This Sunday afternoon, the Seattle Seahawks will try to stay on track to do something they have not done in exactly twelve years: win the Super Bowl. That number carries real weight in Seattle, so let’s hope it brings a little magic with it, because standing in their way is an opponent that never seems to go away. That, fittingly, has become a trend for Seattle’s postseason path.
Twelve years ago this February, the Seahawks stormed into MetLife Stadium in New Jersey as underdogs and delivered one of the most lopsided wins in Super Bowl history. Facing a record-setting Denver Broncos offense led by future Hall of Fame quarterback Peyton Manning, Seattle was expected to put up a fight but ultimately fall short, at least according to the oddsmakers in Las Vegas.
Instead, the quarterback who threw 55 touchdowns during the regular season managed just one in the biggest game of the year. Denver’s offense was battered, beaten, and humiliated. The tone was set on the very first play, when the opening snap sailed over Manning’s head and into the end zone. That safety turned out to be the closest Denver came to making it competitive. The Seahawks rolled to a 43-8 win, holding the best offense in NFL history to a single touchdown. Other teams were overwhelmed by Denver that season. Seattle turned that strength into a weakness.
More than a decade later, the Seahawks find themselves chasing that same destination again. They returned to the Super Bowl the following year, but a heartbreaking ending derailed everything that followed. They have not been back since. The roster and coaching staff have been completely rebuilt, and now a more efficient and equally dangerous version of the Seahawks is standing in a position eerily similar to the one they occupied at the top of the mountain years ago.
To get there, they must once again survive the NFC gauntlet.
In the 2013 playoffs, Seattle hosted the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Championship Game. The Seahawks started slowly and trailed 10-3 at halftime. A second-half surge saw Seattle outscore San Francisco 20-7, but the closing moments were pure chaos. With just thirty seconds left, the 49ers had first-and-10 at the Seattle 18-yard line, two timeouts, and a chance to steal the game.
Eighteen yards and half a minute stood between Seattle and its first Super Bowl appearance in eight years.
On the next play, San Francisco went for the end zone. Colin Kaepernick’s pass was headed for Michael Crabtree, but Richard Sherman arrived just in time to knock it away. Linebacker Malcolm Smith intercepted the deflection, sealing one of the most iconic moments in Seahawks history.
No Seattle fan ever fully recovered from the stress of those final seconds. Even the Super Bowl win two weeks later could not erase it completely. Twelve years later, that feeling still lingers.
And somehow, this moment feels even bigger.
The Rams arrive in Seattle after beating the Panthers in the Super Wild Card round and surviving a frigid overtime thriller in Chicago last weekend. Los Angeles won that game on a field goal after both teams failed to score on their opening overtime possessions.
Seattle and Los Angeles split their regular-season meetings, with each team winning at home. The first matchup was a nail-biter, with the Rams largely controlling the game before Seattle had one last chance to win it. A long field goal attempt fell short, narrowly preserving the Rams victory.
The rematch in Seattle was a defensive slugfest early. Los Angeles took a 13-7 lead into halftime, but the second half turned into a scoring explosion that ended regulation tied at 30. The Rams scored first in overtime on a pass that broke free for a touchdown. Seattle answered with a drive of its own and then made the bold decision to go for two and end it. They converted, earning a one-point win that ultimately secured the NFC’s top seed.
Had either game swung the other way, this contest might be happening in Los Angeles instead of Seattle. For this matchup, though, it is hard to believe location will matter much.
Sunday will mark the third and final meeting between these teams, with a trip to the Super Bowl on the line. Kickoff is scheduled for 3:30 PM, though that could be pushed back if the AFC Championship runs long, so plan accordingly if you are hosting.
Despite how dominant Seattle looked against San Francisco and how uneven the Rams appeared against Chicago, do not expect either team to look overwhelmed this time. A second-half shootout feels likely. No matter how good the defenses are, both offenses eventually find ways to break through. When that happens, the game will come down to which defense makes the one play that matters most.
Seattle is loaded with talent, but someone on defense will need to rip the ball away from the Rams. Julian Love and Ernest Jones IV are obvious candidates, but do not be surprised if Devon Witherspoon delivers a defining moment in the biggest game of his young career.
On offense, Seattle must replace red-zone runner Zach Charbonnet, who will miss the rest of the postseason after tearing his ACL against the 49ers. Cam Akers is the early favorite to fill that role and knows the offense well after years in Shanahan-style systems, including his time with the Rams. Rookie George Holani is also a name to watch after being designated to return from injury. Playoff roster rules give Seattle flexibility, which could make game planning more difficult for Los Angeles.
Quarterback Sam Darnold is expected to play despite an oblique injury he managed last week. Left tackle Charles Cross is dealing with a foot issue, but those are the primary concerns for Seattle. The Rams, meanwhile, enter the game with a banged-up secondary, and that could be an issue if Jaxon Smith-Njigba finds space in the open field.
I think Seattle wins this game, but it will be a battle. The Rams are loaded at key positions and have elite play-callers on both sides of the ball. Seattle is just as talented, if not more so, and this one will come down to execution and desire.
This game simply means more to Seattle. The Seahawks have not been to a Super Bowl in eleven years and have not won one in twelve. The Rams have been there twice in the last decade and won a title just four seasons ago.
Seattle has never lost a conference championship game at home. This would be a brutal time to let the Rams of all teams break that streak. The Seahawks have been fighting the Rams for respect since the 1970s, and the championship teams of the early 2010s faded too quickly. This version of the Seahawks has a chance to prove it belongs for the long haul.
Seattle will fight to the finish, and I expect them to be ahead when the final whistle blows.
Prediction: Seahawks 27, Rams 21. And if we are lucky, it will not come down to who has the ball last this time.
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