First question: Weather
Whether you’re watching the AFC championship game live or following along with Graham Searles, you know the story of the second half is the weather. New England leads but is playing the fourth quarter staring into white sheets of wind-driven frozen precipitation.
Much of the country is dealing with similar conditions. If it’s snowing, you’re lucky. It could be sleet or freezing rain.
So how are things in Seattle, where the Seahawks will host the Rams with a spot in the Super Bowl on the line?
Wind … maybe 2 mph. Cloudy skies but scant chance of precipitation. Temperatures slightly north of freezing.
In other words – not a factor. Seattle fans won’t be silenced by a slight chill.
Send an email my way if you have a few thoughts. Routine win for the dominant Seahawks? Or do the Rams have a surprise in store?
Beau will be here shortly. In the meantime, here’s Graham Searles’ preview of today’s game:
Los Angeles Rams v Seattle Seahawks (Sunday 6.30pm ET/11.30pm GMT)
What Los Angeles need to do to win: Running back Kyren Williams can unlock Seattle’s disciplined, fast and destructive defense, which is led by linebacker Ernest Jones. To help beat a team that will dare Matthew Stafford to throw by showing light boxes, Williams has to shine. Fortunately for the Rams he is one of the most patient rushers in the NFL, always waiting for gaps to develop before punching through. The Rams’ elite pass protection also gives Sean McVay the flexibility to keep Stafford safe in the pocket against a menacing Seattle front. If Williams can keep moving the chains and force the Seahawks to bring an extra safety into the box, deep shots to Puka Nacua and Davante Adams should open up. The Rams will then find the rhythm needed to overcome Seattle’s mean machine.
What Seattle need to do to win: The Seahawks have lost a key piece of their offensive gameplan. Zach Charbonnet’s torn ACL means Seattle’s run game will go through Kenneth Walker III, a change that risks slowing down the offense’s efficiency. The Seahawks need to scheme up the passing game to make up for the shortfall, rather than throw in a rusty Cam Akers. Akers, recently on the practice squad, may keep Walker’s legs fresh but he isn’t likely to do any damage to the Rams. A more potent threaten is Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Rashid Shaheed receiving quick, high percentage throws and speeding away with yards after the catch.
Key player for the Rams: Kevin Dotson, right guard. The offensive lineman has been stewing for weeks, after Seattle’s Derick Hall stepped on Dotson when he was down injured in LA’s epic defeat at Lumen Field in week 16. “I’m not going to hold nothing against him until I can see him and get my get-back. Not gonna step on nobody, I’ll get it between the whistles,” Dotson said before facing Chicago last week. Bold to call your shot a game early but the brilliant run blocker has earned his chance to dominate the enemy.
Key player for the Seahawks: Sam Darnold, quarterback. “We want him to be decisive and rip it,” said Seattle head coach Mike Macdonald last month on what he expects from the best version of Darnold we have seen yet. When he is protected and letting it fly, few are better in the NFL and, thanks to a palate-cleansing first playoff win last week, Darnold could find his flow state quickly. The Seahawks may need him to: they have a hamstrung running game, and this one could quickly turn into a shootout.
Prediction: Seahawks over Rams. Whoever has the ball last wins this one, but it is Macdonald’s team who have been more consistent. Stafford’s struggle to complete passes in Chicago last week was noteworthy; he is facing a tougher defense in just as hostile environs on Sunday. A raucous home crowd will boost Seattle to the Super Bowl.
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