What we watched here
• The Super Bowl matchup is set: Let’s party like it’s 2015: The Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots are going to meet up in the Super Bowl once again after winning their conference title games on Sunday.
• Seahawks heading to the big game! The Seattle Seahawks survived a last-gasp effort from Matthew Stafford and the Los Angeles Rams and booked a spot in Super Bowl LX with a 31-27 victory in the NFC conference title game. An incredible shootout at Lumen Field sets up a rematch of Super Bowl XLIX in the Bay!
• The Patriots return to the Super Bowl! What a long ride it’s been for the Patriots, from dynasty to dumpster fire and back to the Super Bowl. The Patriots made the plays they need to in tough conditions and defeated the Denver Broncos and the snow to earn a 10-7 victory in a snowy championship game.
• See you in February: Super Bowl LX kicks off from Santa Clara’s Levi’s Stadium at 6:30 p.m. ET on Sunday, February 8. CNN Sports will be live from the Bay Area with live updates, analysis and more – we’ll see you then!
Sam Darnold and Seattle's red-zone defense send Seahawks to Super Bowl
Sam Darnold threw three touchdowns and then orchestrated nearly four-and-a-half minutes of running out the clock to keep Matthew Stafford off the field until it was too late, sending the Seattle Seahawks to the Super Bowl.
The NFC Championship game was a match up of division rivals who split two dramatic games in the regular season – decided by two points and one point – and it pitted the best offense in the league (Rams) against the best defense in the league (Seahawks). After a slog in the afternoon game, this one was high-octane the entire time, especially in the third quarter when four of the five drives ended in touchdowns.
Stafford was incredible, providing MVP stuff from the likely MVP winner, throwing for 374 yards and three touchdowns. If L.A. had ultimately prevailed, Seattle fans would be lamenting a costly taunting penalty by Riq Woolen that prolonged a Rams’ drive.
The next play was a touchdown pass to Puka Nacua, who had 165 receiving yards. That brought the Rams within four points of the Seahawks with a quarter to play.
But it would be the last time either team scored.
An 84-yard fourth-quarter drive by the Rams ended in a turnover on downs after a critical stop by the Seattle defense on fourth-and-four inside the 10 with just under five minutes remaining. The offense took the ball and burned enough time to secure a Super Bowl berth and a new narrative for Darnold.
He’ll lead the Seahawks in a rematch of the 2015 Super Bowl against the Patriots in his first season in Seattle. It caps a stunning, two-year turnaround from failed starter in New York, to middling backup, to surprise break through and now an NFC champion with the chance for more.
Patriots headed to the Super Bowl after beating the Broncos and the elements in Denver
It wasn’t a pretty game, but in the end, the New England Patriots are headed back to the Super Bowl for the first time since the 2018 season and the Tom Brady glory days.
With the Denver crowd at a fever pitch, the Patriots couldn’t get anything going offensively in the early stages of the game.
The Broncos were pinning their hopes on back-up quarterback Jarrett Stidham, who was filling in for Bo Nix after the starting quarterback suffered a broken bone in his ankle in the final minutes of Denver’s win over the Buffalo Bills last weekend.
Denver struck first, with a 52-yard pass from Stidham to Marvin Mims Jr. setting up a six-yard scoring pass from Stidham to Courtland Sutton to put the Broncos ahead 7-0.
The Broncos’ stiff defense completely stymied the Patriots’ offense, but New England was able to take advantage of a costly mistake late in the second quarter.
Stidham fumbled the ball on a sack, and the Patriots’ Elijah Ponder recovered deep in Denver territory, and only a premature whistle from the officials prevented Ponder from returning the fumble for a touchdown. But the Patriots capitalized two plays later as quarterback Drake Maye ran the ball in for a touchdown from six yards out to tie the game just seconds before the two-minute warning.
Both teams missed field goals as snow flurries began to fall in the final seconds of the first half – a sign of things to come in the Mile High City.
But the time the second half started, conditions were deteriorating rapidly at Invesco Field, with visibility and footing worsening by the minute.
