Super Bowl LX is the Seattle Seahawks’ to Lose

Once they get past the Rams, the Patriots’ offense, even at full health, and the Broncos with Jarrett Stidham at QB, are no match for the Dark Side.

As many have expressed on social media since the NFC Championship matchup was announced, this game is considered the Super Bowl.

Darnold the Liability?

Throughout the regular season and into the postseason, Seattle’s primary concern has been Sam Darnold’s ability to stay calm under pressure and prevent costly turnovers. Darnold ended the regular season with 14 interceptions, the third most in the league. He also led the league in fumbles, with 11.

It’s no surprise that many people on social media, including NFL personalities, blame Darnold’s shortcomings for their doubts about Seattle’s contender status. Especially since the Los Angeles Rams, or maybe just Sean McVay, seem to be his kryptonite.

In the 2024 Wild Card round, the Rams ended Darnold and the Vikings’ season with a decisive 27–9 victory, during which Darnold completed 63% of his passes and threw one interception. In the Seahawks and Rams’ two regular-season meetings in 2025, Darnold averaged a 65.5% completion rate and threw six interceptions.

L.A. won the first game thanks to a missed Seahawks 60-yard field goal. In the second, Seattle came back from a 16-point deficit in the fourth quarter to win 38–37 in overtime. Not to mention, it was the first game-winning two-point conversion in NFL overtime history.

The Strategic Solution

Because of these issues, Seattle has heavily depended on the run game and the backfield duo of Zach Charbonnet and Kenneth Walker III. The Seahawks averaged over 150 rushing yards per game after Week 10. With Charbonnet now out for the rest of the postseason with an ACL tear, the responsibility will fall on Walker. However, this isn’t a significant problem for Seattle, especially since Walker has just come off a three-touchdown game against the 49ers and lit up the field after Charbonnet exited the game.

The Seahawks don’t force Darnold to throw too many passes during games because he is likely the team’s weakest link. However, with AJ Barner’s blocking, Jaxon Smith-Njigba’s stellar season (despite playing in a run-first offense), Cooper Kupp’s veteran leadership, K9’s ability to evade tackles, and Rashid Shaheed’s speed, Seattle can consistently stay ahead of the chains and control the game flow.

Rams Are Not in a Good Position to Win

The Rams, along with whoever makes it to the Super Bowl, will likely deliver a stronger defensive performance than the 49ers. However, the only offense that even slightly threatens Seattle’s No. 1 defense is Los Angeles, which finished the season second in offensive EPA per play.

But L.A. is reeling after a tough month.

First, the Rams traveled to Seattle and lost in overtime despite leading in the fourth quarter. Then, they traveled to Atlanta and got embarrassed by a team out of playoff contention. The following week, they struggled against the pitiful Cardinals before barely edging out the Panthers in the Wild Card round in Carolina. And finally, they scraped by the Bears in the divisional round, another overtime game. Over that stretch, the Rams played more snaps than any remaining playoff team.

Now, they will fly back to Seattle to face the 12s, as well as a Seahawks team that has rested chiefly since Week 18, having pulled most of their starters by the third quarter of the Divisional Round against San Francisco.

Who’s Stopping the Seahawks?

McVay is going to challenge Seattle. Stafford, Nakua, Davante Adams, and even the Rams’ defense won’t go down without a fight.

But the Seahawks have completely dominated the league in the second half of the season. They haven’t lost since the three point loss to L.A. in Week 11. In the entire regular season, they only lost three winnable games by a combined nine points. They are healthier, well rested, and more complete than any team remaining. With the league’s best defense, a dominant run game, and an offense built to cover its weaknesses, Seattle doesn’t need perfection from Darnold—just control.

And that’s precisely what this team has perfected.

Nothing is stopping Seattle from winning its second Super Bowl in just its second year with Mike Macdonald.