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The groups have taken the sphere. The PA announcer is loud. Perhaps we’ll kick off shortly?
How they obtained right here …
Los Angeles: A strong 12-5 document, dropping just one recreation by greater than three factors (33-26 at Philadelphia in Week 3). A primary-round playoff win in a shootout towards Carolina, 34-31. Then final week’s wild recreation towards Chicago through which the protection let up simply lengthy sufficient to permit Caleb Williams to finish a miraculous game-tying move, solely to tighten the screws and win in extra time.
Seattle: Opened with a 17-13 loss to San Francisco and misplaced a 38-35 choice to Tampa Bay in Week 5. That was their final house loss on the best way to a 14-3 document, closing with a revenge win towards the 49ers and opening the playoffs with a 41-6 demolition of the identical group.
The Seahawks’ solely different loss? Week 11 – at Los Angeles, 21-19. They gained the return recreation in Week 16 in spectacular vogue, rallying from 16 factors down within the fourth quarter and changing an all-or-nothing two-point conversion in extra time for the win.
So the Rams can take coronary heart in understanding that they obtained the higher of Los Angeles for 1 3/4 of their two video games. However the Seahawks allowed the fewest factors this season, they usually’ve been ruthless at house.
Altering consideration to this recreation – the solar is out in Seattle. The broadcasters are bundled up towards the chilly, however the circumstances completely gained’t have an effect on the gamers right here.
And the AFC recreation is mainly over.
There shall be numerous pointed questions for the Broncos teaching employees after that one. With a backup QB and whiteout circumstances, they insisted on throwing the ball as an alternative of operating it towards a snowblind protection. After which they totally didn’t comprise Drake Maye on the final significant play, letting him roam free to choose up a game-clinching first down.
You may’t pin that one on Jarrett Stidham. That may be a collection of teaching blunders past creativeness.
Have the Broncos utterly given up on the run?
To underscore the purpose – the Patriots simply picked off a move. Tony Romo blames backup QB Jarrett Stidham for a poor choice. I believe the receiver by no means circled to search for the ball.
Right this moment’s inactive gamers are …
Seattle: QB Jalen Milroe (emergency third QB), TE Elijah Arroyo, FB Robbie Ouzts, LB Jared Ivey, G Christian Haynes, T Amari Kight, RB Velus Jones Jr.
Los Angeles: QB Stetson Bennett (emergency third QB), WR Tutu Atwell, CB Derion Kendrick, RB Jarquez Hunter, TE Nick Vannett, OL Beaux Limmer, DE Larrell Murchison.
The AFC championship is down to three:07 remaining. Nothing resembling soccer has been performed for the reason that climate turned ugly partway by way of the third quarter.
First query: Climate
Whether or not you’re watching the AFC championship recreation dwell or following together with Graham Searles, you already know the story of the second half is the climate. New England leads however is enjoying the fourth quarter staring into white sheets of wind-driven frozen precipitation.
A lot of the nation is coping with comparable circumstances. If it’s snowing, you’re fortunate. It could possibly be sleet or freezing rain.
So how are issues in Seattle, the place the Seahawks will host the Rams with a spot within the Tremendous Bowl on the road?
Wind … perhaps 2 mph. Cloudy skies however scant likelihood of precipitation. Temperatures barely north of freezing.
In different phrases – not an element. Seattle followers gained’t be silenced by a slight chill.
Ship an e mail my means when you have a number of ideas. Routine win for the dominant Seahawks? Or do the Rams have a shock in retailer?
Beau shall be right here shortly. Within the meantime, right here’s Graham Searles’ preview of at present’s recreation:
Los Angeles Rams v Seattle Seahawks (Sunday 6.30pm ET/11.30pm GMT)
What Los Angeles have to do to win: Working again Kyren Williams can unlock Seattle’s disciplined, quick and damaging protection, which is led by linebacker Ernest Jones. To assist beat a group that can dare Matthew Stafford to throw by displaying mild containers, Williams has to shine. Fortuitously for the Rams he is among the most affected person rushers within the NFL, all the time ready for gaps to develop earlier than punching by way of. The Rams’ elite move safety additionally offers Sean McVay the flexibleness to maintain Stafford protected within the pocket towards a menacing Seattle entrance. If Williams can maintain shifting the chains and pressure the Seahawks to convey an additional security into the field, deep photographs to Puka Nacua and Davante Adams ought to open up. The Rams will then discover the rhythm wanted to beat Seattle’s imply machine.
What Seattle have to do to win: The Seahawks have misplaced a key piece of their offensive gameplan. Zach Charbonnet’s torn ACL means Seattle’s run recreation will undergo Kenneth Walker III, a change that dangers slowing down the offense’s effectivity. The Seahawks have to scheme up the passing recreation to make up for the shortfall, slightly than throw in a rusty Cam Akers. Akers, just lately on the follow squad, could maintain Walker’s legs contemporary however he isn’t more likely to do any harm to the Rams. A stronger threaten is Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Rashid Shaheed receiving fast, excessive proportion throws and rushing away with yards after the catch.
Key participant for the Rams: Kevin Dotson, proper guard. The offensive lineman has been stewing for weeks, after Seattle’s Derick Corridor stepped on Dotson when he was down injured in LA’s epic defeat at Lumen Area in week 16. “I’m not going to carry nothing towards him till I can see him and get my get-back. Not gonna step on no person, I’ll get it between the whistles,” Dotson stated earlier than going through Chicago final week. Daring to name your shot a recreation early however the good run blocker has earned his likelihood to dominate the enemy.
Key participant for the Seahawks: Sam Darnold, quarterback. “We wish him to be decisive and rip it,” stated Seattle head coach Mike Macdonald final month on what he expects from the very best model of Darnold we’ve got seen but. When he’s protected and letting it fly, few are higher within the NFL and, due to a palate-cleansing first playoff win final week, Darnold might discover his move state rapidly. The Seahawks may have him to: they’ve a hamstrung operating recreation, and this one might rapidly flip right into a shootout.
Prediction: Seahawks over Rams. Whoever has the ball final wins this one, however it’s Macdonald’s group who’ve been extra constant. Stafford’s battle to finish passes in Chicago final week was noteworthy; he’s going through a more durable protection in simply as hostile environs on Sunday. A raucous house crowd will enhance Seattle to the Tremendous Bowl.