The Patriots were able to strike early before the snow truly began to dictate to terms of the game. New England put together the longest drive of the game - a 16-play, 64-yard epic that drained 9:31 off the clock and ended in a 23-yard field goal from Andy Borregales.
Borregales’ boot proved to be the decisive score of the game. As the weather turned into white-out conditions down on the gridiron, Broncos’ field personnel struggled to keep the yard lines and hashmarks cleared, and the CBS broadcast had to add yard line graphics to the telecast for views at home to follow the action on the field.
Neither team’s offense found any success in the blizzard-like conditions, but a terrible punt from New England set the Broncos up with a golden opportunity. Denver couldn’t convert a first down, but did set up a 45-yard field goal chance for Broncos kick Wil Lutz.
Patriots’ lineman Leonard Taylor III was able to get a fingertip on Lutz’s kick, just enough for the kick to flutter wide left.
The Broncos got the ball back one last time, but with Denver forced to take shots downfield, a deep pass from Stidham was picked off by Christian Gonzalez to put the game on ice.
The Patriots needed to convert just one first down to run out the clock, and they did just that with an inspired play call and a seven-yard scramble from Maye on a third-and-five. Three kneel downs later, the New England was victorious and headed to Santa Clara for a date with the NFC Champion in Super Bowl LX.
The Patriots and Seahawks met in Super Bowl XLIX - and produced one of the most dramatic endings ever
Even if you’re not an NFL historian you likely remember the ending of Super Bowl XLIX, when the New England Patriots defeated the Seattle Seahawks with a legendary play at the goal line.
Tam Brady led the Patriots on a go-ahead touchdown drive to give the Patriots a 28-24 lead with just two minutes remaining in the game.
Seahawks QB Russell Wilson then guided his team down to the Patriots’ one-yard line with 26 seconds left on the clock.
The Seahawks had the most-feared running back in the NFL - “Beast Mode” Marshawn Lynch - in their backfield.
But instead of going to Lynch, who already had over 100 rushing yards in the game, Seattle head coach Pete Carroll dialed up a pass play.
Wilson threw to Ricardo Lockette, but Patriots cornerback Malcolm Butler jumped the route and intercepted the ball allowing the Patriots to run out the clock and win the game.
Carroll’s decision not to go to his stalwart running back on the one-yard line was a source on contention for Seahawks’ fans for years to follow.
More than 10 years later, they’ll hope to exorcise some demons with Brady safely watching from the stands this time around.
The Super Bowl logo conspiracy is alive and well for another year
There’s a well-known conspiracy in NFL circles: That the official Super Bowl logo for each edition of the big game prophesizes the eventual matchup.
So, let’s take a look at this year’s logo.
The logo contains images of some famous Bay Area landmarks – the Golden Gate Bridge, redwood trees, the San Francisco skyline, the rolling hills that encompass San Francisco Bay. The colors: Blue, pink, yellow, green, red, white.
What are the Seahawks’ primary colors? Blue, green, white.
What are the Patriots’ primary colors? Red, white and blue.
Once again, the truth is out there if you only try to find it.
Sam Darnold calls making the Super Bowl 'amazing'
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold described clinching their ticket to Super Bowl LX in one word: “Amazing.”
“To be able to do it with these guys in this locker room, with this coaching staff, thats what it means the world to me,” Darnold told the Fox broadcast after the game.
Darnold finished with 346 yards and three touchdowns in the 31-27 win over the Los Angeles Rams.
Darnold, the former third overall of the New York Jets, has also played on the Carolina Panthers, San Francisco 49ers and Minnesota Vikings in his eight seasons in the league.
“I haven’t really thought about that much to be honest with you,” Darnold said on his journey to this moment. “I take it one day at a time. That’s it. One day at a time, every single day. … It’s a special group and I wouldn’t want to do it with anyone else.”
Seahawks are headed for Super Bowl LX after time runs out on the Rams
Matthew Stafford hit Puka Nacua near the sideline with just seconds remaining, but Nacua was tackled inbounds and the clock ticked down to zeroes.
The Seattle Seahawks are headed to Super Bowl LX, where they will face the New England Patriots.
