In reverse trend of the AFC title sport, the Seattle Seahawks and Los Angeles Rams have been concerned in a little bit of a shootout on Sunday evening.
In the finish, although, it was the Seahawks who survived a battle with their NFC West rival to safe their first journey to the Super Bowl since the 2014 marketing campaign. They’ll (*5*), who’re in the Super Bowl themselves for the first time since the Tom Brady period.
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Here’s a have a look at the key plays that determined the end result of Sunday’s contest at Lumen Field.
Rashid Shaheed’s 51-yard seize
The Seahawks got here out quick on Sunday evening, thanks to an enormous reception from Rashid Shaheed on their opening drive. Shaheed broke up the proper aspect of the area and simply snuck past Darious Williams to arrange a 51-yard completion that put Seattle in scoring place.
That ended up being Shaheed’s solely catch of the sport, nevertheless it led to a 2-yard landing run from Kenneth Walker to get them on the board.
JSN’s large first half
Jaxon Smith-Njigba didn’t rating on this play, however the ridiculous seize by means of an immense hit arrange the rating just a few plays later.
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Smith-Njigba broke open deep in the center of the area with about 30 seconds left in the half and in some way managed to dangle onto a 42-yard deep ball by means of an enormous hit from Kam Curl. Smith-Njigba jumped up like nothing occurred and celebrated immediately.
Just three plays later, Smith-Njigba accomplished the drive with a 14-yard landing. That introduced him up to 115 yards in the sport, and put the Seahawks up getting into the locker room.
Those catches have been simply a few of the grabs he made in the first half-hour, although one he made in the first quarter with a single hand was far more spectacular. He ended up with 153 yards and a rating on 10 catches in the win.
Xavier Smith’s botched punt return
The Rams picked up a reasonably fast cease to begin the second half, nevertheless it utterly backfired on a brutal particular groups blunder.
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Xavier Smith began to journey whereas attempting to monitor down a deep punt and couldn’t haul it in. The Seahawks instantly jumped on it to full the turnover, which led to a 17-yard landing go from Sam Darnold to Jake Bobo on the very subsequent play. Just like that, the Seahawks’ lead was up to 11.
Riq Woolen’s taunting
This taunting penalty got here at the worst time.
While it’s not identified what was really mentioned, Seahawks cornerback Riq Woolen was called for an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty after a 3rd down cease late in the third quarter. That turned what ought to have been a Rams punt right into a recent set of downs.
The Rams instantly took benefit of it, too. Matthew Stafford hit Puka Nacua for a 34-yard landing go on the very subsequent play.
Woolen’s taunting penalty turned what was as soon as an 11-point sport right into a four-point battle. It’s no marvel his teammates weren’t pleased with him on the sidelines.
Seattle’s final stand
Stafford obtained the Rams into scoring place one remaining time in the fourth quarter, and practically despatched them into the lead after a protracted 14-play, 84 yard drive. But the drive lastly stalled out simply six yards from the aim line, and it ended up sealing the win for the Seahawks.
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Seattle, after Stafford already scrambled on a brief fourth down to preserve the drive alive earlier, broke up two remaining passes on third and fourth down to power a turnover inside the 10 yard line. It was Devon Witherspoon who obtained in the means of each of them.
Witherspoon first broke up a go supposed for Konata Mumpfield on third down, which arrange a fourth-and-4 with about 5 minutes left in the sport. Witherspoon then did it once more on fourth down, and practically intercepted a go supposed for Terrance Ferguson in the again of the finish zone. He jumped up furious after the play, upset that he didn’t draw a flag, nevertheless it didn’t matter. He obtained the job finished, and the Seahawks obtained the ball again.
Even although the Rams obtained the ball again one final time, they solely had 25 seconds left and no timeouts to work with. That wasn’t anyplace close to sufficient time to go the 93 yards they wanted to to discover the finish zone.
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While the Rams had loads of alternatives, and practically mounted a late comeback after a vital Seattle mistake, it was the Seahawks who executed in the finish on the defensive aspect of the ball. That, and an enormous outing from Smith-Njigba, has them headed to their first Super Bowl in greater than a decade.