Sam Darnold and Seahawks advance to Super Bowl with thrilling 31-27 win over Rams in NFC title game

SEATTLE (AP) — Sam Darnold threw for three touchdowns, the Seahawks' “Dark Side” defense came up with a critical fourth-down stop, and Seattle advanced to the Super Bowl, beating the Los Angeles Rams 31-27 in an electrifying NFC championship game on Sunday.

Led by second-year coach Mike Macdonald and Darnold — an eight-year veteran playing for his fifth team — the Seahawks (16-3) reached the fourth Super Bowl in franchise history and first in 11 years. Seattle lost that most recent appearance to New England, its opponent in two weeks at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California.

With Los Angeles (14-6) facing fourth-and-4 at the Seattle 6 with 4:59 remaining, coach Sean McVay elected to go for it and Matthew Stafford's pass was broken up in the end zone by Devon Witherspoon. The Rams didn't get the ball back until there were 25 seconds left, and Puka Nacua was tackled inbounds near midfield on the final play.

Stafford threw for 374 yards and three touchdowns, but the Rams were undone by critical errors, including a muffed punt by Xavier Smith in the third quarter. On the next play, Darnold connected with Jake Bobo for a 17-yard touchdown and a 24-13 lead.

Darnold, who flopped in his playoff debut last season with the Minnesota Vikings, played through an oblique injury and completed 25 of 36 passes for 346 yards with no turnovers. Jaxon Smith-Njigba had 153 yards receiving — the second-most in a playoff game in franchise history — and a touchdown on 10 catches.

“It’s amazing,” Darnold said. “To be able to do it with these guys in this locker room, though, with this coaching staff, that’s why it means the world to me.”

The Seahawks led 31-20 late in the third quarter on Darnold's 13-yard TD pass to Cooper Kupp, but the Rams got back into the game when Seahawks cornerback Riq Woolen was flagged for taunting after breaking up a pass to Nacua on third-and-12, giving Los Angeles a first down.

On the next play, Stafford threw at Woolen again, and Nacua beat him in the corner of the end zone for a 34-yard touchdown.

The Rams forced a punt on Seattle's next possession and went on a 14-play, 84-yard drive that came up empty thanks to Witherspoon's pass breakup.

Seattle stayed aggressive on its final possession, with Darnold throwing for three first downs to run out most of the clock.

Davante Adams and Kyren Williams had receiving TDs for the Rams, and Kenneth Walker III rushed for a score for the Seahawks.

Darnold set the tone with his first completion of the game, a 51-yarder to Rashid Shaheed. Four plays later, Walker ran 2 yards for a TD to make it 7-0.

The Rams settled for field goals by Harrison Mevis on their next two possessions. With Los Angeles trailing 10-6, Stafford led a 12-play, 87-yard drive and connected with a wide-open Williams for a 9-yard score.

Los Angeles forced a three-and-out late in the second quarter, but after two straight incompletions by Stafford, the Rams punted the ball back, and it took Darnold just 34 seconds to put the Seahawks ahead for good.

Smith-Njigba caught a deep ball from Darnold, absorbed a big hit by Kam Curl and held on for a 42-yard gain. Four plays later, Darnold and Smith-Njigba hooked up for a 14-yard TD that made it 17-13 heading into halftime.

“I told my team, I’m going to do whatever it takes. Whatever y’all ask of me, I’m gonna get it done, whatever that might be,” said Smith-Njigba, the NFL's leading receiver in the regular season. “And that’s what you saw today. You just saw grit, determination, you saw passion out there and you saw a group, a collective, going out there and getting the job done.”

Rams: WR Jordan Whittington (chest) left in the third quarter. Defensive end Kobie Turner (cramps) also exited in the third.

Seahawks: LB Drake Thomas (shoulder) left in the fourth quarter. FB Brady Russell (hand) was injured in the second half and did not return.

Rams: Stafford turns 38 next month and has to wonder if this was his last, best chance at a second Super Bowl title.

