Sam Darnold threw for three touchdowns and the Seahawks' 'Dark Side' defence came up with a crucial fourth-down stop as Seattle beat the Los Angeles Rams 31-27 in an electrifying NFC championship game on Sunday. The win sends the Seahawks to their fourth Super Bowl in franchise history, and their first in 11 years, where they will face the New England Patriots – the team that defeated them in their most recent appearance.
With the Rams facing fourth-and-four at the Seattle six-yard line, coach Sean McVay opted to go for it, but Matthew Stafford's pass was broken up in the end zone by Devon Witherspoon. The Rams did not get the ball back until there were 25 seconds left, and Puka Nacua was tackled inbounds near midfield on the final play.
'It's amazing,' said Darnold, who completed 25 of 36 passes for 346 yards and no turnovers despite playing through an oblique injury. 'To be able to do it with these guys in this locker room, though, with this coaching staff, that's why it means the world to me.' Jaxon Smith-Njigba, the NFL's leading receiver in the regular season, added 153 yards and a touchdown on 10 catches. 'You just saw grit, determination, you saw passion out there and you saw a group, a collective, going out there and getting the job done,' he said.
The Rams were undone by critical errors, including a muffed punt by Xavier Smith in the third quarter that led directly to a touchdown. Stafford threw for 374 yards and three touchdowns, but a taunting penalty on Seahawks cornerback Riq Woolen kept a drive alive, allowing Los Angeles to pull within four points. However, Seattle's 'Dark Side' defence held firm when it mattered most, and Darnold led a decisive final drive to secure the victory.
