Looking back, it was clear that the two nail-biters during the regular season were merely a precursor to the clash awaiting us in Sunday’s NFC Championship Game.
Those games certainly left everyone eager for more, and now, with a Super Bowl berth on the line, we’re set for another showdown.
The longstanding NFC West rivals ended the regular season series even, with the Rams clinching their first meeting 21-19 thanks to a missed 61-yard field goal by Jason Myers.
The Seahawks took the second match 38-37, marking the first time in league history a walk-off two-point conversion happened in overtime.
Each team has learned valuable lessons from those encounters, although both sides claim that those games were quite distinct. There’s ample reason to think that Sunday’s matchup will have its own unique flair.
Still, both teams have taken notes from the previous showdowns—and so have we.
Inside Sam Darnold’s Mind
With the Seahawks quarterback, there’s always a hint of worry that things could slip away at any moment. His past meltdowns and missed chances with the Jets and Panthers loom large, leading some to regard him as one of the league’s notable disappointments.
On the upside, Darnold has managed to reinvent himself in recent years, particularly during his time with Minnesota and Seattle, distancing himself from those dreadful days.
But there’s still that pesky history against the Rams that he can’t shake off. And the Rams are acutely aware of it.
In their last two seasons, Darnold has thrown seven interceptions, been sacked 16 times, and won only one of four games against the Rams. His quarterback rating in those matchups? A dismal 34.3, compared to a 58.4 QBR against other opponents during the same timeframe.
He can downplay it all he likes. Yet, numbers don’t lie, and they’ll be looming large on Sunday.
Performing Under Pressure
The Rams have a detailed strategy for Darnold, but it all boils down to one critical tactic.
When they apply pressure, he tends to turn the ball over.
In their first regular season face-off, the Rams intercepted Darnold four times, taking advantage of a crumbling pocket. It wasn’t even about sacking him; it was more about how unsteady he looked under duress. Each time, he panicked, flinging erratic throws that often ended with Rams defenders.
The Rams feel confident they can replicate that pressure on Sunday.
Aiming for a Clean Game
When the two teams met in December, the Rams were on the verge of winning the season series, leading 30-14 in the fourth quarter and having scored on Darnold twice more.
With a little over eight minutes remaining, they were in command, holding down a prime playoff position.
But, unfortunately, mistakes piled up for them.
They faced disastrous moments, including a special teams blunder that allowed Rashid Shahid to score a 58-yard touchdown. They also surrendered multiple two-point conversions, both in regulation and overtime, and one of those proved crucial as Darnold’s deflected pass found its way into the end zone.
Ultimately, they kept giving the ball back to the Seahawks, resulting in three straight three-and-outs. Just a single first down in those situations could have shifted the game to the Rams’ home turf.
The Rams firmly believe they are the superior team—at least, if they can keep their play tidy.
Seahawks’ Confidence
Even with Darnold’s troubles against the Rams, the Seahawks didn’t just walk away splitting the regular season games. They narrowly missed a chance to sweep the series.
If you think that doesn’t bolster their confidence, you might be mistaken.
Especially since they effectively controlled the last eight minutes of the latest rematch, securing crucial two-point conversions and managing to settle Darnold down to execute some solid football.
Their memory of that game is vivid: they chased down the Rams in the fourth quarter, making key plays that shifted control back in their favor.
Ground Game Advantage
In their two regular season matchups, the Seahawks accumulated an impressive 306 rushing yards, showcasing runs of 55, 31, and 25 yards.
There was a period when Seattle seemed tougher and more physical, dominating the line of scrimmage and overpowering the Rams with their rushing game.
Darnold isn’t the only one who needs to worry; the Seahawks have a impressive runner in Kenneth Walker, who can really trench it against the defense.
If they manage to implement a similar ground strategy on Sunday, the Seahawks can gain that line of scrimmage control, which could influence everything from possession time to building confidence for Darnold throughout the game.
Rams’ Offensive Mystery
Interestingly, the Rams boasted the league’s most powerful offense, averaging 29 points against a Seattle defense that consistently held opponents to just 17.2 points per game.
But aside from that scoring, which was helped by the 37 points amassed in the overtime match, there’s a bit of a fog. They only managed to score 21 points in the first meeting, a figure the Seahawks would gladly take this time around.
Seattle has effectively stifled the Rams in critical situations, allowing just four touchdowns on ten trips to the red zone and thwarting the Rams on 21 of 31 third-down attempts.
Success in these crucial moments often determines the outcome of games—especially in playoff matchups played at home.
The Seahawks are fortunate to have an edge in these vital areas, which could be pivotal come Sunday.
