive alive.
Kupp had a big second half, catching a touchdown in the third quarter to extend Seattle’s lead to 31-20. He was the Super Bowl MVP with the Rams in their previous title win over Cincinnati.
Quarterback Sam Darnold answered critics with the best game of his career. He completed 25 of 36 passes for 346 yards and three touchdowns, without a turnover.
Seattle opened with a touchdown run from Kenneth Walker III. Los Angeles responded to lead 13-10 late in the second quarter. Darnold quickly drove 74 yards in 36 seconds, finding Jaxon Smith-Njigba for a touchdown to lead 17-13 at halftime.
In the third quarter, Darnold connected with Jake Bobo for a touchdown and later hit Kupp for another score, pushing Seattle ahead 31-20. Smith-Njigba finished with 10 catches for 153 yards and a touchdown, continuing his breakout season as the NFL’s receiving yards leader.
Seattle’s defense faced a tough challenge against the league’s top-scoring team. A third-quarter taunting penalty on cornerback Tariq Woolen extended a Rams drive, allowing them to score on the very next play.
But the Seahawks defense came through when it mattered most. Combined with Darnold’s clutch passing, Seattle prevented a Rams comeback and punched their ticket to the Super Bowl.
The win sets up a rematch of Super Bowl XLIX against the Patriots, who defeated the Denver Broncos in the AFC Championship. The Seahawks will rely on Darnold and their top-rated scoring defense as they aim to capture another NFL title.
