Staff predictions favor Rams in tight Seahawks-Rams NFC Championship

Cbssports says the NFC Championship will send the fifth-seeded Los Angeles Rams to top-seeded Seattle with a trip to Super Bowl LX at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara at stake, and a staff panel of 12 has published its picks. The matchup has been historically close: the two teams are one of only two pairings in NFL playoff history to each have two regular-season games decided by fewer than three points (alongside the 1949 Bills and Browns).

The Rams outscored the Seahawks 58-57 and outgained them 830-829 in those meetings. Los Angeles won 21-19 in Week 11 after Sam Darnold threw four interceptions, while Seattle rallied from a 30-14 fourth-quarter deficit to win 38-37 in Week 16 on a two-point conversion from Darnold to tight end Eric Saubert; the Rams fired special teams coordinator Chris Blackburn two days after that loss following Rashid Shaheed's 58-yard punt return touchdown that ignited the rally.

The staff panel showed broad consensus: the outlet said 75% of panelists were in agreement, all 12 predicted the winner would be decided by a single possession, and the published breakdown lists eight picks for the Rams and four for the Seahawks. Panelists cited factors including Matthew Stafford and Puka Nacua's offensive play, Seattle's dominant defense, and Seattle missing running back Zach Charbonnet.

Key Topics

Sports, Los Angeles Rams, Seattle Seahawks, Matthew Stafford, Sam Darnold, Super Bowl Lx