The Seahawks arrive at the NFC Championship riding their most complete performance of the season. The Divisional Round tape against the San Francisco 49ers showed a defense capable of controlling games through structure, discipline, and communication, paired with an offense that dictated terms early and finished drives. But there is an important and uncomfortable reminder attached to this matchup.
The only moment all season where the Seahawks defense was “dominated” on tape came against the Rams second matchup. Early in that game, Los Angeles displaced Seattle’s front, consistently won at the point of attack with their 13 Personnel, stressed second-level fits, and forced the defense out of its preferred structure. It wasn’t until Mike Macdonald adjusted fronts, gap responsibilities, and coverage spacing that Seattle stabilized and clawed its way back into control. That context is precisely why this game is dangerous.
This NFC Championship is not about discovering new weaknesses. It’s about whether Seattle can sustain those adjustments from the opening snap against an opponent that has already shown it knows exactly where to apply pressure. The stress points are clear, and the margins are thin.
Containing chaos: Keeping Matthew Stafford on script
The most critical defensive lesson from the Divisional Round was not about pressure generation, but about finishing plays within structure. Against Brock Purdy, Seattle consistently collapsed the pocket but allowed too many off-script extensions. Against Matthew Stafford, that same issue becomes exponentially more dangerous and is important to note that Mike Macdonald not sacked Stafford yet.
Stafford does not need to scramble to beat defenses. He wins by subtly moving within the pocket, resetting his base, and throwing into windows created by late leverage breakdowns. The Rams’ offense is built to stress second-level defenders through condensed formations, pre-snap motion, and layered route concepts that force linebackers and safeties into constant conflict.
If Seattle’s rush lanes collapse unevenly, Stafford will step up and deliver the ball before coverage can fully transition into scramble rules. Edge rushers must prioritize depth control over pure upfield wins, while interior defenders become the true key to disrupting timing. When Seattle compresses the pocket from the inside out, Stafford’s efficiency drops, particularly against disguised post-snap rotations.
Play-action discipline is equally critical. The Rams marry run and pass better than almost anyone in the league, forcing linebackers to trigger downhill just long enough to open throwing lanes behind them. The Divisional tape already showed moments where Seattle’s aggressiveness against the run created brief windows. Against Los Angeles, those windows will be attacked relentlessly.
Early-down success becomes the defensive lifeline. When Seattle wins first down and forces longer-yardage situations, McVay’s offense becomes more predictable, and Stafford is forced to hold the football. That’s where Seattle’s coverage depth and post-snap rotation can finally flip the script.
Dictating terms: Tempo, leverage, and constraint
The Divisional Round confirmed how dangerous Seattle’s offense can be when Klint Kubiak controls tempo and sequencing. That approach becomes even more important against a Rams defense that thrives on late movement, simulated pressure, and post-snap confusion.
Los Angeles consistently challenges protection rules with creepers and five-man looks designed to arrive late rather than fast. The answer for Seattle is clarity, not caution. Protection calls must be clean, route spacing must punish vacated zones, and the offense must stay on schedule to limit the Rams’ full pressure package.
That brings the focus directly to the run game — not just as production, but as structure.
Winning on the edge: Seattle’s run game against a stronger front
One of the defining questions entering this matchup is whether Seattle’s run game can translate against a Rams defensive front that is faster, more disciplined on the edge, and more physically consistent than San Francisco’s.
Against the 49ers, Seattle repeatedly stressed the perimeter with outside zone, wide zone, crack toss, and pin-and-pull concepts. Those runs worked not simply because of execution, but because San Francisco’s linebackers over-triggered and their edge defenders failed to consistently set firm edges. That allowed Seattle to stretch the defense horizontally before exploiting cutback lanes.
The Rams are built differently. Their edge defenders play with better hand usage, stronger leverage, and greater discipline in maintaining depth. They are far less likely to widen unnecessarily, which places enormous pressure on Seattle’s tight ends and wide receivers to win crack and seal blocks cleanly. On the All-22, any loss of leverage on the perimeter against Los Angeles collapses runs quickly.
This elevates the importance of sequencing over volume. Seattle cannot simply lean on wide zone and expect cumulative success. The run game must be layered with constraint plays, misdirection, and interior counters to prevent the Rams from playing downhill and fast.
The absence of Zach Charbonnet looms large here. Charbonnet’s season-ending injury removes a physical, downhill presence who consistently pressed the line of scrimmage and finished runs through contact. Against a front like the Rams, those hard-earned four- and five-yard carries are critical to staying on schedule. It’s important to note that Seahawks lose their better pass protector.
Without Charbonnet, more responsibility shifts to Ken Walker. Against San Francisco, Walker showed improved patience, particularly on zone concepts where he trusted backside blocks before snapping runs back against the grain. That patience becomes non-negotiable against the Rams. Their linebackers scrape aggressively; if Walker presses too wide too early, cutback lanes disappear.
Seattle may need to lean more heavily into pin-and-pull, split-flow zone, and motion-based run looks to manufacture angles rather than relying purely on horizontal stretch. Condensed formations and late pullers can help neutralize edge discipline and slow pursuit just enough to create lanes.
Wide receiver blocking also becomes a central factor. Cooper Kupp’s physicality on the perimeter was instrumental against San Francisco. Against the Rams, those blocks must be near-perfect. Effort alone will not be enough.
If Seattle can force lateral movement before hitting Los Angeles with constraint and cutback, the run game can still anchor the offense. If not, the Seahawks risk living in long-yardage situations where the Rams’ defensive structure becomes far more dangerous.
Structure versus disruption
This matchup ultimately comes down to philosophy. Seattle wants to maintain structure, contain the quarterback, and force execution from the pocket. The Rams want to create hesitation, manipulate eyes, and turn small breakdowns into explosive plays.
On the other side, Seattle’s offense wants to stretch the defense horizontally, force aggressive fits, and punish over-commitment with misdirection and play-action. The Rams’ defense wants to speed everything up and create chaos.
The early-down battle dictates everything that follows.
Final Thoughts
This NFC Championship is not about schematic surprises. It’s about execution, discipline, and sustaining answers to known problems. The Rams have already shown they can stress this defense early and force uncomfortable adjustments. Seattle has shown it can respond.
Now the question is whether those answers are present from the opening drive.
If Seattle can turn pressure into sacks, maintain rush lane integrity, and stay patient in the run game despite a stronger defensive front and the absence of Charbonnet, they have a clear path to controlling this matchup. Against one of the league’s sharpest offensive minds, every snap will test leverage, discipline, and trust in structure.
There will be no margin for wasted reps.
