The Seattle Seahawks sidestepped a costly penalty that could have cost them the game as the home side went on to secure a 31-27 NFC title game win over the Los Angeles Rams on Jan. 25 at Lumen Field.
Seattle led 31–20 late in the third quarter after Sam Darnold connected with Cooper Kupp on a 13-yard touchdown pass. The Rams gained new life moments later when Seahawks cornerback Riq Woolen drew a taunting flag after breaking up a pass intended for Puka Nacua on third-and-12, giving Los Angeles a first down and extending the drive.
One play later, Matthew Stafford went right back at Woolen. This time, Nacua won the matchup, slipping free in the corner of the end zone for a 34-yard touchdown that pulled the Rams back into the game.
Despite the Seahawks coming away with the win, former NFL player Shannon Sharpe didn’t hold back on Woolen for nearly costing his team a Super Bowl appearance during the Jan. 25 edition of “Nightcap.”
“He’s in his own head, so that’s the best chance to take advantage of him because he knows what he’s done,” Sharpe said about Woolen’s penalty and conceded touchdown. “He’s like, ‘Oh my goodness, we were off the field, we were about to get the ball back, we’re already up ten. Boy, we’re about to get the ball back. Yes sir, yes sir, feeling good, feeling good. What have I done? They let you get away with it.’
“How long do you want to stand there and celebrate in front of their bench? Because they let you get away with it initially. The official didn’t throw the flag, but you just stood there and just started walking up and down and just looking at them.”
JSN Gets Blunt About Seahawks Win Over Rams
Jaxon Smith-Njigba was a key contributor in the Seahawks’ win over their NFC West rival. He finished with 10 receptions for 153 yards and a touchdown. In the closely contested game against the Rams, Seattle’s top players delivered when it mattered most.
After the victory, Smith-Njigba spoke with FOX Sports, reflecting on his performance as the Seahawks sit just one win away from a Super Bowl.
“I told my team, ‘I’m going to do whatever it takes. Whatever you all ask for me, I’m going to get it done. Whatever that might be,’” Smith-Njigba said postgame. “And that’s what you saw today. You just saw grit, determination. You saw passion out there, and you saw a group, a collective, going out there and getting the job done.”
Sam Darnold Talks Postgame After Edging LA
Furthermore, along with Smith-Njigba, Sam Darnold was the other star in this contest as the veteran signal caller went 25-for-36 on his pass attempts for 346 passing yards and three touchdowns.
“It’s amazing to be able to do it with these guys in this locker room, with this coaching staff,” Darnold told FOX Sports postgame. “That’s why it means the world to me… I haven’t really thought about [his journey to the Super Bowl] much, to be honest, but I take it one day at a time. That’s it, one day at a time, every single day. Like I said, to be able to do it, it’s a special group, and I wouldn’t want to do it with anyone else.”
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