The Los Angeles Rams and Seattle Seahawks are set to meet for the third time this season.
This time around, it’s for a trip to the Super Bowl in Sunday’s NFC championship game.
The West Coast rivals also squared off on Dec. 18 a game which Seattle won 38-37 in overtime. Now, Los Angeles has a chance to redeem itself in the Emerald City.
The winner advances to Super Bowl 60 on Feb 8.
Here’s what to know.
How they got here
Last week, the Rams beat Chicago 20-17 in overtime in the divisional round on Jan. 18. The Seahawks beat the 49ers 41-6 in the divisional round on Jan. 17.
Rams offense: overall (1), rush (7), pass (1), scoring (1).
Rams defense: overall (17), rush (12), pass (19), scoring (10).
Seahawks offense: overall (T-7), rush (T-10), pass (8), scoring (5).
Seahawks defense: overall (6), rush (3), pass (10), scoring (1).
Turnover differential: Rams plus-15; Seahawks minus-4.
Rams player to watch
Right guard Kevin Dotson returned after missing three games because of an ankle injury, and Los Angeles’ top offensive lineman didn’t miss a beat, grading out as Pro Football Focus’ best run-blocking interior lineman during the divisional round.
The Rams finished with 111 yards rushing, and coach Sean McVay regretted going away from his successful ground game. Dotson was hurt on the first drive of the wild 38-37 overtime loss to the Seahawks, and the drop-off from Dotson to backup Justin Dedich was a key factor in swinging the NFC West and top seed in the conference to Seattle.
Seahawks player to watch
Running back Kenneth Walker III.
Not only did Walker tie Shaun Alexander’s record for TD runs in a playoff game with three in last week’s victory, but he also rushed for a season-high 116 yards. Because Zach Charbonnet is out for the remainder of the playoffs with a knee injury, Seattle will turn almost exclusively to Walker to churn out yards on the ground.
Key matchup
Wide receiver Cooper Kupp against the Rams secondary. Kupp had his most receiving yards in a game since Nov. 9 in the Seahawks’ 41-6 win over the 49ers in the divisional round. In two games against the Rams, his former team, Kupp has six catches for 62 yards this season.
Key injuries
Rams: Cornerback Emmanuel Forbes Jr. has been limited because of a shoulder injury but is expected to play Sunday. Los Angeles’ secondary is already short-handed after Ahkello Witherspoon sustained a season-ending shoulder blade injury against Carolina in the wild-card round. Linebacker Byron Young was held out of practice this week as a precaution because of knee soreness. Safety Quentin Lake missed practice Wednesday because of illness.
Seahawks: Quarterback Sam Darnold (oblique) was limited in practice on Wednesday, after injuring it last week. tight end Elijah Arroyo (knee) and linebacker Chazz Surratt (ankle) were both full participants after being ruled out for last week’s game. Tackle Charles Cross (foot) did not practice on Wednesday, nor did fellow tackles Josh Jones (knee, ankle) nor Amari Kight. Running back George Holani (hamstring) was a full participant on Wednesday. LB Uchenna Nwosu (hamstring) was a limited practice participant, as was fullback Robbie Ouzts (neck).
Series notes
The Rams have won four of the past six games played in Seattle, but fell in an overtime thriller last month. Each of the past five games between the Rams and Seahawks have been decided by one score, including Seattle’s 38-37 overtime win on Dec. 18.
The Seahawks are 17-8 against the Rams in Seattle.
These franchises seldom played until realignment in 2002, when the Seahawks moved from the AFC West to the NFC West.
The Rams are 2-0 against the Seahawks in the playoffs, with both victories coming in Seattle following the 2004 and 2020 seasons.
Coach Sean McVay led Los Angeles to a 30-20 win in an NFC wild-card playoff game on Jan. 9, 2021, but there were no fans at Lumen Field because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
