Darnold signed with the Seahawks after the Vikings decided to let him test free agency, and all he did was lead another team to 14 wins while earning Pro-Bowl honors. And yet, the questions persisted. After four interceptions in that loss to the Rams, and after two more in a Week 16 win, people outside of the organization—there was never doubt from his coaches or teammates—wondered if he could win the big games. Wondered if he could be the type of quarterback who can lead his team to the Super Bowl. Wondered if he could solve a Rams defense had given him trouble in past meetings.

Well wonder no more. Sam Darnold proved emphatically that he can shine under the type of pressure that comes with an NFC championship, and as a result, the Seahawks are going to the Super Bowl.

“You can’t talk about the game without talking about our quarterback,” Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald said. “He just shut a lot of people up tonight. Really happy for him.”

Said veteran defensive tackle Leonard Williams, “I was so happy for him… To show up in a game like this when there’s still so many doubters, it’s big time for him. I’m so proud of him, so proud of my team.”

Darnold, who, along with the entire offense, has played turnover-free football in three straight games, was good last week in Seattle’s 41-6 win over the 49ers, but with the defense so dominant, and with the running game so effective, Darnold didn’t have to do a ton, going an efficient 12 for 17 for 124 yards and a score.

Against the Rams, one of the only teams in the league that has shown it can move the ball well against this Seattle defense, Darnold and the passing game needed to be more than efficient. He needed to be great, and Darnold answered that call, completing 25 of 36 attempts for 346 yards and three touchdowns, giving him a 127.8 passer rating.

“It doesn’t say anything that we didn’t already know about him,” said receiver Jake Bobo, who had one of Seattle’s three touchdown catches. “He’s the man. Obviously, you see the arm talent out here every Sunday. But his leadership is what makes him special. Everybody in this locker room wants to play for him and it takes a special dude to be able to pull that off and then do what he does on the field. I can’t say enough about him. Hopefully he doesn’t see me saying this because I’ll get shit for it, but he’s a great dude.

“He’s the best in the world. It didn’t surprise anybody, I’ll tell you that. Just the way he came out and got it done for us. Obviously, he’s got one more in him. I think this is going to be fun to watch him enjoy this one especially.”

With All-Pro quarterback Matthew Stafford putting up similar numbers, showing why he’s an MVP favorite, the Seahawks needed Darnold and their offense to match the Rams score-for-score. And for as good as the Seahawks’ defense was all season, what really put this team over the top was the way they could win in all three phases. There have been games this season where the defense led the way in low-scoring wins, and there have also been high-scoring wins that required a lot more from the offense, or big plays on special teams. That was the case in Seattle’s Week 16 win over the Rams, and it was the case again with the Super Bowl on the line, and all Darnold did was play one of the best games of is career following a week in which he was limited in practice due to an oblique injury.

“He showed us exactly who we always thought he was,” Williams said. “Since Day 1, this whole organization, this whole team, everybody in the locker room has trusted him, regardless of the doubts or the ups and downs or anything we’ve had throughout the season, one thing that’s always stayed true is our trust in our quarterback. He’s a great leader, and he really saved us today.”

Added cornerback Devon Witherspoon, “He does all the time. When you see a guy work the way he works and go about his business the way he goes about it. The plays he made today, I’m like, ‘I remember seeing that play in practice, he executed that in practice.’ Shout out to our ready squad, they gave him a great look. He was prepared for this game, he really was, and those who doubted Sam, now you’ve to look yourselves in the mirror, bro. Shout out to Sammy D, man, we know we ride with you.'”