An inside have a look at the Rams-Seahawks NFC Championship showdown at Lumen Field in Seattle on Sunday night time:
Marquee matchup
Rams WR Puka Nacua vs. Seahawks CB Devon Witherspoon
Nacua torched the Seahawks for 12 catches, 225 yards and two touchdowns in Week 16, when he lined up within the slot, in-line or within the backfield on 20 of his 72 snaps.
Puka Nacua Matt Marton-Imagn Images
He proved to be an excessive amount of to deal with for Coby Bryant, who had stripped the ball from Nacua for a takeaway of their earlier matchup.
Will the Seahawks have Witherspoon journey with Nacua in a battle of All-Pros?
Witherspoon is flexible sufficient to play inside or outdoors, and possesses the size and physicality wanted to have an opportunity in opposition to Nacua’s energy.
One yr in the past, Nacua was ejected for throwing a punch away from the ball on a Riq Woolen interception, so he can lose his cool in opposition to this secondary.
Witherspoon was focused downfield simply 14 instances on 420 protection snaps this season — the bottom price (3.3 %) of any cornerback with at the very least half of his workload, per NextGenStats. Nacua, alternatively, led the NFL with 3.8 yards per route run.
Devon Witherspoon AP
“It’s going to be a physical game,” Nacua mentioned, “and that’s a big part of my game.”
Four downs
Class of 2018: The historic 2018 quarterback class can declare three MVPs (Lamar Jackson 2, Josh Allen 1) and 12 Pro Bowl alternatives (Jackson 4, Allen 4, Sam Darnold 2, Baker Mayfield 2), however not one of the 5 first-rounders — together with the retired Josh Rosen — has made it to the Super Bowl as a starter but.
Darnold was there as a backup with the 49ers in 2023, and now may very well be the primary to break via the wall that has blocked Allen and Jackson.
Of course, that wall has a reputation within the AFC and it’s referred to as “Patrick Mahomes,” who was the successful quarterback in three AFC Championship video games in opposition to both Allen (2) or Jackson (1).
Sam Darnold AP
Fifth time’s the appeal? Rams receiver Davante Adams isn’t any stranger to the NFC Championship sport. It’s the Super Bowl that he would love to meet. Adams went 0-4 in NFC Championship video games whereas with the Packers from 2014-21.
“Forgive me if I’m not smiling ear to ear after the first [playoff] win or the second win,” Adams mentioned. “Just having been here so many times and understanding exactly what it takes to get where we’re ultimately trying to go. It feels almost like a mythical thing to me at this point.”
It’s not like Adams is simply alongside for the experience. He led the NFL with 14 landing catches this season, after his playoff-less darkish days with the Raiders and Jets.
“I don’t think it was taking it for granted,” Adams mentioned, “but … you definitely have a greater appreciation for times like this.”
Davante Adams AP
Flip Kupp: To make room to signal Adams final offseason, the Rams minimize Cooper Kupp. So, in fact, Kupp is on the opposite aspect Sunday, after signing a three-year, $45 million contract with Seattle.
“We all have a story,” Kupp mentioned. “This is an unbelievable storyline — the chances this ends up being what it is. I’m really excited about that.”
Kupp shouldn’t be the identical participant who capped among the finest seasons in NFL historical past in 2021 (145 catches for 1,947 yards and 16 touchdowns) by successful Super Bowl LVI MVP for the Rams.
But he nonetheless is a bodily run-blocker who could make an enormous play along with his fingers (47-593-2).
Cooper Kupp AP
“It hasn’t gone production[-wise] what everyone comes in and hopes that it’s going to be, but it has been for the success that we’ve had,” Kupp mentioned. “I’ve been ecstatic to be a part of it.”
Curled Up: Seventeen safeties have signed contracts value at the very least $5 million per yr over the previous two free-agent lessons.
Many of these groups would possibly like a do-over to goal Kam Curl as a substitute. Curl has began 33 of 34 regular-season video games on a two-year, $9 million contract and made the “unbelievable” diving interception that arrange the Rams’ walk-off subject aim final week in what head coach Sean McVay referred to as an instance of “competitive greatness.”
“He’s obviously excellent in the pass game,” McVay added. “I think he’s got a great feel for when he is part of the run fits and just being able to aggressively close space, long stride, short stride, shuffle and shoot, and we can activate him as a blitzer. He’s a versatile piece. He’s a freaking stud.”
Dunleavy’s resolution
Offense wins video games, protection wins championships. Well, that is the NFC “Championship” sport. And it pits the Rams’ No. 1-ranked scoring offense (30.5 factors per sport) in opposition to the Seahawks’ No. 1-ranked scoring protection (17.2).
So, both the Rams win a shootout or the Seahawks win a punt-fest, proper? Not essentially.
The Seahawks confirmed their firepower in a 38-37 comeback win in opposition to the Rams on Dec. 18 then dropped 41 factors on the 49ers final week. Jaxon Smith-Njigba is the favourite to win Offensive Player of the Year, however Kenneth Walker III and Rashid Shaheed present loads of complementary explosiveness even within the absence of Walker’s backfield associate Zach Charbonnet (knee harm).
Sam Darnold, who has been coping with an indirect harm, doesn’t have to out-statistic MVP candidate Matthew Stafford. He simply has to make good choices and see if the gunslinging Stafford forces the difficulty in a legacy sport.
Seahawks 28, Rams 24
