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znModeratorDoug Clawson@doug_clawson
There’s been 4 instances since 1970 of a QB with 370+ pass yards, 3+ pass TD and 0 INT vs the NFL’s No. 1 scoring defense (rank at end of season)Matthew Stafford vs the Seahawks in 2025 accounts for half of them. And he lost both.
Josh Dubow@JoshDubowAP
Matthew Stafford is first QB ever to throw for 350+ yards, 3+ TDs, have 0 turnovers and lose a playoff startJ.B. Long@JB_Long
Matthew Stafford joins Tom Brady & Peyton Manning as the only players in NFL history to have multiple seasons with 50+ passing TD, including playoffs.Sam Farmer@LATimesfarmer
Stafford playing an unbelievable game.znModeratorDoug Farrar@NFL_DougFarrar
I really hope Matthew Stafford comes back next season, because he played out of his mind in this game. Seahawks kept shifting from MOFO to MOFC, and every time they did it. Stafford would rip off another huge throw.znModeratorYou can't coverage bust against the best player on the field in the red zone and expect to win.
Bad business. pic.twitter.com/IlYSHK5Lsm
— Sosa Kremenjas (@QBsMVP) January 26, 2026
znModeratorNo that’s the rule and Tariq knows it, his lapses in judgement could have cost them the game. I guarantee you that will be handled amongst his brothers https://t.co/lfYPyPQ5Ae
— Tony Softli (@SoftliSEA) January 26, 2026
znModeratorThis is not how the Seahawks drew it up, but it wound up working out.
It's an easy TD if 0 doesn't pick up Kyren. pic.twitter.com/1gIw181OZg
— Cameron DaSilva (@camdasilva) January 26, 2026
znModeratorPete Prisco@PriscoCBS
Rams secondary has been major problem the second half of the season and is in need of a major upgradeznModeratorznModeratorDoug Clawson@doug_clawson
The 2025 Rams epitomized the phrase … the difference between winning and losing is razor thinTheir 6 losses this season were by a combined 21 points
That adds up to the 4th-lowest average margin of defeat (-3.5) by any team in NFL history (min. 5 losses)
znModeratorNew England.
Shrug.
znModeratorHere are the confirmed inactives for tonight’s game:
Los Angeles Rams
WR Tutu Atwell
CB Derion Kendrick
RB Jarquez Hunter
TE Nick Vannett
OL Beux Limmer
DE Larrell MurchisonSeattle Seahawks
RB Zach Charbonnet
TE Elijah Orroyo
QB Jalen Milroe
LB Jared Ivey
RB Velus Jones Jr.
FB Robbie Ouzts
OL Christian HaynesSosa Kremenjas@QBsMVP
I think the Seattle FB being out is actually a big deal. Kenneth Walker has not been good in pass pro and Charbonnet is obviously out, too.January 25, 2026 at 5:05 pm in reply to: Seattle game on Fox, 6:30 pm et 3:30 pt … chat link #161708znModeratorAnd go Rams
znModeratorScott Kacsmar@ScottKacsmar
McVay is 7-2 in playoff games decided by one score.6-1 in games decided by fewer than 6 points.
znModeratorin Seattle today. Temperatures are expected to hit 45 degrees.
We know the Rams can play in extreme cold, and in the warmest weather, even during massive fires.
But…can they play in moderate, mild conditions?
Who knows. I just assume that the team that is more used to those conditions have an advantage.
January 25, 2026 at 12:18 am in reply to: The Stafford thread…update 12/31: huge S.I. article #161688znModeratorStafford “the most talented i ever seen” — Louis Riddick
Louis Riddick@LRiddickESPN
Since becoming a regular starter in 2011, Matthew Stafford:
1st passing yds (61,714)
2nd passing TD’s (404)
His best throws this year are some of the best throws you will ever see. Period.20 yd completion to Puka. Insane difficulty on this throw. Did it all season. Routinely. Nobody throwing the ball better than Stafford. Nobody. pic.twitter.com/2rgdhPSXCZ
— Louis Riddick (@LRiddickESPN) January 22, 2026
Another one 🤯
The anticipation, arm angle, velocity, and accuracy is 1 of 1 stuff. pic.twitter.com/oxYgAhXDbs— Louis Riddick (@LRiddickESPN) January 25, 2026
znModeratorznModeratorWhen it’s time to extend him, I’m not so sure we won’t hear from him. He’s already said dumb shit twice.
Okay! You offered a 600 dollar bet. I accept.
znModeratorAaron Donald will be in the building on Sunday night 🐐
He's the Rams' honorary captain for the NFC title game vs. Seattle https://t.co/d0Kt4f49PD
— Cameron DaSilva (@camdasilva) January 24, 2026
znModeratorDianna Russini@DMRussini
Right now the Arizona Cardinals consider Raheem Morris, Anthony Campanile, and Mike LaFleur as their lead candidates, per sources.znModeratorThought Chris Shula was a strong candidate for the Steelers, but they’re going with Mike McCarthy.
Another HC job gone for Rams assistants.
