The Trilogy: It Always Had to be Seahawks-Rams For a Trip to Super Bowl LX

Well… that was a crazy weekend.

The divisional round of the NFL playoffs is over, and the conference championship games are officially set. In the AFC, you’ve got the New England Patriots heading to Denver to take on a Bo Nix–less Broncos team after Nix broke his ankle in the final moments of their win over Buffalo.

But let’s be honest. All eyes are on the NFC.

Because this is the matchup we all expected. This is the matchup NFL fans deserve.

The Los Angeles Rams vs. the Seattle Seahawks, with a trip to Super Bowl LX on the line. An all-out NFC West showdown.

These two teams have already played twice this season, and both games were absolute cinema.

The first matchup came in Los Angeles, where the Rams escaped with a 21–19 win after Jason Myers missed a 61-yard field goal at the buzzer. Despite Sam Darnold throwing four interceptions, the Seahawks somehow found a way to be in that game. Mike Macdonald honestly outcoached Sean McVay, and the Rams still found a way to win.

Then came the Thursday Night Football game in Week 16.

Seattle erased a 30–14 deficit with eight minutes left at home to win 38–37 in overtime. And what made that one even crazier was that this time, Sean McVay and Matthew Stafford absolutely diced up Macdonald's defense where the the Rams went for nearly 600 yards of total offense, even without Davante Adams. And yet, somehow, the Seahawks still won a game where McVay clearly had the coaching edge.

To make it even more obvious how locked-in Seattle has been, the Seahawks haven’t lost a game since that early-season matchup with the Rams back in November.

These have been the two best teams in football all year long.

You can genuinely make the argument that this is the Super Bowl, because as long as both teams are healthy, I don’t see a world where whoever wins this game doesn’t hoist the Lombardi Trophy on February 8th.

Just to show how even these teams are:

• Total points scored (head-to-head): Rams 58, Seahawks 57

• Total offensive yards: Rams 830, Seahawks 829

You literally can’t script it better.

Now, full transparency, I’m a Seahawks fan.

A part of me wanted the Chicago Bears to win because that’s an easier path to the Super Bowl for Seattle. But at the same time, if the Seahawks pull this off, this becomes the second chapter of what could be the most satisfying Super Bowl run in NFL history.

Last week, Seattle dominated the 49ers at home. Now they have a chance to eliminate the Rams at home and head to the Super Bowl, potentially against the New England Patriots, the same franchise that ripped our hearts out in Super Bowl XLIX when we were going for back-to-back titles.

That storyline writes itself.

But let me be clear: this is far from a guaranteed win.

I am terrified of Matthew Stafford, Sean McVay, Puka Nacua, Davante Adams, and this Rams offense. They’ve had Sam Darnold’s number in the past, and they have way more experience in these moments.

If anything, I think all the pressure is on Seattle.

We don’t know how good this team is going to be going forward. People love to say, “This is just the beginning,” but we’ve seen teams say that before and never get back. Meanwhile, the Rams always seem to be here. Big games. Big moments. They know how to win them.

With Zach Charbonnet out, Seattle is going to need Kenneth Walker to have another monster game like he did last time against LA. Jaxon Smith-Njigba to get behind this Rams defense. And most importantly, Sam Darnold to not lose the game.

And honestly, I think he’s going to have to make a high-pressure throw that actually wins the game.

So what's my early read?

If I’m being completely honest, and if I remove my Seahawks bias, I probably lean Rams. Matthew Stafford. Sean McVay. Big-game experience. That stuff matters.

That said, there are things I really like for Seattle here:

• The Seahawks get an extra day of rest

• The Rams just played an overtime game in Chicago on the East Coast

• That’s back-to-back East Coast trips for LA

• The Rams barely escaped the Panthers two weeks ago in the Wild Card round

• It's so difficult to win three straight road playoff games in the NFL

Based on what we’ve seen over the past month, Seattle has been the more consistent team, and they have the most consistent unit in this game, which is their defense.

Yes, McVay and Stafford diced them up last time. And yes, Seattle still found a way to win.

Gun to my head? I’d probably say the Rams win this game. But here’s how I see Seattle winning it.

For once, I think the turnover differential swings Seattle’s way. And more importantly, I’ve got a bold prediction: special teams will decide this game.

The Rams’ special teams have been their Achilles heel all year. They literally fired their special teams coach after that Week 16 loss to Seattle. I think either the Rams mess something up, or the Seahawks flat-out take advantage of it.

In that building. In Seattle. An NFC Championship Game. A trip to the Super Bowl on the line. I just can’t see the Seahawks blowing this opportunity.

This is once-in-a-lifetime territory for Sam Darnold and Mike Macdonald. And I just don’t love what I’ve seen from the Rams over the past month.

At the end of the day, it all comes down to Sam Darnold, and I think he finally rises the occasion.

These are the two best teams in the NFL.

My early lean: take the Rams to cover the +2.5 while you can.

But if you’re asking me who I’m picking?

I’ll be damned if I’m not taking the Seattle Seahawks.

Give me Seattle 23–21 in what I think will be an all-time classic.