The Rams and Seahawks split their two-game season series, with Los Angeles (12-5) winning 21-19 at home in Week 11 and Seattle (14-3) winning 38-37 at home in Week 16. Now the NFC West rivals' deciding rubber match in the NFC championship game will determine who gets to Super Bowl 60.
The Seahawks won the division by two games, but the Rams have gotten to the same point as a top No. 5 seed wild card. The Seahawks are looking for their first Super Bowl in 11 years while the Rams are looking for a third trip under Sean McVay, winning four years ago.
Here's breaking down who wins the latest matchup:
MORE 2026 NFL PLAYOFF NEWS:
- 3 reasons why every team remaining will (and won't) win Super Bowl
- Predicting the Super Bowl 60 matchup
- Breaking down Patriots vs. Broncos AFC Championship matchup
Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
Rams at Seahawks (-3, 47.5 o/u) picks, predictions against the spread
Sunday, 6:30 p.m. ET, Fox
Rams' offense vs. Seahawks' defense
Stafford has been slinging it well and ran into some tricky scheming by the Bears. The Rams are always confident McVay will find the right game plan and exploit the right matchups with his different personnel groupings and pick good spots to stick with the run. It will be a grind where every yard will be tough. McVay will be prepared for a third time vs. Mike Macdonald.
Advantage: Rams.
MORE: Stats to know in Drake Maye vs. Matthew Stafford MVP debate
Seahawks' offense vs. Rams' defense
The Rams were gashed in the running game by the Bears and the Seahawks will stay committed to the run after Kenneth Walker III dominated the 49ers through the red zone. Their run-heavy approach will keep the Rams' pass rush honest and create some favorable field-surveying opportunities for Darnold with some big plays coming off play-action.
Advantage: Seahawks
X-factors
The Seahawks have the loud crowd and the perceived underdog factor because of Darnold and Macdonald vs. Stafford and McVay. They also ride a lot of emotion going into their biggest plays offensively and defensively.
Advantage: Seahawks.
MORE: How Seahawks' defense is peaking at the right time
Special teams
Harrison Mevis banged home the game-winning field goal for the Rams against the Bears, but he is inconsistent with his big range. Ethan Evans can be an adventure when punting. Between Jason Myers and Michael Dickson, the Seahawks have a huge edge. They also have Rashid Shaheed to explode again in the return game.
Advantage: Seahawks
Coaching
Macdonald, offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak and defensive coordinator Aden Durde have had a great season, combining to coach complementary football with the running game and defense dedication taking pressure off Darnold, delivering at a high rate in the passing game. But as good as they are, if the Rams were to win, it would be about McVay, Mike LaFleur, Nate Scheelhaase and Chris Shula designing ways to get the better of the Seahawks' strengths.
Advantage: Rams
MORE: Who deserves to win NFL Coach of the Year this season?
Intangibles
The Seahawks have been resilient and relentless, coming through in big games. Their emotions will ride higher as the crowd gets louder. They feel disrespected vs. The Rams, given the latter has the more national Super Bowl-winning profile. They put the 49ers in their place in the division last week and will be ready for the Rams in every which way. The Rams will come in more methodically, trying to outplay and out-execute them.
Advantage: Seahawks
NFC championship game prediction
The Rams haven't been playing their best the past two weeks and were fortunate to get past both the Panthers and Bears on the road in the fourth quarter and then overtime. Their defense is showing more cracks against the run and the pass rush has been held at bay, putting a lot of pressure on the often mismatched secondary to make plays.
That plays into the hands of the Seahawks' run-heavy offense, which saw Walker III reemerge as his explosive self against the 49ers and still should have the pop of Charbonnet, who avoided a major knee injury. Darnold had a wild ride in the first two Rams games but should be put in favorable situations to get Smith-Njigba more involved downfield, playing off the run again.
Darnold's focus will be on protecting the ball, knowing that even with stout, sound defense, it will be difficult to force turnovers from Matthew Stafford and the Rams. McVay has their offense humming and will rely a lot on Nacua, Adams and the tight ends winning tough matchups with accurate downfield passing from Stafford.
In the end, Stafford's job is tougher in the hostile road environment, facing the better all-around defense in the game. Seattle's 12th Man crowd was a huge emotional factor to spark the 49ers rout and will be in play again to take down the Rams.
Pick: Seahawks win 27-23 and cover the spread with the total going OVER.