Seahawks vs Los Angeles Rams Match Player Stats: Seattle Survives Rams in NFC Championship Thriller

The seahawks vs los angeles rams match player stats reveal how a team can win despite being outgained by 83 yards. Seattle’s offense had to answer Matthew Stafford’s explosive passing game, while its defense had to find one defining stop when Los Angeles controlled much of the field-position battle.

The solution was elite situational football. The Seahawks converted seven third downs, finished four of five red-zone trips with touchdowns, and protected the football in a 31-27 NFC Championship victory over the Rams on January 25, 2026, at Lumen Field.

Seattle entered the second half with a 17-13 lead, then produced two touchdown drives in the third quarter to build a 31-20 cushion. Los Angeles answered through Matthew Stafford’s 34-yard touchdown connection with Puka Nacua, but the Seahawks defense held the Rams scoreless across the entire fourth quarter.

The Rams produced 479 total yards, 26 first downs, and 374 passing yards, yet Seattle’s 7-for-13 performance on third down and turnover-free offense proved more decisive than raw yardage. Sam Darnold threw three touchdowns, Kenneth Walker III scored on the ground, and Jaxon Smith-Njigba led the Seahawks receiving attack in a high-pressure playoff performance.

Match Overview

The game marked Seattle’s biggest win of the 2025 NFL season, sending the Seahawks beyond the NFC title game after an intense divisional rivalry battle. The official statistical record shows Los Angeles led in total yards, first downs, and rushing yards, while Seattle owned the categories that decide postseason games: red-zone execution, third-down conversion, and turnover margin. Pro-Football-Reference

Seahawks vs Rams Team Stats Overview

Seahawks third-down efficiency flipped the Rams vs Seahawks stats

• Seattle moved the chains on 53.8% of third downs, compared with Los Angeles at only 12.5%. That six-conversion difference gave the Seahawks repeat opportunities to finish scoring drives.
• The Rams averaged an impressive 8.3 yards per play, but their explosive gains did not consistently translate into sustained possessions when third down arrived.

Red-zone execution defined the Seattle Seahawks game analysis

• Seattle scored touchdowns on four of five red-zone visits, turning promising drives into 28 of its 31 points.
• Los Angeles reached the red zone three times and scored touchdowns twice, but the Seahawks’ ability to finish one extra possession with seven points created the final margin.

Turnover margin hurt the Los Angeles Rams player stats outcome

• The Rams lost one fumble, while Seattle committed no turnovers. In a four-point game, one empty possession carried major value.
• Both quarterbacks avoided interceptions, making the Rams’ lost fumble the only giveaway in the contest.

Passing production favored the Rams, but Seattle found the better moments

• Stafford outpassed Darnold 374-346 and completed multiple deep throws to Puka Nacua, Davante Adams, and Colby Parkinson.
• Darnold’s three touchdown passes matched Stafford’s total, while his offense converted more critical third downs and produced more red-zone touchdowns.

Period-by-Period Analysis

First Quarter: Seattle’s early composure

• Kenneth Walker III opened the scoring with a two-yard rushing touchdown, giving Seattle an early physical edge.
• Harrison Mevis answered with a 44-yard field goal for Los Angeles, but Seattle’s defense prevented the Rams from converting early movement into touchdowns.
• Jason Myers added a 27-yard field goal with 54 seconds left, establishing a seven-point Seahawks lead after one quarter.

Second Quarter: Stafford brings the Rams back

• Mevis made a 50-yard field goal before Stafford found Kyren Williams for a nine-yard touchdown pass with 1:55 remaining.
• That sequence briefly gave the Rams a 13-10 lead and showed their ability to create points through Stafford’s precision passing.
• Seattle responded immediately: Darnold connected with Smith-Njigba for a 14-yard touchdown with 20 seconds left, reclaiming a 17-13 halftime advantage.

Third Quarter: Seahawks offense reaches its peak

• Darnold hit Jake Bobo for a 17-yard touchdown at 12:02, pushing Seattle’s lead to 24-13.
• Stafford countered with touchdown passes to Davante Adams and Puka Nacua, proving why the Rams passing attack remained dangerous until the final whistle.
• Cooper Kupp’s 13-yard touchdown reception with 4:52 left in the quarter became the eventual game-winning score, giving Seattle a 31-20 lead.

Fourth Quarter: Seahawks defensive stops close the NFC Championship

• The Rams entered the fourth quarter trailing by four but could not produce the finishing drive their yardage profile suggested.
• Seattle’s defense forced a turnover on downs on a 14-play, 84-yard Rams possession, the game’s most damaging missed opportunity for Los Angeles.
• The Seahawks did not score in the final quarter, but their defense protected every inch of the 31-27 advantage.

Seattle Seahawks Player Statistics

Sam Darnold: 346 passing yards and three touchdowns

Darnold completed 69.4% of his passes and threw three touchdown passes without an interception. He absorbed three sacks, yet stayed composed enough to keep Seattle’s passing offense functional against a Rams front that generated pressure.

