Jaxon Smith-Njigba-Sam Darnold connection takes over NFC championship game vs. Rams

Daniel Chavkin

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Jaxon Smith-Njigba-Sam Darnold connection takes over NFC championship game vs. Rams image

With a Super Bowl berth on the line, Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Sam Darnold came through for the Seahawks in a 31-27 win over the Los Angeles Rams.

Smith-Njigba had a breakout season in 2025, totaling 1,793 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns, and Darnold was steady in his first year as the Seahawks' starter. While they were quiet in the Seahawks' first playoff game, with Smith-Njigba ending the game with 19 receiving yards while Darnold had 124 passing yards, they came alive in the NFC championship.

Smith-Njigba had a few huge catches, including a one-handed grab in the first half and a 42-yard reception in the second half.

Then, Darnold found Smith-Njigba right before halftime for the team's second touchdown of the game.

Darnold and Smith-Njigba haven't needed to produce big numbers lately, but it was only a matter of time before they blew up in the playoffs. After Smith-Njigba was the story of the first half, it was Darnold who kept the production going in the second half with two more touchdowns.

It was one of Darnold's best games of the season, and certainly the biggest win of his career. Here's how the dynamic duo dominated the NFC championship game.

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Jaxon Smith-Njigba stats vs. Rams

  • Catches: 10
  • Receiving yards: 153
  • Yards per catch: 15.3
  • Touchdowns: 1

Smith-Njigba exploded in the first half with seven catches for 115 yards and a touchdown. That included a 42-yard catch late in the second quarter, which was followed up by a receiving touchdown to give Seattle a four-point lead.

Although his second half was quieter, Smith-Njigba still had a few big catches down the stretch to total 10 catches and 153 receiving yards.

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Sam Darnold stats vs. Rams

  • Completions/Attempts: 25/36
  • Passing yards: 346
  • Yards per attempt: 9.6
  • Touchdowns: 3
  • Interceptions: 0
  • Sacks: 3
  • Passer rating: 131.0
  • Rushing yards: 9

Darnold had a strong first half, completing 12 passes for over 200 yards and a touchdown. Two of those completions went for a total of 93 yards, as both Smith-Njigba and Rashid Shaheed hauled in deep passes for big chunks of yardage.

Darnold ended the first half with more yards than he had in all of the divisional round against the San Francisco 49ers, when he needed just 124 passing yards as the Seahawks won in a blowout. He then came out of the half and threw another touchdown to pad the lead.

Overall, Darnold had one of his best statistical games of the season, throwing for a season-high 346 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions.

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