The Los Angeles Rams (13–5) face the Seattle Seahawks (15-3) in the NFC Championship Game on Sunday, January 25, 2026, at 6:30 p.m. ET in Seattle. These NFC West rivals met twice in the regular season with close results, but the winner here advances to Super Bowl LX while the loser ends its season.
The Rams started strong at 9-2, aiming for the NFC's top seed, but stumbled in a five-game stretch with three losses, including an overtime defeat to Seattle where they lost a 16-point lead. This handed Seattle home-field advantage in the playoffs. Los Angeles beat the Panthers 34-31 in the Wild Card round and then edged the Bears 20-17 in overtime to reach this game.
Seattle enjoyed an easier playoff path, crushing the San Francisco 49ers right away with Rashid Shaheed returning the opening kickoff for a touchdown. The Seahawks rode a seven-game winning streak into the playoffs, including that overtime win over the Rams in Week 16. They nearly swept the season series but lost 21-19 in Week 11 when kicker Jason Myers missed a potential game-winner.
Matthew Stafford has delivered an MVP-caliber season for the Rams and seeks a second Super Bowl ring in his second NFC title game. Wide receiver Davante Adams returned from a hamstring injury for the playoffs but has not scored a touchdown despite leading the league in receiving TDs during the regular season. Coach Sean McVay, in his third NFC Championship, expects defenders Byron Young and Emmanuel Forbes Jr. to play after injuries in the Bears win.
For Seattle, quarterback Sam Darnold battled an oblique injury against San Francisco and has struggled versus the Rams, including nine sacks in last year's playoff loss when he played for the Vikings. Despite issues, his offense ranked seventh in yards per game and third in points. Running back Zach Charbonnet is out for the year with an ACL injury, putting more pressure on Kenneth Walker III, who has topped 100 scrimmage yards in his last three games against L.A. Offensive linemen Josh Jones and Charles Cross may return from injuries.
Pressure defines this matchup, as Seattle's defense leads the league in points allowed and generates pressure without heavy blitzing. Stafford's passer rating drops sharply under pressure, while Darnold leads the NFL in turnovers, with many under duress. Coach Mike Macdonald's unit could disrupt L.A.'s top-scoring offense.
In Week 11, the Seahawks fell 21-19 in Los Angeles after Myers' missed field goal in a turnover-heavy game. Week 16 saw Seattle rally from 16 points down to win in overtime, part of their streak. Seattle held the Rams low once but allowed 37 points in the other meeting. History shows teams splitting close regular-season games often see the conference title decided by double digits, though this could stay tight.
Expect mid-40s temperatures at kickoff in Seattle with no rain, favoring the Rams slightly after their cold-weather playoff struggles in Carolina and Chicago.
The Seahawks enter as 2.5-point home favorites, largely due to a historic defensive resurgence under first-year head coach Mike Macdonald. Seattle finished the regular season as the NFL’s No. 1 scoring defense (17.2 PPG) and the No. 1 unit in total DVOA. Their path to the conference title was highlighted by a dominant 41–6 blowout of the 49ers last week, where they registered a 47.4% pressure rate. Offensively, Sam Darnold has found a second life in Klint Kubiak's system, leaning heavily on Offensive Player of the Year Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who led the league in receiving yards.
The Rams counter with the league’s No. 1 total offense, led by newly crowned NFL MVP Matthew Stafford. Stafford delivered a career year in his 17th season, leading the NFL in passing yards (4,707) and touchdowns (46). However, history is not on his side: since 1975, the NFL’s passing yardage leader is 0–6 in the playoffs against the league's No. 1 scoring defense. While Puka Nacua and Davante Adams present a terrifying challenge for any secondary, they must overcome a Seattle unit that has allowed just 44 total points to non-Rams opponents over their last seven games.
Lumen Field’s "12th Man" is the ultimate X-factor. Seattle is 11–2 at home in the postseason since the stadium opened, and they already proved they can handle the Rams’ pressure by erasing a 16-point deficit to win 38–37 in a Week 16 overtime thriller. The Rams have logged over 13,500 air miles since that game, surviving narrow road wins in Carolina and Chicago, while the Seahawks have travelled just 6,000 miles in that same span. In a game of inches, the combination of Seattle’s elite defensive EPA and the fatigue of L.A.'s travel schedule tilts the field toward the home side.
Navigating an NFC Championship "rubber match" requires more than just looking at the stars; it requires an elite grasp of situational fatigue and defensive success rates. Bankroll U is the essential resource for bettors who want to look past the marquee names and analyze the impact of the "12th Man" and Stafford’s historical struggles against top-tier defenses. Our platform provides the data-driven insights and expert picks from our playmakers to help you identify when a home favorite like Seattle is poised to secure a Super Bowl berth. Elevate your postseason strategy with Bankroll U.
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