His key value was not simply the passing-yard total. Darnold consistently converted pressure downs, helping Seattle finish 7-for-13 on third down and maintain possession for 31 minutes, 50 seconds.

Jaxon Smith-Njigba: 153 yards in a true WR1 performance

Smith-Njigba caught 10 of 12 targets for 153 yards and a touchdown, leading all Seahawks receivers. His 14-yard touchdown late in the second quarter was a major momentum swing because it erased Los Angeles’ short-lived 13-10 lead.

The wide receiver was Darnold’s most dependable answer against the Rams defense. His 42-yard long reception showed vertical impact, while his high catch total showed he could also keep drives alive underneath.

Kenneth Walker III: touchdown production plus receiving value

Walker’s rushing line of 19 carries for 62 yards was not explosive on a per-carry basis, but his two-yard touchdown established Seattle’s first-quarter lead. He also caught four passes for 49 yards, giving the Seahawks 111 yards of total offense from one player.

That dual-threat workload mattered because the Rams limited Seattle to 75 rushing yards as a team. Walker’s receiving work stopped Los Angeles from treating Seattle’s running backs as purely early-down options.

Cooper Kupp and Jake Bobo deliver red-zone finishes

Kupp recorded four catches for 36 yards and a 13-yard touchdown against his former team. His third-quarter score rebuilt Seattle’s lead to 11 points after the Rams had cut the deficit to four.

Bobo made one catch, but it was a 17-yard touchdown that mattered enormously. The limited volume did not diminish the play’s value; it was a direct conversion of a scoring opportunity into seven points.

Ernest Jones IV leads the Seahawks defensive effort

Jones recorded 11 total tackles, including eight solo stops, to lead Seattle’s defense. His ability to finish plays was essential against a Rams offense that gained 479 yards and ran 58 plays.

The Seahawks defense did not dominate Stafford statistically, but it delivered the decisive situational results. Holding the Rams scoreless in the fourth quarter outweighed the unfavorable total-yardage numbers.

Los Angeles Rams Player Statistics

Matthew Stafford: outstanding numbers, incomplete finish

Stafford threw for 374 yards and three touchdowns while producing a 127.6 passer rating. He was only sacked once, showing how well Los Angeles protected him for much of the game.

Yet the Rams quarterback’s statistical excellence did not produce a fourth-quarter score. The turnover on downs after the 14-play drive was the defining failure, particularly because Los Angeles had moved the ball 84 yards without converting the final chance.

Puka Nacua: 165 receiving yards and a deep-strike touchdown

Nacua led all Rams receivers with nine catches for 165 yards on 14 targets. His 34-yard touchdown reception in the third quarter gave Los Angeles life and reduced Seattle’s lead to 31-27.

The volume shows how central Nacua was to the Rams’ offensive plan. He generated 44-yard big-play ability while also handling a heavy target share, but Seattle forced enough contested moments late to prevent another breakthrough.

Davante Adams provides a key scoring play

Adams caught four passes for 89 yards and scored on a two-yard touchdown reception in the third quarter. His 35-yard long reception helped the Rams attack at multiple levels rather than relying only on Nacua.

Still, the Rams needed more late-game production from their star receivers. Adams and Nacua combined for 254 yards, but Los Angeles scored zero fourth-quarter points.

Blake Corum and Kyren Williams split the backfield work

Corum rushed nine times for 55 yards, averaging 6.1 yards per attempt, and added three catches for 24 yards. Kyren Williams had 10 carries for 39 yards while catching a nine-yard touchdown pass.

The Rams accumulated 114 rushing yards, which was 39 more than Seattle. But their inability to turn that ground-game edge into late points illustrated why rushing totals alone cannot explain a playoff result.

Statistical Leaders Summary

Why the Seahawks Won

Third-down conversion advantage

Seattle did not need to outgain Los Angeles to control the game’s biggest snaps. Seven third-down conversions extended drives, reduced Rams possessions, and gave Darnold more chances to find Smith-Njigba, Kupp, and Bobo.

Los Angeles had only one third-down conversion all afternoon. That made its offense heavily dependent on explosive plays and forced it into more difficult down-and-distance situations.

Red-zone finishing made Seattle’s drives count

The Seahawks scored touchdowns on four of five trips inside the 20. Those finishes created a scoring foundation that Los Angeles could not overcome despite superior total offense.

Seattle’s ability to distribute touchdowns among Walker, Smith-Njigba, Bobo, and Kupp made its attack harder to predict near the goal line.

Ball security and defensive finishing

Seattle won the turnover battle 1-0. That small numerical edge became enormous because neither team scored in the final period.

The Seahawks defense also stopped Los Angeles on fourth down once and held the Rams to one third-down conversion. Those are the defensive player statistics that explain the result more clearly than total yards alone.

