The Seattle Seahawks are heading to the Super Bowl after defeating the Los Angeles Rams 31-27 in the NFC title game on Jan. 25 at Lumen Field. Moreover, Jaxon Smith-Njigba was one of the standout performers in the win over their NFC West rival.
Smith-Njigba recorded 10 receptions for 153 receiving yards and one touchdown. In the tightly contested matchup against the Rams, the Seahawks had their best players step up with so much on the line.
After the win, the Seattle standout spoke with FOX Sports and shared his thoughts on his performance as the Seahawks are now one win away from winning a Super Bowl.
“I told my team, ‘I’m going to do whatever it takes. Whatever you all ask for me, I’m going to get it done. Whatever that might be,'” Smith-Njigba said postgame. “And that’s what you saw today. 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.”
Moreover, Smith-Njigba wanted to thank the fans for playing their role in helping the team edge Los Angeles and head to the Super Bowl to face the New England Patriots.
“I want to thank the 12s,” Smith-Njigba added. “[They are the] best fans in the world. I couldn’t have done it without my guys, man. Special teams, defense, [and] offense; it had to come through Lumen. We headed to San Francisco. Let’s get it.”
Sam Darnold Doesn’t Hold Back on Seahawks Win
Along with Smith-Njigba, Sam Darnold was the other star in this contest as the veteran signal caller went 25-for-36 on his pass attempts for 346 passing yards and three touchdowns.
“It’s amazing to be able to do it with these guys in this locker room, with this coaching staff,” Darnold told FOX Sports postgame. “That’s why it means the world to me… I haven’t really thought about [his journey to the Super Bowl] much, to be honest, but I take it one day at a time. That’s it, one day at a time, every single day. Like I said, to be able to do it, it’s a special group, and I wouldn’t want to do it with anyone else.”
Seahawks’ Gamble on Sam Darnold Paying Off
Darnold became the first quarterback in NFL history to guide two different teams to 14-win seasons in back-to-back years. Despite that milestone, the Minnesota Vikings decided to move on last offseason, passing on a reunion and choosing to move forward with second-year quarterback J.J. McCarthy.
Minnesota gambled that Darnold could carry over the best season of his career, dealing Geno Smith and bringing Darnold into an already strong roster to keep the momentum going.
Meanwhile, Seattle’s decision to role with the former New York Jets QB, who many considered a bust after he left the Big Apple, is close to being a brilliant move if the team can seal it with a Super Bowl trophy.
When asked by Fox broadcaster Michael Strahan what he thought about his NFL record and new home, Darnold again deferred to thank his teammates.
“That doesn’t matter to me, I just come to work every single day with these guys,” Darnold said. “We came to work every day since April, one day at a time.”
Jaxon Smith-Njigba Issues Strong Words as Seahawks Edge Rams