Seattle Seahawks edge Los Angeles Rams 31-27 after New England Patriots score a 10-7 win over the Denver Broncos.
The Seattle Seahawks have defeated the Los Angeles Rams in a high-scoring shootout to set up a Super Bowl rematch with the New England Patriots.
In Seattle, Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold outduelled Rams counterpart Matthew Stafford in a 31-27 thriller on Sunday to clinch the NFC championship, which doubles as an NFL playoffs semifinal.
The victory sends Seattle into a repeat of their epic 2015 Super Bowl against the Patriots, who prevailed in a blizzard-hit 10-7 AFC championship victory over the Denver Broncos earlier on Sunday.
The Seahawks’ win marked the latest milestone in what has been a fairytale campaign for Darnold, who has enjoyed a renaissance with Seattle this season after a rocky start to his career.
“It’s amazing to be able to do this with these guys in this locker room, with this coaching staff – it means the world to me,” said Darnold, who played for four different clubs before arriving in Seattle last year.
The 28-year-old finished Sunday’s classic with three touchdowns, 346 passing yards and no interceptions.
Darnold’s gripping slugfest with Stafford was effectively tilted in Seattle’s favour when a late Rams drive to the Seahawks’ six-yard line came away with nothing.
“We came here with expectations to win,” Rams coach Sean McVay said afterwards.
“It was a great back-and-forth game by two great teams, but a couple of critical errors ended up costing us … I’m never really short on words, but I am right now. It’s tough, but this is sports, and you’ve got to be able to deal with it.”
Seattle, meanwhile, were left looking ahead to a Super Bowl clash with the Patriots in Santa Clara, California, on February 8, 11 years after losing to New England in the NFL showpiece in 2015 during the Tom Brady era.
The Patriots are targeting a record seventh Super Bowl following their gritty, low-scoring victory in Colorado.
The AFC title game, which also serves as a semifinal playoff game, played out in brutal conditions, with the field gradually blanketed in snow as a storm swept over the venue.
New England quarterback Drake Maye held firm after a shaky start, leading the Patriots upfield for the decisive field goal after rushing for a first-half touchdown.
“We battled the elements,” said Maye.
“[In] these conditions, it’s not great throwing the football. But hey, we do what we need to do … We’re off to the Super Bowl. Let’s go!”
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