Browns, Cards, Bills and Raiders are left. https://t.co/Xht7NIuwZD
— Cameron DaSilva (@camdasilva) January 24, 2026
znModeratortrey wingo@wingoz
The Seahawks have allowed 6 TD in their past 7 games, and 4 came against the Rams in Week 16.znModerator.@RamsNFL @Seahawks Championship Sunday Chess Match….Too blitz or not too blitz…that is the question. #BaldysBreakdowns pic.twitter.com/69WLIV10ue
— Brian Baldinger (@BaldyNFL) January 24, 2026
znModeratorfrom Rams or Seahawks? The Athletic’s beat writers break down the NFC Championship Game
By Nate Atkins and Michael-Shawn Dugar
Score predictions
Dugar: Seahawks 21, Rams 20. Seattle is at home with a top-three offense, the No. 1 defense and a legitimately game-changing collection of special teams units. This should come down to the wire. Every phase of the game will be impactful, down to the final seconds, just like the previous meeting in Seattle. I predict that in one of those three phases, the home team makes one more play than the opposition.
Atkins: Rams 27, Seahawks 24. It feels like the destiny of these teams is for a game to be decided by three points or less on a final drive. The Seahawks are rolling, but the Rams have found a clutch gene in the playoffs and improved in three key areas that caused the Week 16 collapse: The run defense with Poona Ford and Lake healthy, the playmaking of the secondary, and the special teams play with Harrison Mevis at kicker and Kotwica at coordinator. In a game that should blend these teams’ inverse styles, those improvements should create a razor-tight game in the fourth. I’ll give the edge to Stafford and his 55 career game-winning drives over Darnold. This just feels like Stafford’s year.
znModeratorthese hybrid LB/Safeties seem to be one of the responses to the new rules opening up the passing game. They are pure gold to defensive-coordinators.
Atkins on Lake (from here: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6994610/2026/01/24/rams-seahawks-nfc-championship-game-preview/?source=emp_shared_article
Lake is the captain and leader of the defense. He rotates from nickel cornerback to strong safety to free safety. He is key to the way defensive coordinator Chris Shula wants to live in dime personnel and disguise coverages behind four- and five-man pass rushes. … Lake played half of the first matchup between the Rams and Seahawks this year, when Los Angeles picked Darnold off four times.
Lake’s leadership and play were sorely missed when Darnold was spamming Jaxon Smith-Njigba late in the Week 16 matchup. The secondary just had its best game since that first Seattle matchup by picking off Caleb Williams three times on Sunday.
znModeratorChances that Nacua says things in public are pretty good, I’m afraid.
Once.
Wanna bet it never happens again?
But even then, he did not criticize the Rams. Which was my point. Jones did.
Nacua was straightened out when it comes to the act of completely free opinion delivery in public. But what I was talking about was rocking the Rams own boat. Nacua was in fact straightened out–but he never crossed the really dark line, he never went after the Rams. Again, Jones did.
znModeratorAs I already said, I think the whole play is simply explained by Wms saying in an interview that he knew Durant was on Kmet which gave Kmet a big advantage (literally and figuratively).
My first impression on game day was that Kmet pushed Durant off, but while that’s sort of true, by now I don’t think it’s all that crucial. Even when I first thought it, it wasn’t a complaint or a criticism about officiating, I just thought I was being matter of fact. But by now the “facts” in “matter of fact” have shifted. It’s just Kmet having the advantage in what is historically the greatest tying TD pass for a team that lost in overtime…ever.
znModeratorThe Jones trade is still shrouded in mystery, afaik. I bet Jourdan knows.
I thought at the time it happened, it went like this. Jones was actually very vocal about how he deserved an extension. Being “family” with the McVay/Snead Rams means, you do not do yer boat rockin in public. By being vocal, Jones made himself a “non-Rams type.” (“Fredo, you’re my older brother, and I love you. But don’t ever take sides with anyone against the family again. Ever”)
There’s no doubt that the culture in the locker room is topnotch. And that that’s a big part of the Rams success.
However, off at the edge there in the shadows…there’s lines.
Kupp was a little different. As we all know, that comes from this iteration of the Rams being ruthlessly unsentimental in the off-season. Yes it’s a family, but then family members are there on the basis of an annual invitation, and if there’s no invitation…then, here’s the door. Kupp was Nacua, but a more expensive Nacua who got injured too often.
znModeratorNo, there are still a few more scenes. It’s when they hug amid a rainstorm of confetti that the movie ends.
You’re thinking of “Saving Private Ryan.”
January 24, 2026 at 10:54 am in reply to: The pusher … Durant in the endzone w/ the Bears TE #161638znModeratornothing durant could have done. not in the snow and not with kmet having 7 inches and 76 pounds on him.
coulda gone either way.
When interviewed about this play–which I call, with some homer-inspired sarcasm, the greatest tying TD pass thrown before an overtime loss, ever–Caleb Williams said he looked for Knet when he threw it because Durant was on him and that give the TE a physical advantage.
znModeratorIt’s just another one of those “What’s McVay doing let’s go do that” kind of deals.
Granted there are differences. Lake is slower than emmonwori so is not quite the same as a physical speciman. But then Lake is a veteran and a leader (something Rams defenders all acknowledge) and his play comes from processing things fast and using his head. Emmonwori is a big fast rookie who is assigned a role.
The result is similar because both players allow their respective defenses to rely heavily on nickel and dime packages without sacrificing run defense. That’s the whole point of having a Lake or an Emmonwori. A safety capable of multiple tasks (playing in the box, playing deep and over the top, covering WRs and TEs, playing zone or man, being a run stopper–all in one). It also means that when playing a nickel defense that can stop the run, the “wild card” safety allows the defense to disguise coverages. You don’t know what that guy will be doing after the snap, even though it might look a certain way before the snap.
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