Field Gulls
The Seattle Seahawks are going to the Super Bowl!
In another classic with the Los Angeles Rams, an offensive shootout turned into a defensive battle at the end. Sam Darnold had a magnificent 346-yard, 3-touchdown, 0-turnover performance, while the Seahawks defense tightened up when it needed to after a mighty struggle all season. In the end, Darnold had to outduel Matthew Stafford in an epic battle. And with the game on the line, the Seahawks made a critical turnover on downs with less than five minutes to go. By the time the Rams got the ball back, there wasn’t enough time to respond.
It was a 31-27 victory for the Seahawks to win the NFC Championship Game at Lumen Field, conquer an NFC West rival in the rubber match for the second week in a row, and next up is a rematch with the New England Patriots in Super Bowl 60!
The Seahawks are NFC champions in Mike Macdonald’s second season! This special 50th season will continue into February!
The Seahawks won the coin toss and put the top-ranked Rams offense on the field first. After a 4-yard run by Kyren Williams, two throws to Puka Nacua yielded just three yards. A three-and-out to start things for the Seahawks defense!
Seattle had an opening drive touchdown in their last meeting against the Rams, and history repeated itself here. Sam Darnold’s first completed pass was a 51-yard deep shot in single coverage to Rashid Shaheed. At long last, the deep ball works to Seattle’s speedy receiver!
After a Jaxon Smith-Njigba catch-and-run inside the 10, Seattle went to Kenneth Walker III three times. The third time was the charm as he bounced to the outside for the score. What a start! 7-0 Seahawks.
Sooner or later, Stafford and Puka will connect on a long ball even against an elite defense. Devon Witherspoon was burned 1-on-1 for a massive gain of 44 yards. Stafford threw three straight incomplete passes, setting up Harrison Mevis for a 44-yard field goal, which he easily converted. 7-3 Seahawks.
Kenneth Walker III was the star of Seattle’s next drive, making Rams tacklers miss in space as a receiver and as a runner. Jaxon Smith-Njigba had the real highlight, which was a remarkable one-handed grab on third down to move the chains in the red zone.
A holding penalty on Anthony Bradford set Seattle back, while an end zone throw to A.J. Barner fell incomplete on third and goal. Jason Myers’ 27-yarder gave the Seahawks a 7-point lead again. 10-3 Seahawks.
The Rams responded in the second quarter with a Stafford dart to Davante Adams, who got free from Witherspoon for 23-yards. Nick Emmanwori stepped up with a tackle for loss, a pass break-up on a throw for Adams, and DeMarcus Lawrence forced a strip-sack of Stafford, which the Rams recovered. Harrison Mevis booted one through from 50 yards, but Sean McVay was rightfully incensed over the lack of a face...
