The Seattle Seahawks fell behind the visiting Los Angeles Rams late in the first half of the NFC Championship Game on Jan. 26, 2026, at Lumen Field in Seattle. Los Angeles took its first lead when Matthew Stafford connected with Kyren Williams on a 9-yard touchdown during an 87-yard drive, making it 13-10. Seattle earlier opened the scoring on a 3-yard Kenneth Walker III rushing touchdown and led after a pair of Jason Myers field goals and effective early offense. With the second quarter winding down, Seattle still held three timeouts and will receive the ball to open the second half.
Key Takeaways
- The score at 3:30 p.m. in the second quarter was Rams 13, Seahawks 10; Los Angeles grabbed its first lead of the game on a 9-yard Kyren Williams touchdown from Matthew Stafford.
- Seahawks QB Sam Darnold was 7-of-9 for 114 yards early, including a 51-yard third-down strike to Rashid Shaheed that set up Seattle’s opening touchdown.
- Kenneth Walker III opened with a three-yard rushing touchdown and had eight carries for 34 yards in the first quarter, per game reporting.
- The Rams reached the end zone after an 87-yard drive; earlier Harrison Mevis made a 50-yard field goal and also had a 44-yarder to put L.A. on the board.
- Seattle had an 8-game winning streak after a Nov. 16 loss to the Rams and rolled past San Francisco 41-6 in the Divisional Round one week prior.
- Los Angeles advanced with consecutive road playoff wins at Carolina and Chicago; veteran QB Matthew Stafford remains a leading offensive catalyst for the Rams.
- Special teams and turnovers factored in momentum swings: a botched snap and two sacks stalled a Seattle drive, while a controversial facemask non-call was noted on a Demarcus Lawrence play.
Background
This NFC Championship pits the NFC’s No. 1 scoring offense (Rams, 518 points in the season) against the conference’s stingiest defense (Seahawks, fewest points allowed). The Seahawks earned the top seed with a 14-3 regular-season mark and entered the game on an eight-game win streak after their last loss to the Rams on Nov. 16, 2025. Seattle’s path to this title game included a decisive 41-6 Divisional Round victory over the 49ers in which the defense dominated and the offense executed efficiently.
The Rams reached the title contest by grinding through two road postseason wins, relying on Matthew Stafford’s veteran play and a run game to control tempo. Los Angeles arrives with explosive-play capability—deep connections to Puka Nacua and playmakers that can flip field position in a single snap—but have struggled with consistency at times this season. For Seattle, head coach Mike Macdonald’s defense—nicknamed “The Dark Side”—has revived the franchise’s identity, while questions have lingered about quarterback Sam Darnold’s oblique injury and depth behind Kenneth Walker III with Zach Charbonnet sidelined.
Main Event
The game began with a rapid Seattle answer: on the opening drive Darnold hit Rashid Shaheed for a 51-yard third-down conversion, and Kenneth Walker III finished the series with a three-yard touchdown run to make it 7-0. Seattle’s early offense showed balance—long passing plays complemented by inside runs—and the crowd at Lumen Field created consistent noise advantage. The Rams responded with a 44-yard Matthew Stafford–to–Puka Nacua connection that set up a Harrison Mevis 44-yard field goal to cut the lead to 7-3.
Seattle’s next possession produced a long 12-play, 56-yard march highlighted by a one-handed catch by Jaxon Smith-Njigba, but a holding penalty stalled the drive and Jason Myers converted a 27-yard field goal to extend the lead to 10-3. On the Rams’ subsequent drives Los Angeles manufactured explosive plays and mixed run-pass sequences; a 19-yard Blake Corum rush and several effective runs helped L.A. sustain an 87-yard drive that culminated in Stafford’s 9-yard scoring pass to Kyren Williams.
Late in the second quarter the Rams led 13-10 after the Williams touchdown. Seattle’s defense forced a punt after a promising L.A. series, and rookie defensive back Nick Emmanwori made multiple pass breakups on the drive that ended with a punt, preserving Seattle’s chance to score before halftime with three timeouts remaining. Momentum swung visibly in the second quarter as both teams traded stops, penalties and field-goal attempts; a facemask non-call on a Lawrence sack-and-fumble drew criticism but did not change the immediate outcome.
