An inside look at the Rams-Seahawks NFC Championship showdown at Lumen Field in Seattle on Sunday night:
Marquee matchup
Rams WR Puka Nacua vs. Seahawks CB Devon Witherspoon
Nacua torched the Seahawks for 12 catches, 225 yards and two touchdowns in Week 16, when he lined up in the slot, in-line or in the backfield on 20 of his 72 snaps.
He proved to be too much to handle for Coby Bryant, who had stripped the ball from Nacua for a takeaway in their earlier matchup.
Will the Seahawks have Witherspoon travel with Nacua in a battle of All-Pros?
Witherspoon is versatile enough to play inside or outside, and possesses the length and physicality needed to have a chance against Nacua’s strength.
One year ago, Nacua was ejected for throwing a punch away from the ball on a Riq Woolen interception, so he can lose his cool against this secondary.
Witherspoon was targeted downfield just 14 times on 420 coverage snaps this season — the lowest rate (3.3 percent) of any cornerback with at least half of his workload, per NextGenStats. Nacua, on the other hand, led the NFL with 3.8 yards per route run.
“It’s going to be a physical game,” Nacua said, “and that’s a big part of my game.”
Four downs
Class of 2018: The historic 2018 quarterback class can claim three MVPs (Lamar Jackson 2, Josh Allen 1) and 12 Pro Bowl selections (Jackson 4, Allen 4, Sam Darnold 2, Baker Mayfield 2), but none of the five first-rounders — including the retired Josh Rosen — has made it to the Super Bowl as a starter yet.
Darnold was there as a backup with the 49ers in 2023, and now could be the first to break through the wall that has blocked Allen and Jackson.
Of course, that wall has a name in the AFC and it’s called “Patrick Mahomes,” who was the winning quarterback in three AFC Championship games against either Allen (2) or Jackson (1).
Fifth time’s the charm? Rams receiver Davante Adams is no stranger to the NFC Championship game. It’s the Super Bowl that he would like to meet. Adams went 0-4 in NFC Championship games while with the Packers from 2014-21.
“Forgive me if I’m not smiling ear to ear after the first [playoff] win or the second win,” Adams said. “Just having been here so many times and understanding exactly what it takes to get where we’re ultimately trying to go. It feels almost like a mythical thing to me at this point.”
It’s not like Adams is just along for the ride. He led the NFL with 14 touchdown catches this season, after his playoff-less dark days with the Raiders and Jets.
“I don’t think it was taking it for granted,” Adams said, “but … you definitely have a greater appreciation for times like this.”
Flip Kupp: To make room to sign Adams last offseason, the Rams cut Cooper Kupp. So, of course, Kupp is on the other side Sunday, after signing a three-year, $45 million contract with Seattle.
“We all have a story,” Kupp said. “This is an unbelievable storyline — the chances this ends up being what it is. I’m really excited about that.”
Kupp is not the same player who capped one of the best seasons in NFL history in 2021 (145 catches for 1,947 yards and 16 touchdowns) by winning Super Bowl LVI MVP for the Rams.
But he still is a physical run-blocker who can make a big play with his hands (47-593-2).
“It hasn’t gone production[-wise] what everyone comes in and hopes that it’s going to be, but it has been for the success that we’ve had,” Kupp said. “I’ve been ecstatic to be a part of it.”
Curled Up: Seventeen safeties have signed contracts worth at least $5 million per year over the past two free-agent classes.
Many of those teams might like a do-over to target Kam Curl instead. Curl has started 33 of 34 regular-season games on a two-year, $9 million contract and made the “unbelievable” diving interception that set up the Rams’ walk-off field goal last week in what head coach Sean McVay called an example of “competitive greatness.”
“He’s obviously excellent in the pass game,” McVay added. “I think he’s got a great feel for when he is part of the run fits and just being able to aggressively close space, long stride, short stride, shuffle and shoot, and we can activate him as a blitzer. He’s a versatile piece. He’s a freaking stud.”
Dunleavy’s decision
Offense wins games, defense wins championships. Well, this is the NFC “Championship” game. And it pits the Rams’ No. 1-ranked scoring offense (30.5 points per game) against the Seahawks’ No. 1-ranked scoring defense (17.2).
So, either the Rams win a shootout or the Seahawks win a punt-fest, right? Not necessarily.
The Seahawks showed their firepower in a 38-37 comeback win against the Rams on Dec. 18 then dropped 41 points on the 49ers last week. Jaxon Smith-Njigba is the favorite to win Offensive Player of the Year, but Kenneth Walker III and Rashid Shaheed provide plenty of complementary explosiveness even in the absence of Walker’s backfield partner Zach Charbonnet (knee injury).
Sam Darnold, who has been dealing with an oblique injury, doesn’t have to out-statistic MVP candidate Matthew Stafford. He just has to make smart decisions and see if the gunslinging Stafford forces the issue in a legacy game.
Seahawks 28, Rams 24
