Controversy in NFC Championship Game

SEATTLE — Coby Durant chose his words carefully, mindful of not criticizing his old teammates. The Rams faced a tough 31-27 defeat against the Seahawks in the NFC Championship Game on Sunday.

During the game, Durant made a crucial tackle on Cooper Kupp that was initially marked as a 7-yard reception with just 3:20 left on the clock. However, replays suggested that Kupp didn’t quite reach the first down marker. Unfortunately for the Rams, head coach Sean McVay called a timeout without throwing a challenge flag, which meant they were unable to contest the call under the rules.

Durant, perhaps trying to steer clear of any penalties for speaking out, remarked, “It was a good game. That’s it.” It seemed he was cautious with his answer.

McVay didn’t address that particular play in his post-game comments, but lip readers hinted he reacted with “Why not?” when informed the challenge was no longer possible.

The missed call had significant implications. The Seahawks were facing a fourth-and-inches situation at their own 34-yard line, which led to a critical first down that allowed them to run down the clock to just 25 seconds before giving the ball back to the Rams.

Interestingly, Kupp had been the MVP of the Rams during Super Bowl 56 but was released in the offseason. He exacted some form of revenge by scoring a touchdown in this game.

Quentin Lake, a safety for the Rams, commented on the play, saying, “When the referee makes a call, you have to respect it and keep playing. At that moment, it wasn’t the end of the game.”

Harrison Mavis, who had been waived by the Jets earlier this season, stepped up by hitting field goals from 44 and 50 yards during the first half. His contributions were particularly vital after a loss to the Bears just last week.

Meanwhile, Seahawks linebacker Ernest Jones IV, a former Ram, has a slightly more detached perspective than Kupp. Having been traded to the Titans before the 2024 season, he shared, “I put a lot into that program. I’m happy to be with these guys. We’re going to win and go to the Super Bowl. I’m just grateful.”

As for Puka Nacua, he ended the season impressively with 153 catches for 2,047 yards and 12 touchdowns across both the regular season and playoffs. He and Kupp are now the only players in NFL history to surpass 2,000 receiving yards in a single season, both catching passes from Matthew Stafford.