Seahawks heading to Super Bowl LX after defeating Rams 31-27 in NFC Championship

Seahawks QB Sam Darnold reacts during 2026 NFC Championship game
Seahawks QB Sam Darnold reacts during 2026 NFC Championship gameSteph Chambers/Getty Images

The Seattle Seahawks defeated the Los Angeles Rams 31-27 during the NFC Championship game on Sunday to advance to Super Bowl LX, where they'll face the New England Patriots.

It was a big battle of the quarterbacks as both combined for 720 yards and six touchdowns. 

Matthew Stafford finished with 374 yards and three touchdowns on 22-of-35 passing. Sam Darnold finished with 346 yards and three touchdowns on 25-of-36 passing. 

Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III finished with 111 total yards and a touchdown. Jaxon Smith-Njigba led all receivers with 153 yards and one touchdown on 10 receptions. 

Davante Adams put up 89 yards and a touchdown on four receptions for the Rams, while Puka Nacua led the team with 165 yards and one touchdown on nine receptions.

Full game highlights

First half

After forcing a Rams three-and-out, the Seahawks drove 81 yards on seven plays during their first offensive drive and capped it off with a two-yard touchdown run from Walker. 

The drive broke wide open for the Seahawks on their third offensive play of the game after Darnold connected to wide receiver Rashid Shaheed for a 51-yard reception down the sideline.

He would then find Smith-Njigba for a 16-yarder before the Seahawks would give Walker three straight carries until he found paydirt. 

The teams would then exchange field goals on three straight drives.

Los Angeles would respond to the touchdown with their first field goal of the game after Harrison Mevis hit a 44-yarder with ease. 

Seattle would respond on the following drive with a field goal of their own, courtesy of a 27-yarder from Jason Meyers to wrap up the first quarter.

But it would come after a one-handed catch from Smith-Njigba.  

Mevis would hit a 50-yarder for LA on the next drive to cut the lead to 10-6.

Then, the Rams finally began to swing the momentum. 

After forcing the Seahawks to punt for the first time on their first drive of the second quarter, Los Angeles would take it 87 yards on 12 plays and capped it off with a nine-yard touchdown pass from Stafford to Kyren Williams to take a 13-10 lead. 

After both teams exchanged punts after the Rams' touchdown, Seattle would get the ball back one last time before halftime and they made sure to find paydirt. 

A 14-yard touchdown pass from Darnold to Smith-Njigba would end a 74-yard, six-play drive to take a 17-13 lead with 54 seconds left in the half. 

Smith-Njigba finished the half with 115 yards and one touchdown on seven receptions, while Darnold had 209 passing yards on 12-of-18 passing. 

Second half

All it took was three minutes, a muffed punt, and one offensive play to put the Seahawks up 24-13.

Rams return man Xavier Smith would fall backwards while trying to catch the punt, fumbling the ball, leaving the Seahawks to recover. One play later, Darnold found wide receiver Jake Bobo in the middle of the end zone for a 17-yard touchdown pass. 

LA would respond from what was arguably the perfect drive from either team of the night after Stafford 3-for-3 for 71 yards, including a two-yard touchdown pass to Adams to cut the lead to 24-20. 

Stafford hit Adams for a major 29-yard pass just prior to his touchdown. 

But Seattle wouldn't let up on the offensive end as they remained relentless. 

Darnold would find former-Rams receiver Cooper Kupp for his third touchdown pass of the game to make it 31-20 with 4:42 left in the third quarter. 

What was looking like a drive in which the Seahawks would force a Rams punt, Seattle defensive back Riq Woolen was flagged for a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct after taunting the Rams bench following a pass breakup. 

The next play? Stafford connected with Puka Nacua on a 34-yard touchdown pass over Woolen, his third passing TD of the night.

After forcing a Seahawks punt, the Rams would go all the way down to Seattle's six-yard line, but failed to convert on a 4th and 4, ultimately turning it over on downs as they remained down 31-27 with 4:54 left to go in the fourth quarter.

In the end, it proved costly for the Rams as they got the ball back with not enough time, failing to get down to the other end of the field to score. 

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