He’s left the horns behind. That feels right now.
Cooper Kupp, a Seattle native, always had a knack for timing—the perfect moment to break into a route, to seize a play. On Sunday night at Lumen Field, he showcased a fierce performance against the team he once helped lead to a Super Bowl title, all while surrounded by friends and family.
The stats read four catches for 36 yards and one touchdown. But it was two specific plays that truly hurt the Rams’ hopes this season.
The first blow came midway through the third quarter. Kupp, while playing for the Rams, managed to evade defenders to score Seattle’s final touchdown of the game, pushing the lead to 31-20 with just under five minutes left in the third.
The second wound lingered longer.
With the Rams trailing 31-27 late in the contest, their defense had a chance to turn the game around. It was third and seven at Seattle’s 28-yard line. A stop could set them up for a comeback led by Matthew Stafford. It seemed almost scripted.
Kupp dashed down the field. After catching the ball, he was taken down but reached for the first down.
Game over, or at least that’s how it seemed.
Replays hinted that Kupp might have been short. As he rolled, the ball slipped away. Similar plays had been ruled incomplete in earlier playoffs, and there was a notable instance involving Buffalo Bills receiver Brandin Cooks. Sean McVay called a timeout to question the officials during the broadcast. “Why aren’t you reviewing this?” he asked. Yet, no challenges were made, and another potential first down slipped through his fingers.
Safety Quentin Lake attempted to keep his composure afterward, but the damage was evident. Seattle was forcing time off the clock. The Rams were still bleeding timeouts.
Then, things got worse.
A few plays later, Darnold unintentionally stopped the clock with an incomplete pass. A fleeting moment of relief vanished quickly as a flag was thrown. Coby Durant was holding—who else? Kupp. Once again, the Rams’ chances were diminished.
“It was a good game,” Durant told the press, seeming cautious about critiquing officials. “That’s all I have to say.”
With only 25 seconds left, the Seahawks effectively sealed the game.
Kupp didn’t celebrate on the field afterwards. He simply embraced his former teammates, including Stafford, with whom he had shared a Super Bowl victory just four years prior.
“I love that guy,” Stafford expressed. “I’m so proud of him.”
Puka Nacua, whom Kupp had mentored for a couple of seasons before the Rams parted ways with him in March of last year, made a point to seek out Kupp after the game.
“He’s my mentor and a friend,” Nacua said. “I wanted to congratulate him on his great performance and also on getting the chance to play in the Super Bowl. He’s an incredible player.”
The Rams had once centered a Super Bowl around Kupp’s talents. Ironically, it was that very brilliance that ensured they wouldn’t make a return this time around.
