The Seattle Seahawks are one win away from the Super Bowl – but the path just became far more complicated for quarterback Sam Darnold.
As Seattle prepares for Sunday’s NFC Championship Game against the Los Angeles Rams, troubling injury developments are beginning to stack up on offense. What initially looked like a favorable matchup is quickly turning into a scenario where Darnold may be asked to survive behind a depleted supporting cast against one of the league’s most dangerous pass rushes.
And that’s not a recipe for postseason success.
Offensive line injuries create major concern for Seattle
The Seahawks were already reeling after losing running back Zach Charbonnet for the season following their dominant Divisional Round win over the San Francisco 49ers. His knee injury removes a key piece from the backfield rotation and places even more pressure on Kenneth Walker III to carry the ground game.
Now the offensive line is becoming the bigger concern.
On Thursday, Seattle announced that three offensive linemen – tackles Charles Cross (foot), Amari Kight (knee), and Josh Jones (knee and ankle) – did not participate in practice. If none are able to go Sunday, Darnold could find himself protected by fourth-string tackle Mason Richman in one of the most important games of his career.
Cross is a cornerstone of Seattle’s line and one of the team’s most reliable protectors. Jones was forced into action against San Francisco after Cross exited with his injury, while Kight logged only limited snaps. Losing all three would severely limit Seattle’s flexibility up front.
The timing could not be worse.
The Rams bring relentless pressure through edge rushers Byron Young and Jared Verse, alongside interior disruptor Kobie Turner. Their front has terrorized quarterbacks throughout the postseason, and a compromised offensive line could turn Sunday into survival mode for Darnold.
Seattle will need protection to hold up – even for a second or two longer – if their quarterback is going to have any chance of controlling the game.
Rams have already given Darnold problems this season
The matchup history doesn’t exactly inspire confidence either.
Seattle and Los Angeles split the regular-season series, with both teams defending their home turf. The Rams won 21-19 at SoFi Stadium in Week 11 after Seahawks kicker Jason Myers missed a potential game-winning 61-yard field goal. In the rematch at Lumen Field, Seattle staged a wild comeback, erasing a 16-point fourth-quarter deficit before winning 38-37 in overtime.
But the bigger story? Sam Darnold’s struggles against this defense.
Across the two games, Darnold threw for 549 yards, two touchdowns – and six interceptions.
Ball security has already been an issue in recent weeks, and against a defense that disguises coverages and thrives on confusion, the margin for error will be razor thin. If Darnold is forced to rush throws because of pressure, the Rams will gladly capitalize.
That puts enormous importance on Seattle’s protection unit – even a compromised one – to give him time to operate.
Opportunity still exists, but conditions are getting tougher for Seattle
Despite the injuries, the Seahawks are not without hope. They’ve proven resilient throughout the postseason, their defense has been elite, and their home-field advantage remains real. But football reality is simple: quarterbacks don’t win championship games when running for their lives.
If Seattle wants to punch its ticket to Super Bowl LX, Darnold must play cleaner football than he did against the Rams earlier this year. And the offensive line – whoever is healthy enough to take the field – must somehow hold up against a wave of pressure.
The storyline heading into Sunday is no longer just Rams vs. Seahawks.
It’s Sam Darnold vs. chaos.
And the outcome could define his legacy in Seattle.
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