Analysis & Implications
Strategically, the Rams’ late first-half scoring drive underlines Los Angeles’s plan to wear down Seattle with a run-heavy approach complemented by timely deep shots to their playmakers. The 87-yard march featured seven runs on the series, indicating intent to control the clock and limit possessions for Seattle’s high-powered defense. If the Rams continue to run effectively, they can reduce the number of high-leverage third downs for Darnold and force the Seahawks to manufacture explosive plays.
For Seattle, Sam Darnold’s early accuracy—7-of-9 for 114 yards—matters more than raw volume. Sustaining drives, protecting the football and converting third downs will be essential; a single turnover could shift field position decisively against a Rams offense that can score quickly. Kenneth Walker III’s early touchdown and consistent short-yardage effectiveness give Seattle a chance to keep the chains moving, but the team’s offensive line must protect on passing downs and avoid costly penalties in the red zone.
Special teams are another X-factor. Harrison Mevis’s long field-goal range kept the Rams within striking distance, while a botched snap and a stalled Seattle drive highlight the thin margin for error in a championship setting. Over the long term, the winner advances to Super Bowl LX; the losing side must re-evaluate personnel, injury recovery and schematic adjustments in the offseason. Nationally, a Seattle win would set up a potential rematch with the AFC champion; a Rams victory would reward their road playoff resilience and Stafford’s veteran leadership.
Comparison & Data
| Season Stat | Seahawks | Rams |
|---|---|---|
| Total points (season) | 292 (fewest in NFL) | 518 (most in NFL) |
| Recent form | 8-game win streak | Consecutive road playoff wins (CAR, CHI) |
| Divisional Round | Beat 49ers 41-6 | Beat Bears in cold-weather game |
The contrast between Seattle’s top-ranked scoring defense (292 points allowed in the regular season) and the Rams’ league-leading offense (518 points) is the central matchup storyline. Statistical edges suggest a classic defense-vs-offense chess match; situational football—third-down conversion rate, red-zone efficiency and turnover margin—will likely decide the outcome more than aggregate season numbers.
Reactions & Quotes
“We’ve earned this moment. This city has earned this moment.”
Julian Love (Seahawks safety)
Love’s remark captured the local sentiment in Seattle: players and fans see the game as the culmination of a long season and an opportunity to return to the Super Bowl for the first time since 2015.
“They got it allll working right now.”
Tom Brady (FOX broadcast commentator)
Brady’s broadcast observation came after Kenneth Walker III’s early production and Sam Darnold’s 51-yard completion to Rashid Shaheed, noting how Seattle’s offense combined long and short plays effectively in the opening quarter.
“That 19-yard Blake Corum run was the longest run the Seahawks have given up since Week 13.”
John Boyle (Seahawks.com reporter)
Boyle’s note emphasized how the Rams’ ground success on that drive represented a rare breach of Seattle’s typically sturdy interior run defense this season.
Unconfirmed
- Severity of Sam Darnold’s oblique injury: Darnold practiced limited during the week and appeared effective early, but the long-term impact during the game remains unclear.
- Facemask non-call on Demarcus Lawrence’s sack-and-fumble: broadcast replays suggested contact, but officials did not flag the play; official review status was not confirmed at the time of the update.
- Exact snap count and rotation plans for backups Cam Akers and George Holani were not finalized publicly; their usage may change based on game flow and health.
Bottom Line
This NFC title game is tracking as a classic clash: Seattle’s elite defense against Los Angeles’s high-octane offense. The Rams’ 87-yard touchdown drive late in the half shows they can sustain long possessions and test Seattle’s run defense, while Sam Darnold’s early accuracy and Kenneth Walker III’s red-zone success keep the Seahawks very much in the contest.
Halftime adjustments will be decisive. Seattle will want to limit explosive plays, tighten gap discipline against the run and convert its third downs to regain control of the clock. The Rams will seek to maintain a balanced attack that shortens the game and forces Seattle to play out of predictable situations.
With the second half about to begin and Seattle holding three timeouts, the game remains in flux: one big play, turnover or officiating swing could determine which team advances to Super Bowl LX.