Final Score: Seahawks 31, Rams 27
Rams get one more chance but they have to go a long way
The Seattle Seahawks need a first down on third-and-7 to ice this game … and they’re not going to get it.
Braden Fiske breaks through the line and sacks Sam Darnold. The Rams will get the ball back with less than 30 seconds to play and need a touchdown. They have to go 92 yards.
What do you say, Matt Stafford?
Score: Seahawks 31, Rams 27
Two minutes to play and the Seahawks just got a huge penalty in their favor
A big defensive holding call has helped the Seahawks get a little closer to Super Bowl LX.
We’re at the two-minute warning and Kenneth Walker III just picked up another chunk of yardage. One more first down and this game is over.
Score: Seahawks 31, Rams 27
The Seahawks are eating up clock with clutch plays
Tick tock, tick tock – the Seahawks are eating up seconds and the Rams are out of timeouts.
A huge lunge by Cooper Kupp got Seattle a crucial first down and Rams’ head coach Sean McVay took a timeout but decided not to challenge. He quickly used his last timeout with three minutes left and now the Seahawks can just eat up time.
There’s fewer than three minutes to play and Seattle leads.
Score: Seahawks 31, Rams 27
Seahawks defense bends but doesn't break, forcing a turnover on downs
The Rams have played their way back into this game after the disastrous muffed punt that set up an easy Seahawks’ score.
A Blake Corum run of 11 yards and reception for 15 yards has Los Angeles on the move again immediately. Stafford then turned to Kyren Williams for a 12-yard catch and the Rams are at midfield.
The Rams are spreading the ball around as Stafford then finds Colby Parkinson for a gain of 16 yards.
The Seahawks’ defense then forced a fourth down, and with nowhere to throw the ball, Stafford tucked it, broke a tackle and scrambled for three yards and a first down.
A pair of short passes to Puka Nacua brought the Rams inside the 10-yard line before the Seahawks forced a fourth down.
The Rams elected to go for it, but Stafford’s pass to the back of the end zone fell incomplete and the Seahawks take over on downs.
Score: Seahawks 31, Rams 27
Woolen is apparently public enemy No. 1
After a late flag for unsportsmanlike conduct for Seattle cornerback Tariq Woolen, his teammates let him know their displeasure.
The FOX broadcast showed Seahawks players getting into a heated argument with Woolen before being separated.
Woolen has to hope Seattle pulls through otherwise…yeah.
Seahawks punt to open fourth quarter, scoring streak ends
After a third quarter that featured a pair of touchdowns for each team, Seattle opens the fourth quarter with Sam Darnold running the ball 14 yards for a first down.
But on the very next play, he’s sacked for a loss of nine. Even a five-yard penalty on the defense doesn’t get them close enough to get the first down. Seattle punts and snaps a streak of four-straight drives that ended in a touchdown.
Big opportunity coming up for Matt Stafford and the Rams.
Score: Seahawks 31, Rams 27
What a third quarter from both teams
After the earlier game, we all deserved this!
The Rams and Seahawks are putting on a masterclass of offensive football and it all culminated in the third quarter with 28 total points scored between both squads.
Matthew Stafford and Sam Darnold both have three touchdown passes and Puka Nacua and Jaxon Smith-Njigba have each added more than 100 yards receiving and a touchdown.
The two teams have matched each other on offense and hopefully it’ll continue on into the final quarter to decide who goes to Super Bowl LX.
The game is headed into the fourth quarter!
Score: Seahawks 31, Rams 27
Costly Seahawks penalty leads to immediate Rams TD
Davante Adams is having a huge game for the Rams when they need him the most.
With the Seahawks doing a good job of bottling up Puka Nacua, Matthew Stafford has targeted Adams six times so far tonight.
Stafford hit Adams for a 35-yard gain to bring the receiver’s total up to 89 yards in the game.
A costly hands to the face penalty threatened to derail the Rams’ drive, forcing a fourth-and-12 and a sure Los Angeles punt.
But a late flag went flying and Seattle cornerback Riq Woolen was called for a taunting penalty that gave the Rams an automatic first down.
On the next play, Stafford connected with Nacua, who beat Woolen for a 34-yard touchdown as he tumbled backwards over the pylon.
