They did it. Holy shit, they did it. The Seahawks, your Seattle Seahawks, are once again NFC champions. In an epic conclusion to one of the all-time great trilogies in the history of mankind, the Seahawks outlasted
the star-studded Los Angeles Rams 31-27, to claim their 4th conference championship.
This game had it all. A legendary quarterback duel, a legendary wide receiver duel, a legendary coaching duel, a legendary gaffe by Riq Woolen, a legendary gaffe by LA’s special teams, a legendary goal line stop, and a legendary revenge by a guy from Yakima.
There’s so much to break down, so let’s jump into it!
First Down: Sam Darnold’s all-time redemption reaches the final step
The story of Sam Darnold has officially reached Disney movie levels of craziness. We all know the story, from college star to bust, and from back up to being unwanted in Minnesota. Here in Seattle, Sam found an organization that believed in him, a real home. In Sam, Seattle found their franchise quarterback and a true leader of this proud organization that had been lost in the middle for nearly a decade.
Sam has had an unbelievable season, but when he needed to be picked up, the Dark Side always stepped up. On Sunday, as his dominant defense looked mortal against the sheer brilliance of likely MVP Matthew Stafford and OPOY Puka Nacua, Sam picked up his defense and gave the performance of a lifetime.
In the biggest game of his life and facing one of the best quarterbacks of this generation, Darnold went 25/36 for 346 yards and three touchdown scores. When facing pressure, something that has haunted Sam throughout his career, he was a scoring machine, going 5/11 for 102 yards and three scores. Against Stafford’s desperate (final?) push to return to the Super Bowl, Sam stood his ground, and was the better quarterback in the two-minute drill, and ran a nearly perfect four minute offense that forced Stafford to watch his dream season slowly bleed out.
Sam and Seattle needed each other, they found each other, and now they have found their way to Super Bowl 60. Waiting for them is a team that leaves Darnold and the Seahawks with one last “unfinished business” shot at redemption, and the opportunity to complete the greatest season in Seahawks history.
Second Down: So many heroes (and almost one Steve Bartman)
In a game that will forever be remembered by Seahawks fans, it’s hard to know where to even start when looking for heroes (other than Sam Darnold).
Rashid Shaheed – Please give him the ball more. That 50 yard bomb to start the game gave the stadium so much juice, allowed Darnold to breathe, and immediately put the Rams on their heels.
Jaxon Smith-Njigba – 10 catches, 153 yards and touchdown. JSN SHOULD win OPOY, and I think he showed why on Sunday. He was the best player on the football field, in a game that featured the two best teams in football and some of the best players in the league.
Charles Cross – An absolute warrior, playing hurt, and you didn’t even notice it as he got the job done against a fearsome Rams defensive line.
Nick Emmanwori – It may have been forgotten, but there was a moment late in the first half when the Rams had the Seahawks on their heels. The Rams were up 13-10 with 1:33 left, and a potential score could’ve wildly altered this game. Instead, Emmanwori came up huge forcing two pass incompletions to help Seattle get the ball back, and get the game-swinging touchdown in the two minute drill.
Kenneth Walker – With no Zach Charbonnet, Kenneth Walker was asked to carry the load as a focal point of the offense alongside JSN. It wasn’t always easy, but Walker showed that he can be a premier football player, not just a running back. K9 set the tone on the first drive, running over and around the Rams for a touchdown. While he only had 62 rushing yards on 19 carries, he also provided relief in the passing game, catching four passes for 49 crucial yards. It was anything but easy, and yet Walker found a way to get 100 total yards and a score. He has put up some ridiculous numbers in two playoff games so far.
Devon Witherspoon – He got flat out cooked for most of the game, let’s be honest. But with the game on the line, and the Rams at the six yard line, Spoon stepped up on both 3rd and 4th down to deny Stafford twice in the end zone. He also made the crucial tackle on Puka, keeping him inbounds to end the game. I don’t think anyone wanted to see Seattle try to stop Nacua on a Hail Mary attempt to go to the Super Bowl. The defense once again struggled against the best offense in the NFL, but with the game on the line, Spoon delivered.
Riq Woolen – You are so lucky, my dude. So close to the Steve Bartman treatment, but I have to wonder if that plays any factor in his upcoming free agency.
Cooper Kupp – It hasn’t been the easiest few years for Kupp professionally. Injuries, and age have shut the door on him ever returning to the level of player he was in 2021. While he still believed he could be a real contributor on a championship caliber team, the Rams were moving forward with Davante Adams and Nacua, and reportedly, they didn’t believe in him either.
Well, the Seahawks did, signing him to a three year contract to return home. While his production hasn’t screamed the value of his contract, it’s been all the little things that he does to help this team be so successful. On Sunday, Kupp got his Seahawks moments.
Against his old team that abandoned him, Kupp scored the game winning touchdown, his first score in front of his hometown crowd. He also had arguably the biggest catch of the season, catching a crossing route on 3rd and 8 with just over three minutes to go, and lunging out to barely get the first down.In a game with so many heroes and memorable plays, that might have been the biggest. Just like Darnold, Kupp found a home in Seattle, and now he’s found himself back in the Super Bowl.
Third Down: The Rams vs Seahawks Trilogy will live on forever
Like the 49ers with Jim Harbaugh against Pete Carroll and his LOB Seahawks, I believe this era of the Rams and Seahawks will live on, as possibly one of the most underrated rivalries, with this year’s trilogy as the story of the 2025 season.
No two teams had the star power and storylines that these two had. Sean McVay was hired to LA to conquer Pete, while Mike Macdonald was hired by Seattle to conquer McVay. The award finalists and winners are going to be littered with Rams and Seahawks. The “Rams problem” for Darnold, the revenge factor we discussed with Kupp. The battle for who’s the best wide receiver in football. The top offense vs the top defense. After the Rams had knocked the Seahawks out of a playoff spot the past two seasons (and essentially ending the Pete Carroll era), this season felt like a heavyweight championship bout, and the game delivered.
Much like the 2013 NFC Championship game for San Francisco, you have to wonder if this was the Rams best shot at getting back to the Super Bowl, and if this is the start of something special for Seattle.
Fourth Down: The greatest postseason run hits its last stop
I don’t know how you could ask for much more as Seahawks fans. The 12’s have watched this stunning and magical season include winning the NFC West and #1 seed against San Francisco, and on their turf. The Seahawks then embarrassed the 49ers again in Seattle’s first home playoff game with fans in a decade.
Destruction of one rival, the Seahawks then survived the epic trilogy, and denied eventual MVP Matthew Stafford another Super Bowl appearance, and now will get to look for some form of redemption against the Patriots, and in the 49ers own stadium.
It doesn’t get sweeter, or more petty than that.
Not all fans will agree, but I personally feel that watching the Seahawks beat New England would be therapeutic and feel like proper closure to what I believe is the most shocking loss in championship history, in any sport.
The Seahawks are favored against the Patriots, and many will be predicting them to win. The Patriots are a good team and well coached, but if the Seahawks play their game and take care of the ball, this could be a coronation and the beginning of a potential dynastic run, but they have to get the first one before we get ahead of ourselves.
