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In the NFC title sport, the Seattle Seahawks host the Los Angeles Rams for the suitable to signify the NFC within the Super Bowl.
Seattle is coming off a complete domination of the division rival San Francisco 49ers within the divisional spherical. The Seahawks blasted the Niners, 41-6, in a sport that was by no means remotely shut after Rashid Shaheed took the opening kickoff to the home for a landing. The Seahawks at the moment are within the convention title sport for the primary time since 2014, once they went to back-to-back Super Bowls in the course of the “Legion of Boom” period.
Los Angeles is coming off a dramatic, additional time victory over the Chicago Bears within the divisional spherical, which adopted a equally dramatic win over the Carolina Panthers on Wild Card Weekend. The Rams have gained their two playoff video games by a mixed six factors, however they’ve superior to the title sport nonetheless. They had been final right here again within the 2021 season, when Matthew Stafford led the crew to its first Super Bowl since 1999, and now they’re trying to get again to the identical mountaintop.
Seahawks vs. Rams: NFC Championship knowledgeable picks, odds, NFL playoffs greatest bets, the place to watch, TV, stream
Tyler Sullivan
Which of those two groups will advance to the Super Bowl and earn an opportunity to compete for the Lombardi Trophy? We’ll discover out quickly sufficient. Before we element some key storylines, this is a take a look at how one can watch the sport.
Where to watch Seahawks vs. Rams reside
- Date: Sunday, Jan. 25 | Time: 6:30 p.m. ET
- Location: Lumen Field (Seattle)
- TV: Fox | Streaming: Fubo (attempt free of charge)
- Follow: CBS Sports App
- Odds: Seahawks -2.5, O/U 46.5 by way of DraftKings Sportsbook
Key Storylines
- Grudge match. The Rams beat the Seahawks within the first of the groups’ two regular-season conferences, prevailing 21-19, a sport by which their protection compelled 4 interceptions from Sam Darnold. The Seahawks gained the second sport in dramatic vogue in additional time, changing a pair of two-point tries alongside the way in which as they stormed again from a 30-14 fourth-quarter deficit and acquired themselves the within monitor to the No. 1 seed that enables them to host this convention title sport.
- Sam Darnold vs. Chris Shula. Darnold had a depressing time towards Shula’s protection within the playoffs final 12 months and within the first matchup of this season. He went 25 of 40 for 245 yards, one landing and one interception whereas taking an unbelievable 9 sacks in final 12 months’s playoff sport. He went 29 of 44 for 279 yards and the aforementioned 4 picks within the first matchup this season. And within the first three quarters of the second matchup this season, he went 10 of 16 for 126 yards and another decide. But he went off within the fourth quarter and additional time of that second sport, finishing 12 of 18 passes for 144 yards, two scores and a decide (and the game-winning two-point conversion in OT) to lead the crew again from its 16-point deficit. The Seahawks want extra of the latter model of Darnold than the previous if they need to stave off the Rams once more. The Rams’ secondary could be leaky every now and then, so it is possible a matter of holding Darnold effectively protected, giving him time to make the suitable choices moderately than dashing and changing into extra vulnerable to errors.
- Matthew Stafford vs. Mike Macdonald. Stafford largely struggled within the first matchup between these two groups this season, going simply 15 of 28 for 130 yards (a season-low common of 4.6 per try), albeit whereas throwing a pair of touchdowns and no picks. But he went nuclear within the second matchup, throwing for 457 yards and three scores whereas finishing 29 of 49 move makes an attempt. He did not take a sack or flip the ball over in both sport. With Puka Nacua and Davante Adams on the surface, he has the instruments to succeed towards even the most effective defenses within the NFL, which is precisely what the Seahawks are. If Macdonald can include Stafford as he did within the first matchup, the Seahawks have an opportunity to win — even when that is not what occurred in that exact sport. But if Stafford goes off once more as he did within the second matchup, the Seahawks may not get the miracle comeback this time round.
- Zach Charbonnet damage. The Seahawks will likely be down a person within the backfield after Charbonnet tore his ACL final week towards San Francisco. That leaves Kenneth Walker III because the function again for Seattle. George Holani might probably return from injured reserve, but when he does not, then it will be Velus Jones Jr. and Cam Akers working behind Walker. That would possible imply a big workload for Walker, who has been splitting the snaps and touches with Charbonnet all season. Charbonnet has been the popular goalline again for Seattle, so it will be fascinating to see whether or not Walker assumes that position or if it goes to one of many different backs energetic for the sport.
- Rams operating sport. Kyren Williams carried the ball 12 instances for 91 yards and a landing within the first matchup between these two groups. Blake Corum, although, acquired solely 10 yards on his 8 carries. Still, 20 rushes for 101 yards is superb. Williams and Corum mixed for 118 yards on 37 dashing makes an attempt within the second sport, although, getting bottled up just a little bit greater than they did within the first contest. have run for no less than 111 yards in every of their two playoff video games, however Williams and Corum averaging a mixed 4.0 yards per carry, which most likely will not reduce it towards an elite Seattle run protection that held enemy backs to 3.7 yards a pop in the course of the common season.
Prediction
I picked the Rams to beat the Seahawks within the NFC title sport in our pre-playoff predictions, so I’m clearly rolling with the identical decide right here. L.A. gained the primary sport between these two groups and will have gained the second, and would have if not for one of many craziest two-point conversions anybody has ever seen. The Seahawks have an elite protection and home-field benefit, however when two groups are as shut in high quality as these two are, I at all times like to roll with whichever crew has the benefit at quarterback, the sport’s most vital place. In this case, that is Matthew Stafford and the Rams. I like them to advance with a intently contested win.
Pick: Rams 23, Seahawks 20
