Sam Darnold leads Seahawks past Rams to Super Bowl with dramatic NFC title win

SEATTLE (AP) – Seattle’s return to the Super Bowl was sealed on a single, season-defining defensive play — and a poised performance from a quarterback few expected to reach this stage. Sam Darnold threw three touchdown passes and guided the Seahawks through decisive late drives as Seattle edged the Los Angeles Rams 31–27 in a tense NFC Championship Game on Sunday.

The victory sends the Seahawks to their first Super Bowl in 11 years and the fourth in franchise history, capping a breakthrough season under second-year head coach Mike Macdonald. Seattle will face the New England Patriots in two weeks at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California, revisiting a Super Bowl matchup that last ended in disappointment for the franchise.

For Los Angeles, a valiant comeback effort fell short after a fourth-down stop inside the Seattle red zone in the final minutes, leaving the Rams one play away from extending a season defined by offensive resilience and narrow margins.

Darnold delivers under pressure in career-defining game

Darnold, an eight-year NFL veteran now playing for his fifth team, delivered one of the most composed performances of his career. Playing through an oblique injury, he completed 25 of 36 passes for 346 yards and three touchdowns without a turnover, repeatedly finding answers against a Rams defense that applied pressure throughout the afternoon.

His calm command of Seattle’s offense was evident late, when the Seahawks chose aggression over caution. Darnold converted three first downs on the final possession, draining nearly all remaining time and denying the Rams a realistic final chance.

“It’s amazing,” Darnold said afterward. “To be able to do it with these guys in this locker room, with this coaching staff — that’s why it means the world to me.”

Defense makes defining stop late

Seattle’s defense — nicknamed the “Dark Side” by teammates — delivered its most important moment with 4:59 remaining. Facing fourth-and-4 at the Seattle 6-yard line, Rams coach Sean McVay opted to keep his offense on the field. Quarterback Matthew Stafford targeted the end zone, but cornerback Devon Witherspoon broke up the pass to preserve a four-point lead.

The Rams did not regain possession until 25 seconds remained. On the final play, Puka Nacua was tackled inbounds near midfield, ending Los Angeles’ last hope.

Rams rally falls short despite Stafford’s big day

Stafford finished with 374 passing yards and three touchdowns, repeatedly challenging Seattle’s secondary and nearly pulling off another postseason comeback. His connection with Nacua proved especially dangerous, including a 34-yard touchdown late in the third quarter that cut Seattle’s lead to four.

That score followed a controversial sequence in which Seahawks cornerback Riq Woolen was flagged for taunting after breaking up a pass on third-and-long, extending a Rams drive that otherwise would have ended.

Los Angeles also mounted a 14-play, 84-yard drive early in the fourth quarter, only for it to stall at the doorstep again when Witherspoon broke up another critical pass.

Turning point: special teams mistake opens door

One of the game’s pivotal moments came midway through the third quarter. With the Rams trailing 17–13, returner Xavier Smith muffed a punt, giving Seattle prime field position. On the very next play, Darnold found Jake Bobo for a 17-yard touchdown, pushing the Seahawks’ lead to 24–13.

Seattle later extended the advantage to 31–20 on a 13-yard touchdown pass from Darnold to Cooper Kupp, briefly appearing to put the game out of reach.

Smith-Njigba shines on biggest stage

Wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba delivered a standout performance, catching 10 passes for 153 yards and a touchdown. His yardage total was the second-highest in a postseason game in franchise history and provided Seattle with a reliable downfield threat throughout.

Late in the second quarter, Smith-Njigba absorbed a heavy hit while securing a 42-yard reception, setting up a short touchdown connection moments later that sent Seattle into halftime with a 17–13 lead.

“I told my team I’m going to do whatever it takes,” Smith-Njigba said. “You saw grit, determination, and a group going out there and getting the job done.”

Fast start sets tone early

Seattle struck quickly on its opening drive. Darnold’s first completion — a 51-yard strike to Rashid Shaheed — flipped the field, and four plays later Kenneth Walker III scored on a two-yard run to give the Seahawks a 7–0 lead.

The Rams responded with field goals on their next two possessions before taking a brief lead late in the first half on a nine-yard touchdown pass from Stafford to Kyren Williams. That advantage lasted less than a minute, as Darnold needed just 34 seconds to guide Seattle back in front before halftime.

Injuries and closing moments

The Rams lost wide receiver Jordan Whittington to a chest injury in the third quarter, while defensive end Kobie Turner exited briefly with cramps. Seattle saw linebacker Drake Thomas leave with a shoulder injury in the fourth quarter, and fullback Brady Russell did not return after injuring his hand.

Davante Adams and Williams each scored receiving touchdowns for Los Angeles, while Walker accounted for Seattle’s lone rushing score.

What comes next

For Seattle, the win marks a return to the NFL’s biggest stage after more than a decade, with hopes of capturing a second Super Bowl title following the franchise’s lone championship in the 2013 season under Pete Carroll.

For Los Angeles, questions loom. Stafford turns 38 next month, and despite another prolific postseason performance, the Rams leave the season wondering how close they came to what may have been another Super Bowl run.