Seahawks advance to SuperBowl LX after thrilling 31-27 win LA Rams

The Seahawks’ defense set the tone and stopped the Rams’ offense on its first possession, and the offense showed its commitment to the run game on its first drive. After the defense forced a three-and-out, the Seahawks offense went to the ground game on its first offensive possession of the game.  After converting a critical third and five with a 51-yard pass play from   Sam Darnold to Rashid Shaheed, Ken Walker finished the drive with a two-yard run, that gave   Four of the plays in the seven-play drive were runs by  Ken Walker.

” Great team win. We came out, did exactly what we wanted to do on offense. I thought that was a great first touchdown drive, and then kind of hit a lull in the second, third quarter. Got things going a little bit there in between those lulls I guess. But just a total complete team win,” said Darnold .” Special teams stepping up on the muffed punt; Dareke recovering that was huge for us especially going into the half. And then getting the ball back. You know, our defense just playing lights out. That fourth down they hit, I think it was fourth and four, something like that. Just an incredible stop by our guys. So like I said, complete team win. Very proud of this group.”

RAMS ANSWER THE SEAHAWKS

After stalling in their first drive of the game, the Rams’ offense took advantage of a Devon Witherspoon coverage mishap with a 44-yard completion from Matt Stafford to Puca Nakua. The Seahawks defense recovered and held the Rams to a 44-yard field goal by Harrison Mevis.

SEAHAWKS OFFENSE STUBS IT TOE

A holding penalty by Anthony Bradford at the Rams’ nine-yard line derailed the Seahawks’ offense on its next possession.  The offense never recovered from the miscue and settled for a 27-yard field goal, taking a 10-3 lead. The Rams’ offense continued to make a run at the Seahawks’ offense with a balanced attack featuring Kyren Williams and Matthew Stafford’s arm. The promising drive stalled at the Seahawks ‘ 23-yard line on DeMarcus Lawrence‘s nine-yard sack of Stafford. It was the first time the Seahawks sacked Stafford since week 11 of the 2023 season. The Rams settled for a 50-yard field goal and narrowed the deficit to 10-6

BAD TO WORSE

The Seahawks’ offense had its worst series of the game. Darnold found Jaxsonn Smith-Njiba for a 16-yard pass, and it looked like the offense was back on track. Darnold fumbled the shotgun snap on the next play, was sacked on the following play, and in a blink of an eye, it was third and 27.  A three-yard run to Holani ended the drive. The Rams, in turn, reeled off their best drive of the game, which took the lead on a 12-play 87-yard drive that ate up 7:23 seconds.   The drive ended with  Stafford to a wide open to Williams for the nine-yard touchdown play that gave the Rams the 13-10 lead.

SEAHAWKS OFFENSE CONTINUES TO SPUTTER

 The offense continued to regress on its next possession.  A  Ken Walke  run was followed by two consecutive incomplete passes. The Seahawks defense came up big on the Rams’ offensive possession with a three-and-out. The Seahawks offense found its rhythm and moved down the field in a mere 54 seconds, and the drive ended with Darnold to Jackson- Smith Njigba, giving the Seahawks a 17-13 lead just before halftime.

OPPORTUNISTIC START TO THE SECOND HALF

The Seahawks offense received the second-half kickoff and sputtered, but was rescued by the Special Teams Unit.  Dareke Young recovered a Xavier Smith muffed punt at the Rams’ 17-yard line. The Seahawks offense did not hesitate when given a second bite of the Apple.

  On the first play of the drive, Darnold hit Jake Bobo with a nifty 17-yard touchdown pass for the 24-13 lead.  Matthew Stafford continued his Houdini ways and drove the Rams downfield on a four-play drive that ended with a two-yard touchdown pass to Davante  Adams. The score cut the Rams’ deficit to just four points at 24-20.

SEAHAWKS OFFENSE FINDS ITS RHYTHM

The Seahawks offense found its footing with some nimble footwork and passing by Darnold, culminating in a 13-yard touchdown pass to Cooper Kupp. The score gave the Seahawks a 31-20 lead with 4:52 left in the third quarter. The Rams’ number one-ranked offense did not bat an eye.   Stafford and the Rams offense went to work, picking on Riq Woolen.  Who had two penalties on the drive and gave up a 34-yard touchdown pass to Puka  Nacua. The score brought the Rams within striking distance at 27-31 but they never were able to close the gap.

DEFENSE  COMES UP BIG

Despite giving up leaky yardage and making uncharacteristic mistakes, the  Seahawks defense stopped the Rams’ offense when it mattered most.  After a three-and-out by the offense, the Rams offense was poised for what looked like a classic comeback with the ball at its 10-yard line with 12:28 left in the game.  Stafford moved the Rams down to the  Seahawks ‘ 18-yard line with  7:09 left in the game.  An encroachment penalty on Seahawks linebacker Boye Mafe gave the Rams a first down.  Stafford’s six-yard pass to Nacua gave the Rams a first down at the Seahawks’ 12-yard line.

Another Stafford-to-Nacua connection moved the ball 6 yards closer to the Seahawks’ end zone.  Kyren Williams was stopped for no gain on second down.  Stafford then picked on Devon Witherspoon, which turned out to be a big mistake.  Witherspoon played perfect pass defense on  Stafford’s attempted pass to  Kanota   Mumpfield on third down and  Terrance  Ferguson.

“Oh, my God. That’s Devon Witherspoon. That’s him. We didn’t execute that play well on the fourth down, but he just covered his guy forever and just refused to let his guy catch the ball,” said Mike Macdonald after the game. ” That’s who he is. That’s who he is every day. So incredibly proud of him.’

The Seahawks offense took over and ate up all but 25 seconds of the game clock.  The Seahawks defense shut down the Rams on their final, desperate attempts at a Hail Mary that never arrived.