(Photo: Los Angeles Times)
NFC Championship
(5) Los Angeles Rams at (1) Seattle Seahawks
Rams (14-5):
What a game that was in Chicago on Sunday evening, wasn’t it? The arctic conditions and two teams fighting for the chance to stay alive and advance while, unfortunately, the other would go home and begin their offseason. All I heard leading up to the game was that the team from California wasn’t ready for the conditions in Chi-Town and stood no chance. Let me explain something to everyone reading this: it doesn’t matter what city a team plays in or what type of stadium it is, whether indoors or outdoors — physicality travels. If you can establish your running game and play stingy defense, you have a chance. Honestly, I was reminded of two playoff games after Sunday’s matchup. The first was the 2020 NFC Championship between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field in January — you’d give the edge to the home team, right? They lost. The second was the 2021 NFC Divisional Round between the San Francisco 49ers and the Packers — Green Bay lost that game too. For a moment, I thought the Rams were about to blow a lead to the Bears, as many teams have this season, when Caleb Williams made a throw of his life to Cole Kmet to bring Chicago back. My biggest takeaways from L.A.: they got the running game going, and the defense came ready, intercepting Caleb three times. I had stated before the game that the team that executed more consistently would likely come away with the victory. On Sunday, the Rams will look to get back to the Super Bowl for the first time since winning it in 2021.
Seahawks (15-3):
That was an impressive performance last Saturday. Entering the game, I knew Seattle had the advantage because they had just beaten the San Francisco 49ers in Week 18 to close out the regular season. I remember leaving that game saying how impressed I was with their performance. What could they do for an encore? To start, they struck quickly, returning the opening kickoff for a touchdown. Many eyes were on Sam Darnold entering the game — and rightfully so. Last season, when he helped lead the Minnesota Vikings to the playoffs, they collapsed, and Sam didn’t play his best. This postseason, he entered with less pressure and a year of experience under his belt. Granted, he struggled at times, but he’s played in high-pressure moments before, which speaks volumes. Truthfully, Sam didn’t have to do much but control the clock, make throws when opportunities presented themselves, and most importantly, avoid losing the game — because the Seahawks’ running game, led by Kenneth Walker III, was rolling. This is a good football team in Seattle. What has made them so dangerous is their offensive balance: they can win taking shots downfield or grinding it out on the ground. Their defense has been phenomenal all year, and they are well-coached under Mike Macdonald. This Sunday, the Seahawks will host a division rival for the NFC title and a trip to the Super Bowl.
Rams X-Factor: Kyren Williams
Matthew Stafford has taken this offense to the highest of highs, and any group of pass catchers can work with him. Back in August, before the season even started, I told Cole Johnson that if the Rams wanted success this year, Kyren Williams would need to be a key piece. Sean McVay trusts him in every aspect: early downs, short-yardage situations, pass protection, and check-downs. Kyren is the player who can keep the Rams offense on track, and if he gets going early, it unlocks play-action for the passing attack.
Seahawks X-Factor: Boye Mafe
This Seahawks defense is loaded with playmakers, and their success comes from team effort. Everyone knows their role and executes it. Seattle’s front seven has been excellent this year, and Boye Mafe is a big reason why. Against a Rams offensive line that excels in pass protection, Boye can terrorize the edge with speed, bend, and power. If he wins early, Sean McVay may need to add extra protection, which could limit the routes for Puka Nacua and Davante Adams.
Final Thoughts:
These two teams split their regular-season matchups. The Rams took the first game at SoFi Stadium, intercepting Sam Darnold four times. On December 18, they played again on Thursday Night Football. The Rams appeared to be running away with the game — or so they thought — but the Seahawks came back from a 16-point deficit in one of the best games I’ve seen all year. Now, the NFC title is on the line, along with a trip to Levi’s Stadium. The Rams must come out strong and let Kyren Williams set the tone — I feel he needs around 20 carries to make an impact. Next, they must protect Stafford’s launch point and allow him to buy time with a moving pocket. Most importantly, they need to contain Kenneth Walker III and limit his production quickly. For the Seahawks, disrupting Stafford is key — he is surgical when clean in the pocket. They must also win early downs on defense. The Rams offense hums when they move the chains, so Seattle should stuff the run early, force long-yardage situations, and make L.A. abandon play-action and timing routes. Lastly, stay committed to the run — they don’t need huge gains every time, just consistency to keep Stafford and the offense on the sideline. After this, we’ll have an official Super Bowl matchup!
