Suuma's Takeaways from Championship Weekend
By: Suuma, NFL Originator
Championship Weekend: Seahawks 31, Rams 27
I was wrong about the Seahawks — and about Sam Darnold. In the offseason, I thought moving from Geno to Darnold was, at best, a lateral move and more likely a downgrade. Darnold had real issues during the season, especially against the Rams in both matchups. But yesterday, he was brilliant.
Three touchdowns against pressure — the first quarterback to ever do that in the playoffs in the Next Gen Stats era. Seattle finished with 24 first downs, 19 through the air, and when the game tightened late, they didn’t hide the quarterback. They put it in Darnold’s hands — and he delivered.
The Rams did find answers offensively. Once again, they were able to attack Seattle vertically, with Matthew Stafford hitting a few absolute pinpoint shots downfield — including in the fourth quarter. But when it mattered most, the Rams stalled on their final potential go-ahead drive, unable to close.
Defensively, the Rams’ front generated pressure, but the secondary had too many mental lapses. Darnold took advantage every time. And once again, special teams tilted the field: a muffed punt helped Seattle go up 24–13, continuing a season-long edge in the hidden yards battle.
At this point, it’s fair to say it plainly: the most complete team is going to the Super Bowl. Seattle has the best defense in football, great special teams, and an offense that’s been “just enough” all year — before peaking with its best passing performance when it mattered most.
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Patriots 10, Broncos 7 — Snowball Football
This game turned into a wind-and-snow rock fight after halftime. Offense vanished completely. There were just 23 total first downs — fewer than either the Seahawks or Rams produced on their own.
Denver actually started well while conditions were still manageable, but the Broncos beat themselves. A turnover on downs, a missed 54-yard field goal, a Jarrett Stidham fumble, a massive Courtland Sutton drop, and later a blocked field goal. Too many mistakes, especially early.
New England didn’t do much offensively, but they didn’t need to. Once the weather took over, it became about mistake-free football — and Denver failed that test.
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Quo Vadis, Patriots?
This Patriots playoff run raises real questions. They’ve now won three postseason games, and the common denominator is simple: the opposing offense was inept every time. That’s not nothing — it’s a skill to capitalize on chaos — but it doesn’t translate well to what’s coming next.
Against Seattle, that formula is unlikely to hold. The Seahawks have a functional, confident offense, elite defense, and strong special teams. If New England can’t generate offense on its own — and nothing so far these playoffs suggests it can — this postseason run may end abruptly.
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Injuries We are Watching for the Super Bowl
New England - EDGE Harold Landry (Injured Inactive), LB Robert Spillane (Left Game), RB Terrell Jennings (Working back from I.R.), DT Joshua Farmer (Working back from I.R.)
Seattle - OT Amari Knight (Injured Inactive)
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