Why the Rams Lost

Big yardage did not become enough points

The Rams had 479 total yards and 26 first downs, but scored 27 points. That is a productive output, yet the gap between moving the ball and finishing drives became apparent on their fourth-quarter turnover on downs.

Los Angeles had more yards per play and more passing yards, but Seattle earned four more points through better possession-by-possession efficiency.

A one-dimensional late-game profile

Stafford, Nacua, and Adams produced elite passing numbers, but the Rams had no fourth-quarter answer after Seattle tightened coverage and protected the middle of the field. The offense needed one complete finishing drive and failed to find it.

Their 1-for-8 third-down line exposed the problem. Explosives can create highlights, but playoff offenses must also convert ordinary downs.

Defensive pressure did not change possession

Jared Verse, Kamren Kinchens, and Braden Fiske each recorded a sack. The Rams totaled three sacks, but none created a turnover or stopped Seattle from producing another scoring opportunity.

Seattle’s zero-turnover performance neutralized much of that pressure. Darnold took the hits, protected the ball, and continued to convert key downs.

Historical Context and Advanced Insights

Season Series Breakdown

The NFC Championship was the third meeting in a season series defined by narrow margins. Seattle swept the two games at Lumen Field, while the Rams earned their regular-season home win at SoFi Stadium.

Advanced Seahawks vs Rams statistics: efficiency over volume

The Rams averaged 8.26 yards per play, compared with 6.09 for Seattle. Normally, that type of advantage points toward victory. Yet football outcomes are not dictated only by average-play efficiency; they are shaped by which plays occur on third down, in the red zone, and during late-game possessions.

Seattle converted 24 first downs from 65 plays, or 36.9% of its snaps. Los Angeles gained 26 first downs from only 58 plays, or 44.8%, which confirms the Rams were more explosive. But Seattle’s 7-for-13 third-down rate gave it 53.8% success on a set of downs that directly determines whether drives survive.

The Seahawks also generated 31 points from 396 yards, equal to 0.078 points per yard. The Rams scored 27 points from 479 yards, only 0.056 points per yard. Seattle therefore extracted more scoring value from each yard gained.

Game Implications and Key Lessons

What this means for Seattle

• Seattle showed it can win in multiple ways: with a productive passing game, red-zone efficiency, and late defensive resistance.
• Darnold’s clean three-touchdown performance strengthened confidence in the Seahawks’ playoff passing offense.
• Smith-Njigba’s 153-yard display confirmed he could carry a high-volume receiving workload on the NFC’s biggest stage.

What this means for Los Angeles

• The Rams must improve third-down offense after converting only one of eight opportunities.
• Ball security remains a major concern in close postseason contests; one lost fumble was enough to swing the margin.
• Los Angeles can take encouragement from Stafford’s 374 yards and Nacua’s 165, but needs more late-game finishing.

Key Lessons from the Seahawks vs Los Angeles Rams match player stats

• Total yards do not guarantee victory.
• Third-down success often matters more than explosive-play volume.
• A turnover-free quarterback performance raises a team’s playoff floor.
• Red-zone touchdown rate separates good offenses from winning offenses.
• Defenses can bend for yardage and still win by owning high-leverage snaps.
• Receiver production must translate into fourth-quarter points in close games.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who won the Seahawks vs Rams NFC Championship game?

The Seattle Seahawks defeated the Los Angeles Rams 31-27 on January 25, 2026, at Lumen Field.

What were Sam Darnold’s stats against the Rams?

Sam Darnold completed 25 of 36 passes for 346 yards, three touchdowns, zero interceptions, and a 127.8 passer rating.

What were Matthew Stafford’s stats against Seattle?

Matthew Stafford completed 22 of 35 passes for 374 yards, three touchdowns, zero interceptions, and a 127.6 passer rating.

Who led the Seahawks in receiving yards?

Jaxon Smith-Njigba led Seattle with 10 receptions for 153 yards and one touchdown.

Who had the most receiving yards in the Rams vs Seahawks game?

Puka Nacua led all receivers with nine catches for 165 yards and one touchdown.

Why did the Seahawks win despite fewer total yards?

Seattle won because it converted 7 of 13 third downs, scored touchdowns on four of five red-zone trips, and committed no turnovers. Los Angeles gained more yards but converted only one third down and lost one fumble.

Conclusion

The seahawks vs los angeles rams match player stats show a four-point NFC Championship decided by execution, not yardage. Stafford and Nacua delivered huge individual performances, but Seattle’s collective work was sharper when the game demanded precision.

Darnold’s three touchdowns, Smith-Njigba’s 153 receiving yards, Seattle’s 53.8% third-down rate, and a turnover-free offensive performance made the difference. The Rams created more explosive offense, but the Seahawks turned their most important possessions into points and their most important defensive snaps into stops.