By ANDREW DESTIN
SEATTLE (AP) — Sam Darnold threw for 3 touchdowns, the Seahawks’ “Darkish Aspect” protection got here up with a important 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) dealing with fourth-and-4 on the Seattle 6 with 4:59 remaining, coach Sean McVay elected to go for it and Matthew Stafford’s go was broken up in the end 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 important 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 and a 24-13 lead.
Darnold, who flopped in his playoff debut last season with the Minnesota Vikings, played through an oblique injury and accomplished 25 of 36 passes for 346 yards with no turnovers. Jaxon Smith-Njigba had 153 yards receiving — the second-most in a playoff recreation in franchise historical past — and a landing on 10 catches.
“It’s superb,” Darnold mentioned. “To have the ability to do it with these guys on this locker room, although, with this teaching employees, that’s why it means the world to me.”
The Seahawks led 31-20 late within the third quarter on Darnold’s 13-yard TD go to Cooper Kupp, however the Rams bought again into the sport when Seahawks cornerback Riq Woolen was flagged for taunting after breaking apart a go to Nacua on third-and-12, giving Los Angeles a primary down.
On the following play, Stafford threw at Woolen once more, and Nacua beat him within the nook of the tip zone for a 34-yard landing.
The Rams pressured a punt on Seattle’s subsequent possession and went on a 14-play, 84-yard drive that got here up empty because of Witherspoon’s go breakup.
Seattle stayed aggressive on its remaining possession, with Darnold throwing for 3 first downs to expire many of the clock.
Davante Adams and Kyren Williams had receiving TDs for the Rams, and Kenneth Walker III rushed for a rating for the Seahawks.
Darnold set the tone along with his first completion of the sport, a 51-yarder to Rashid Shaheed. 4 performs later, Walker ran 2 yards for a TD to make it 7-0.
The Rams settled for discipline objectives by Harrison Mevis on their subsequent two possessions. With Los Angeles trailing 10-6, Stafford led a 12-play, 87-yard drive and related with a wide-open Williams for a 9-yard rating.
Los Angeles pressured a three-and-out late within the second quarter, however after two straight incompletions by Stafford, the Rams punted the ball again, and it took Darnold simply 34 seconds to place the Seahawks forward for good.
Smith-Njigba caught a deep ball from Darnold, absorbed an enormous hit by Kam Curl and held on for a 42-yard gain. 4 performs later, Darnold and Smith-Njigba attached for a 14-yard TD that made it 17-13 heading into halftime.
“I instructed my staff, I’m going to do no matter it takes. No matter y’all ask of me, I’m gonna get it performed, no matter that is perhaps,” mentioned Smith-Njigba, the NFL’s main receiver within the common season. “And that’s what you noticed right this moment. You simply noticed grit, willpower, you noticed ardour on the market and also you noticed a gaggle, a collective, going on the market and getting the job performed.”
Accidents
Rams: WR Jordan Whittington (chest) left within the third quarter. Defensive finish Kobie Turner (cramps) additionally exited within the third.
Seahawks: LB Drake Thomas (shoulder) left within the fourth quarter. FB Brady Russell (hand) was injured within the second half and didn’t return.
Up subsequent
Rams: Stafford turns 38 subsequent month and has to surprise if this was his final, finest likelihood at a second Tremendous Bowl title.
Seahawks: Search their second Tremendous Bowl title after profitable all of it within the 2013 season with coach Pete Carroll and the “Legion of Growth” protection.
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