As has become a recurring theme this postseason, the Seattle Seahawks must go through an NFC West rival to keep their playoff run alive. This time, it is the Los Angeles Rams standing in the way, as the two teams meet Sunday with a trip to Super Bowl LX on the line.
The rivals have already delivered two tight contests this season. The Rams took the first meeting after the Seahawks missed a 61-yard field goal as time expired. Seattle answered in the rematch, pulling out a dramatic overtime win on a successful two-point conversion.
Seattle enters the NFC Championship riding high after a dominant 41-6 dismantling of the San Francisco 49ers in the divisional round. The Rams, meanwhile, survived a 20-17 overtime thriller against the Chicago Bears. When these teams last met on December 18, they produced a game-of-the-year candidate. The Seahawks shook off a sluggish start and erased a 16-point deficit to steal the win, a victory that ultimately put them in the driver’s seat for the NFC West title and the NFC No. 1 seed. Seattle closed the regular season with wins over Carolina and San Francisco to lock it up.
That loss dropped the Rams to third place in the division, forcing them to play on the road throughout the postseason. Los Angeles edged Carolina 30-27 in the Wild Card round, then survived a miraculous, game-tying touchdown pass by Caleb Williams in the final seconds before prevailing in snowy overtime last week. Now, the Rams bring a tough defense and veteran quarterback Matthew Stafford into another hostile environment in Seattle.
They will face a Seahawks team full of confidence after overwhelming the 49ers. Seattle’s defense was relentless, harassing Brock Purdy all night and completely shutting down San Francisco’s running game. In both regular-season meetings with the Rams, the Seahawks were forced to rally from behind, something they would love to avoid a third time. If Seattle is going to reach the Super Bowl for the first time since 2014, here is how it has to happen.
1) K9’s Big Moment
Kenneth Walker III has thrived this season while sharing the workload with Zach Charbonnet, but now the backfield belongs entirely to him. Charbonnet suffered a season-ending knee injury against the 49ers, leaving Walker as the unquestioned lead back.
Walker answered the call last week, rushing 19 times for 116 yards and three touchdowns while adding three catches for 29 yards. His performance allowed quarterback Sam Darnold to play within himself and kept the offense on schedule all night. With Walker set to become a free agent after the season, he has a chance to dramatically boost his value with a strong postseason finish, whether in Seattle or elsewhere.
The Seahawks will need another similar effort. The more Walker can control the game on the ground, the more effective Seattle’s play-action attack becomes and the fewer risky throws Darnold will be forced to make.
2) Shaheed Needs to Do Something Special
Rashid Shaheed ignited the Seattle crowd last week by returning the opening kickoff against San Francisco for a touchdown. In the previous meeting with the Rams, he jump-started the Seahawks rally with a punt-return score.
Since arriving in a midseason trade from New Orleans, Shaheed has proven to be a sparkplug even when he is not catching passes. With Charbonnet sidelined, expect Seattle to manufacture touches for Shaheed on jet sweeps and designed runs. He is a threat to break a big play any time he touches the ball, and in a game likely decided by a handful of moments, one electric play from Shaheed could swing everything.
3) The Defense Has to Keep Doing Its Thing
Mike Macdonald delivered a defensive masterclass against the 49ers. Seattle’s front dominated the line of scrimmage, erasing the run game and forcing Brock Purdy to scramble just to survive. While Matthew Stafford is not as mobile, his longevity is built on experience and awareness.
Seattle struggled at times containing the Rams in their first two meetings, but tightened up late in both games. This time, the Seahawks will need to start fast defensively and maintain pressure throughout. The Seahawks finished the regular season as the NFL’s top scoring defense, and while the Rams dented that reputation twice, Macdonald will have his unit ready for the third and most important showdown.
Prediction: Seattle’s defense rises to the occasion once again, and Kenneth Walker delivers another big performance as the Seahawks punch their ticket to the Super Bowl with a 27-20 win.
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