SEATTLE — Sam Darnold threw for 3 touchdowns, the Seahawks’ “Dark Side” protection got here up with a crucial fourth-down cease, and Seattle superior to the Tremendous Bowl, beating the Los Angeles Rams 31-27 in an electrifying NFC championship recreation on Sunday.
Led by second-year coach Mike Macdonald and Darnold — an eight-year veteran taking part in for his fifth staff — the Seahawks (16-3) reached the fourth Tremendous Bowl in franchise historical past and first in 11 years. Seattle misplaced that almost all latest look to New England, its opponent in two weeks at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California.
With Los Angeles (14-6) going through fourth-and-4 on the Seattle 6, coach Sean McVay elected to go for it and Matthew Stafford’s move was damaged up ultimately zone by Devon Witherspoon. The Rams didn’t get the ball again till there have been 25 seconds left, and Puka Nacua was tackled inbounds close to midfield on the ultimate play.
Stafford threw for 374 yards and three touchdowns, however the Rams had been undone by crucial errors, together with a muffed punt by Xavier Smith within the third quarter. On the following play, Darnold related with Jake Bobo for a 17-yard landing.
Darnold, who flopped in his playoff debut final season with the Minnesota Vikings, performed by means of an indirect harm and accomplished 25 of 36 passes for 346 yards with no turnovers. Jaxon Smith-Njigba had 153 yards receiving and a landing on 10 catches.