A brutal sequence for Woolen and a big, big moment for the Rams. Some dissension on the bench as Woolen’s teammates make their displeasure known.
Score: Seahawks 31, Rams 27
Revenge, thy name is Cooper Kupp
So far in this game, the Seahawks have scored when the audacious, explosive plays pay off. But for this drive, they do it a little differently — a series of methodical plays to march down field.
Seattle goes 65 yards on nine plays, culminating in a 13-yard touchdown pass to former Rams star — All-Pro, Pro Bowl, Super Bowl MVP, and Offensive Player of the year — Cooper Kupp, who was unceremoniously cut loose by LA during the off season.
That’s a satisfying way to take an 11-point lead over your division rival.
Score: Seahawks 31, Rams 20
Rams come back with a lightning-fast response
The Rams offense is back on the field with a deep hole to dig out of. Luckily, they’ve got the probable MVP under center.
Matthew Stafford got things off on a positive note with a pinpoint-accurate pass to tight end Colby Parkinson for 40 yards.
Stafford then dropped a dime to Davante Adams for a pick-up of 29 yards, and the Rams were quickly knocking at the door.
On the next play, Stafford went back to Adams for a two-yard touchdown pass. A four-play, 75-yard touchdown drive and the Rams are back in the thick of it.
Score: Seahawks 24, Rams 20
No sign of lingering injury issues for Darnold so far
The talk leading up to the Seattle Seahawks divisional showdown against the San Francisco 49ers was quarterback Sam Darnold’s health.
After suffering an oblique injury in practice, Darnold was listed as questionable and concerns arose if the 28-year-old would be able to play.
Well, Seattle blew out their NFC West rivals and Darnold escaped the game unharmed.
A week later, I think its fair to say the nagging injury hasn’t hampered him one bit as the Seahawks take a 11-point lead in the third quarter.
Darnold has thrown for 238 yards and two touchdowns so far.
Safe to assume he was telling the truth to FOX Sports host Jay Glazer pregame when he said he was “feeling better” from last week.
Seattle grabs control of the game with a quick TD after muffed punt
Momentum whiplash!
The Seahawks first drive of the second half seems to end with a sack of Sam Darnold.
But on the punt, Rams’ returner Xavier Smith trips over his own feet while back pedaling. The ball bounces off him and rolled free on the ground. Seattle recovers the ball and, on the very next play, Darnold throws a 17-yard touchdown pass to Jake Bobo.
What a massive turnaround and a crucial moment in this game.
Score: Seattle 24, Rams 13
Rams kick off to Seattle and the second half is underway
The kick is deep into the Seahawks end zone and it’s a touchback. Seattle’s ball at the 20-yard line and the second half is here.
Thirty minutes until we know our Super Bowl matchup.
Score: Seahawks 17, Rams 13
Seahawks have the lead but this NFC championship game is set for second half drama
These teams know each other well and it’s shown through this first half.
The game started off exactly how Seattle would have hoped, with The 12s on fire and making tons of noise. The Rams went three-and-out on their first drive and then Sam Darnold quickly led the Seattle offense down the field to score the game’s opening touchdown.
But the game slowed considerably after that as neither team could find the end zone and instead settling for a series of field goals.
The Rams were the team that found the breakthrough though, using a pair of big passes from Matthew Stafford to go on an epic 87-yard touchdown drive to grab a 13-10 lead just after the two-minute warning.
The Seahawks had an easy time last week with the San Francisco 49ers but this Los Angeles Rams squad is a whole different animal. The Stafford-led offense is putting pressure on this stout Seahawks defense, moving the ball with a frequency that San Francisco couldn’t begin to match last week.
But it was some conservative play calling toward the end of the half that cost the Rams. A quick three-and-out by LA gave the ball back to Seattle with 90 seconds to play. The combination of Sam Darnold and Jaxon Smith-Njigba moved the ball down the field and ended up being good for another touchdown, grabbing the lead back with 20 seconds to go in the half.
The Rams ran a couple plays but weren’t able to get on the board and the half ends with Seattle in front. All to play for in the second half.
Halftime score: Seahawks 17, Rams 10
