SEATTLE — Every football game has three phases: offense, defense and special teams. The Seattle Seahawks excelled in all three in their divisional-round win over the San Francisco 49ers, but as they prepare for a third matchup with the Los Angeles Rams in the NFC Championship Game, all eyes are on the offense — especially QB Sam Darnold.
Darnold knows ball security will be crucial against a Rams team that has given him fits this season.
Against Los Angeles, Darnold has thrown six interceptions, including his worst outing of the season at SoFi Stadium in Week 11. Still, the Seahawks’ signal-caller is confident in his approach.
“Just being smart with the football is always at a premium,” Darnold said. “I’ve gotta take care of the football at the end of the day. That’s where my mind’s at, but if we get the right coverage and the right play, and I feel like a guy’s open I’m gonna let it rip. Teams that take care of the football are usually the ones that end up in the win column at the end of the day.”
On the other side of the ball, Seattle’s defense will have its hands full slowing down Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford, who nearly torched them for 500 yards in Week 16, though the Seahawks still pulled out the win.
No one on Seattle’s roster knows Stafford better than former Eastern Washington star Cooper Kupp, who won a Super Bowl with the quarterback. Kupp isn’t shy about his praise for his former teammate.
“In my book, he’s one of the best to ever play the position,” Kupp said. “Everyone else can have their opinions on it, but as someone who was in the room with him, on the field with him, it’s hard to play at a higher level than he’s capable of playing at and has shown to do over and over again. So obviously a great challenge any time you’re on the field playing against Matthew Stafford.”
There are a multitude of factors that will decide this game, but an efficient performance from Darnold and a turnover or two from Stafford could go a long way toward sending the Seahawks to Super Bowl LX.