Sam Darnold delivered the defining performance of his Pro Bowl season to send the Seahawks to Super Bowl LX, putting a turnover-plagued past against the Rams firmly behind him.
Darnold repeatedly carved up Los Angeles’ defense, finishing 25 of 36 for 346 yards and three touchdowns without a giveaway. Troubled by pressure in prior meetings, Darnold flipped the script in the biggest moment, throwing all three touchdown passes while under pressure. In doing so, he became the first quarterback in the Next Gen Stats era (since 2016) to record three touchdown throws under pressure in a single playoff game.
Seattle trusted Darnold when it mattered most, and he rewarded that faith. The Seahawks converted 7 of 13 third downs, repeatedly leaning on their quarterback to move the chains. On the final drive, rather than turtling up and running into a stacked box, Seattle put the ball in Darnold’s hands. He responded with several poised throws that generated four first downs and allowed the Seahawks to bleed the clock. It was the best performance of Darnold’s winding career, one that now carries him to a Super Bowl matchup with the New England Patriots, with no ghosts in sight.
Matthew Stafford and the Rams offense did nearly everything required to win. Stafford was brilliant against the NFL’s top-ranked defense, piling up 479 total yards and 26 first downs. He finished 22 of 35 for 374 yards and three touchdowns, attacking all levels of the field with confidence. Stafford was especially lethal downfield, completing 7 of 11 passes for 226 yards and a touchdown on throws of 20-plus air yards. Whether pressured or clean, he consistently found open receivers. But for all the production, Los Angeles failed to finish enough drives. Two early red-zone trips ended in field goals, and a late opportunity to take the lead ended with a turnover on downs. With the defense unable to produce a quick stop afterward, the Rams’ comeback effort stalled.
Jaxon Smith-Njigba was the constant Seattle answer whenever the game tightened. The league’s leading receiver was targeted 12 times and caught 10 passes for 153 yards and a touchdown, repeatedly creating separation no matter the coverage. Darnold looked his way on nearly every pivotal snap, particularly in the first half, when Smith-Njigba racked up 115 yards and scored the go-ahead touchdown late in the second quarter. Fittingly, Darnold sealed the game by finding him for a critical first down on the final drive. Smith-Njigba’s route-running was masterful, and offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak’s creativity only amplified it. He aligned all over the formation—out wide, in the slot, tight, and even in the backfield, where he caught his touchdown—keeping the Rams off balance throughout.
Special teams once again haunted Los Angeles at the worst possible time. Trailing 17–13 early in the third quarter, the Rams forced a punt and appeared poised to retake control. Instead, returner Xavier Smith, who had already bobbled one punt, stumbled as the ball arrived and muffed it, allowing Seattle to recover. One play later, Jake Bobo scored, stretching the Seahawks’ lead to 11 points. What could have been a back-and-forth battle turned into a chase, and the Rams never fully recovered.
Seattle’s defense bent repeatedly but made its stand when it mattered most. Stafford eclipsed 350 yards, Puka Nacua posted a 9-165-1 line, Davante Adams added 89 yards and a touchdown, and the Rams rushed for 114 yards. A taunting penalty by Tariq Woolen erased a fourth-down stop and led directly to a 34-yard Stafford-to-Nacua touchdown, threatening to swing momentum. Yet Mike Macdonald’s unit responded under pressure, holding Los Angeles to 1 of 8 on third downs and 1 of 2 on fourth down. Those situational stops proved decisive, forcing early field goals, setting up a go-ahead drive before halftime, and denying the Rams at the doorstep late in the fourth quarter to secure the win.
