The Seattle Seahawks know who they are facing in the NFC title game: The Los Angeles Rams. Much like the San Francisco 49ers, Seattle will get a third game against its NFC West rival, whom they went 1-1 against, including a wild 38-37 overtime win over the Rams on Dec. 18.
While the Seahawks put on a clinic against the Niners for the 41-6 victory in the divisional round, the question mark heading into this title game will be quarterback Sam Darnold.
Los Angeles have intercepted Darnold six times in the two meetings this season. As a result, former NFL player Emmanuel Acho believes that the Seahawks signal-caller is under pressure not to turn the ball over, as he has against the Rams this campaign, if Seattle hopes to punch its ticket to the Super Bowl.
“Ram [and] Seahawks, they’ve played each other twice this season. Matthew Stafford has five touchdowns [and] no interceptions,” Acho said on the Dec. 18 edition of “Speakeasy.” “Sam Darnold has two touchdowns [and] six interceptions. Let that sink in. It’s not a conversation. The game of football is all about the football.
“Matthew Stafford got five [touchdowns], no picks, in the two games combined. Sam Darnold got six picks in the two games combined. Average three picks a game. If Sam Darnold goes out there and starts throwing these picks, it’s going to be blouses before it gets started.”
Seahawks QB Sam Darnold Talks Performance Against 49ers
Seahawks QB Sam Darnold dealt with an oblique injury before the 49ers game. However, he was able to play, going 12-for-17 on his pass attempts for 124 passing yards and one touchdown.
Seattle didn’t need a whole lot from Darnold, as running back Kenneth Walker III was the star of the contest. Walker had 19 carries while registering 116 rushing yards and averaging 6.1 yards per carry for three touchdowns.
After the contest, Darnold spoke with FOX Sports to share his thoughts on playing through the injury and recording the win.
“It felt good,“ Darnold said postgame. “Once I got going, I felt really good, and it was no problem… Our offensive line. First of all, our defense, our special teams, that opening kickoff was unbelievable. But our offensive line, the receivers, tight ends, everyone doing their job in the run game, obviously the running backs, and then the receivers stepping up in the passing game.”
Seahawks Are Favorite to Win the Super Bowl
Now that Seattle are one game away from the Super Bowl, The Ringer’s Bill Simmons recently sent a message to the Seahawks regarding their chances of winning a championship.
Simmons noted that, with playoff teams in both the AFC and the NFC, the Seahawks are the clear favorites. As a result, it would be a disappointment if Seattle were to fall short of winning the Super Bowl this season.
“If I’m Seattle and I’m their fans, this is it, man,“ Simmons said in a video posted by The Ringer on Jan. 16. “This is now lined up to win the Super Bowl… They have the best unit of any [playoff team]. I sound like I’m a Seahawks fan. I just feel like this is laid out for them. They could easily fuck it up. But if I’m a Seahawks fan, ‘I’m like, holy sh–, we might be able to win the Super Bowl for real.’
“Our defense could just dominate the Niners this round. We go to the next round, we get the Rams at home, fine. And then we’re going to play Bo Nix in the Super Bowl, or this Pats team that has the youngest team in the league, or Josh Allen with no receivers. I like my chances against anybody.”
Seahawks’ Sam Darnold Faces Clear Warning Before Rams Game