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Seahawks outlast Rams, will face Patriots in Super Bowl 60
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- Seahawks outlast Rams, will face Patriots in Super Bowl 60
SEATTLE – The Seattle Seahawks are going to Santa Clara for Super Bowl 60.
In a raucous environment at Lumen Field, the Seahawks upended the Los Angeles Rams 31-27 to advance to the Super Bowl.
Sam Darnold passed for 346 yards and three touchdowns. Wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba produced 10 catches for 153 yards and a touchdown.
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Trailing 13-10 late in the second quarter, Darnold and Smith-Njigba led the Seahawks on a 6-play, 74-yard touchdown drive. Darnold found Smith-Njigba in the corner of the end zone for a TD to give the Seahawks a 17-13 advantage at halftime.
Smith-Njigba produced seven catches, 115 yards and a touchdown in the first half alone.
The action-packed third period featured 28 total points.
Early in the third quarter, Rams returner Xavier Smith muffed his second punt of the game. The Seahawks recovered the football and scored one play later when Darnold tossed a 17-yard touchdown to WR Jake Bobo to lift Seattle to a 24-13 lead.
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The Rams responded quickly after the turnover.
Matthew Stafford threw a dime to wideout Davante Adams for a 29-yard gain. And on the ensuing play he went right back to Adams for a two-yard touchdown to cut the Rams' deficit to 24-20.
However, the Seahawks padded their cushion again on a 9-play, 65-yard touchdown drive that was ended when receiver Cooper Kupp caught a 13-yard touchdown against his former club.
Seahawks cornerback Riq Woolen extended the Rams' next drive due to a taunting penalty. On the very next play, Woolen got burned on a 34-yard touchdown reception by Puka Nacua to trim Seattle's lead, 31-27.
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Stafford and the Rams marched down the field on an 84-yard drive in the fourth quarter, but the Rams were stopped on fourth-and-4 from Seattle's six-yard line.
The Seahawks took over possession after the turnover on downs and were able to milk the clock for the victory before a final Rams' drive ran out of time.
The Rams boasted the NFL's top scoring offense, and the Seahawks had the league's top-ranked scoring defense during the regular season. Their Jan. 25 contest was the third championship game since 1970 to feature the No. 1 scoring offense against No. 1 scoring defense from the regular season. It marked the sixth conference championship game between divisional opponents since 2002.
The Seahawks will meet the New England Patriots in Super Bowl 60. The two franchises faced each other in Super Bowl 49.
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Quick takeaways
Jaxon Smith-Njigba shines
Smith-Njigba showed why he's an NFL Offensive Player of the Year candidate. The Seahawks wide receiver turned Rams safety Kam Curl around on a post route that went for a 42-yard reception. He punctuated the drive with a 14-yard touchdown catch.
Smith-Njigba compiled seven catches for 115 yards and a touchdown in the first half.
The Seahawks' standout receiver was the best player on Seattle's offense. He amassed 10 catches, 153 yards and one touchdown.
Rams special teams mishaps (again)
The Rams' special teams play has been their Achilles heel all season long. They fired special teams coordinator Chase Blackburn in December, but the unit didn't improve much.
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Xavier Smith muffed two punts. Smith recovered the first muffed punt but the second one was recovered by Seattle. Sam Darnold tossed a 17-yard touchdown pass to Jake Bobo one play later to give Seattle a 24-13 lead.
Kyren Williams replaced Smith at punt returner in the fourth quarter.
Sam Darnold exorcised Rams demons
Darnold said previously that he was going to have to manage an oblique injury throughout the playoffs. He didn't perform like his oblique was ailing him this game.
Darnold played perhaps the best game of his career in what was the biggest game of his life. The Seahawks quarterback completed 25-of-36 passes for 346 yards and three touchdowns. He took care of the football made timely clutch passes all game. Seven different players had catches.
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Darnold had six interceptions against the Rams during the regular season, but he took care of the football in the NFC championship game. It's a big reason why Seattle is moving on.
Super Bowl 60 matchup
Defense wins championships. Super Bowl 60 is evidence.
The Seahawks had the NFL's top scoring defense and the Patriots ranked fourth in scoring defense during the regular season.
Follow USA TODAY Sports' Tyler Dragon on X @TheTylerDragon .
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Seahawks top Rams in NFC Championship game, book Super Bowl 60 ticket
