SEATTLE — It’s the Seahawks and Rams for Round 3.
Only this time it’s for the highest stakes possible between divisional rivals, since they can’t play one another in the Super Bowl.
Back in November, the Rams edged the Seahawks 21-19, despite the Hawks playing arguably their worst game of the year.
In December, in an epic return game, Seattle won 38-37 in overtime.
Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba (11) scores a touchdown during overtime in an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams, Thursday, Dec. 18, 2025, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
Just imagine what this third matchup will bring, with a spot in Super Bowl 60 on the line?
Here’s what the team is saying about the key points of the matchup heading into Sunday’s game.
How the Hawks move forward without Charbonnet
It was a tough blow in an otherwise sterling night after beating San Francisco 41-6 in the NFC Divisional Playoff, when Zach Charbonnet left with a knee injury.
The news was worse on Monday when we found out it was a season-ending ACL injury.
Now, naturally, the Seahawks will ask Kenneth Walker III to shoulder more of the load. He delivered in that the Niners won with 110 yards and 3 touchdowns.
The Seahawks expect nothing less in the NFC title game Sunday.
“The proof is on the film,” said offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak of Walker’s ability to deliver with the larger workload.
“He played some really good football. We have all the confidence in the world with him to carry a heavier load, but it’s not all on him. He’s got to help behind him. We’re counting on him.”
Still, Charbonnet was an integral part of the offense, a guy Kubiak calls “One of the most impressive individuals I’ve been around,” and he was 6th in the NFL with 12 rushing touchdowns, not to mention other aspects of his game like pass protection and receiving.
The Seahawks activated George Holani from injured reserve and plan to let K9 run with things, but understanding they trust guys like Holani to help out.
“George did great. All those guys that have been practicing to get ready to come back have done a great job” Head Coach Mike Macdonald said Friday.
“George is prepared,” Sam Darnold said.
“He’s been preparing for this moment the whole season. He stepped up in a big way for us early on and even in the preseason made a lot of really good plays. So we have a ton of confidence in George not only with his ability to go out there and make plays, but how smart he is and how he can handle everything in the system.”
Darnold added that he’s spent extra time with backs like Holani, Velus Jones, Jr., and Cam Akers to get them up to speed on some of the things that Charbonnet was so good at, “I think the communication is at an all-time high. Charbs is really good and smart with protections and all those things, so just getting everyone glued into what we need to do and how we communicate up front and going from there.”
Can the Hawks get pressure on Matthew Stafford?
Let’s be clear. The Seahawks defense is one of the best in the NFL, if not the very best defensive unit in the league.
They force turnovers at an incredible rate, and they pressure the quarterback relentlessly without necessarily having to blitz. Oh, and they haven’t allowed a 100-yard rusher all season.
We say all that because it is somewhat surprising they haven’t sacked Matthew Stafford since the fall of 2023, when a rookie Devon Witherspoon got him on a corner blitz.
“They do a really good job getting the ball out on time, playing decisively. We have to disrupt timing. That’s really the fact of the matter. We’ve gotten to him a few times where he got rid of it and thrown the ball away, which have been smart decisions where he hasn’t put the ball in danger. There are some good plays we’re putting on tape to be able to affect him. Not as much as we want or as frequently as we want. But I think you’re talking about that’s a product of like how you’re playing early down football, and situational football to put you in those moments where maybe you can dial something up,” said Head Coach Mike Macdonald.
Still, are hardly the only measure of a good defense. Myles Garrett led the league and set a single-season record with 23 this year—and the Browns didn’t accomplish much else this season.
The Seahawks defense is the reason the team is on the verge of the Super Bowl, and how fitting it is that the Hawks vaunted defense with Mike Macdonald squares off against the Rams outstanding offense.
“It’s a dance between the guy calling their plays, (Sean) McVay, as well as Mike (Macdonald), kind of calling our stuff. It’s a dance of what we’re showing, what we’re representing, how we’re going to execute. I think the story of the second game was really just not executing. Defensively, we had a good plan in, but we didn’t execute it to our fullest. We know that. I think we got the win, but we go into that Monday after that game knowing that it’s great we got the win, but on defense everyone was quiet for sure, knowing that we’ve got some work to do. I think we showed improvement the weeks after that game because, all right, that was a loud playoff-like environment for that game, and now we know what to expect” said Seahawks safety Julian Love.
Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay watches from the sideline during the second half of an NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks, Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
The X Factor might be the 12s
There’s something to be said for crunching numbers, diving into the schemes, and how each team can find the advantage. After all, Mike Macdonald preaches “chasing edges,” meaning finding anything to help his team get even just a little bit better.
But there’s also a huge truth to the fact that this is about as evenly matched as you’ll see two teams. The first two games proved that, and certainly expecting anything different in such a huge game would be silly.
So when you have two evenly matched, elite teams like this, you often have to look for an X-factor.
To me? That’s the Seahawks winning home-field advantage and letting 12s do their thing.
When Rashid Shaheed returned the opening kickoff for a touchdown against San Francisco in the Divisional round, the press box was literally shaking.
My seltzer can sort of rattled about a foot down the line on the press table it was on.
Much more importantly, they set the momentum.
Seattle Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald watches from the sideline during the second half of an NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers in Santa Clara, Calif., Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn)
If the Hawks are in trouble, naturally, it can get quiet and allow opposing offenses to operate a little easier.
But when Seattle starts fast, or gets a flurry of points? The noise and momentum swing can be too much to overtake for any team. Even an impressive one like L.A.
Mike Macdonald says it best.
“It’s awesome. This place will be rocking. It will be electric. 12s will be or their stuff. It’s going to be awesome, man. Last week was incredible so I’m imagining it’s going to be kicked up a notch. I don’t know how that’s possible but, again, this is why we do what we do. It’s for weeks like this, for our community, for our city, for the 12s, for our guys to have this opportunity. Doesn’t get any better than this. Not a cloud in the sky. It’s middle of the January. Light out past 4:00. I mean, it’s incredible.”