Seahawks: Seek their second Super Bowl title after winning it all in the 2013 season with coach Pete Carroll and the “Legion of Boom” defense.

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

Seattle Seahawks safety Nick Emmanwori (3) celebrates after a win over the Los Angeles Rams in the NFC Championship NFL football game Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear)

Seattle Seahawks defensive tackle Leonard Williams (99) celebrates after a win over the Los Angeles Rams in the NFC Championship NFL football game Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold lifts the winner's trophy next to Michael Strahan, left, after a win over the Los Angeles Rams in the NFC Championship NFL football game Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Cooper Kupp (10) leaps over Los Angeles Rams cornerback Cobie Durant (14) after a catch during the second half of the NFC Championship NFL football game Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear)

Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) slides under Seattle Seahawks linebacker Boye Mafe (53) during the first half of the NFC Championship NFL football game Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear)

Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua (12) makes a touchdown catch past Seattle Seahawks cornerback Riq Woolen (27) during the second half of the NFC Championship NFL football game Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold throws during the first half of the NFC Championship NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams, Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

Seattle Seahawks' Dareke Young (83) celebrates after recovering a fumble by Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Xavier Smith during a punt return during the second half of the NFC Championship NFL football game Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

EAGLE, Idaho--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Apr 22, 2026--

Lamb Weston Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: LW) today released its latest Global Sustainability Report, outlining progress made during fiscal year 2025 toward the company’s 2033 sustainability goals and how those efforts are integrated across its global operations.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260422513978/en/

“In fiscal year 2025, we continued to focus on embedding sustainability across all of our operations and global supply chain — driving progress that supports our people, strengthens our business, and advances our environmental stewardship,” said Sylvia Wilks, chief supply chain officer of Lamb Weston. “Looking ahead, our commitment to sustainability will remain measurable, values driven, and focused on creating value for our business, customers, and team members.”

Grounded in the company’s approach to Making Fries and Making Strides, the report highlights progress across three core focus areas: People, supporting our team members and communities where we operate; Food, delivering safe, trusted, high‑quality products; and Planet, advancing environmental stewardship across the global value chain.

Key progress updates featured in the Global Sustainability Report for fiscal year 2025 include:

The full report, including additional progress and disclosures, is available at https://www.lambweston.com/about/sustainability.

About Lamb Weston
Lamb Weston is a leading supplier of frozen potato products to restaurants and retailers around the world. For more than 75 years, Lamb Weston has led the industry in innovation, introducing inventive products that simplify back-of-house management for its customers and make things more delicious for their customers. From the fields where Lamb Weston potatoes are grown to proactive customer partnerships, Lamb Weston always strives for more and never settles. Because, when we look at a potato, we see possibilities. Learn more about us at lambweston.com.

Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. Words such as “drive,” “support,” “strengthen,” “advance,” “will,” “create,” “deliver” and variations of such words and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Examples of forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the company’s plans, execution, goals and targets, commitments, and progress. These forward-looking statements are based on management’s current expectations and are subject to uncertainties and changes in circumstances. Readers of this press release should understand that these statements are not guarantees of performance or results. Many factors could affect these forward-looking statements and the company’s actual results and cause them to vary materially from the expectations contained in the forward-looking statements, including those set forth in this press release. These risks and uncertainties include, among other things: pricing for water; potato crop performance, quality and yield, including the effect of climate on the potato crop and the company’s production processes; restaurant traffic in the company’s markets, and an uncertain general economic environment, including inflationary pressures; the competitive environment; the availability and prices of raw materials and other commodities; operational challenges; the company’s ability to successfully implement its cost savings or efficiency initiatives; and other risks described in the company’s reports filed from time to time with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The company cautions readers not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements included in this press release, which speak only as of the date of this release. The company undertakes no responsibility for updating these statements, except as required by law.

Lamb Weston Global Sustainability Report: 2025 Fiscal Year