PHOENIX — The 2026 NFL Annual League Meetings took a comedic turn Monday when Rams coach Sean McVay crashed Mike Macdonald’s media session to revisit the play that still haunts Los Angeles and fuels Seattle’s championship lore. It was a lighthearted moment between the two brightest young minds in the NFC West, but the wound clearly remains fresh for the Rams after Seattle’s dominant 29-13 Super Bowl LX victory over the Patriots.
The Play That Changed the NFC West
As Macdonald fielded questions about the Seahawks’ recent title parade, McVay popped his head into the room. He didn’t ask about roster construction or the upcoming draft. Instead, he fired a playful shot about the “fumble” that swung the momentum of their second regular-season meeting last year. Seattle ultimately took that game 38-37 in overtime, a victory that secured home-field advantage and set the stage for their narrow 31-27 win over the Rams in the NFC Championship.
The play remains one of the strangest sequences in recent memory. Quarterback Sam Darnold, who finished 2025 with 4,048 passing yards, threw a quick screen that appeared to hit the grass for an incomplete pass. While the Rams defense stood still, the ball took a fortunate hop. Officials ruled the pass was actually backwards, turning the “incompletion” into a live fumble. Zach Charbonnet snatched the ball in the end zone, turning a failed attempt into a successful two-point conversion. That two-point swing provided the margin Seattle needed to force overtime and, eventually, break the Rams’ hearts.
“What do you think of the two-point play? Is that still on the table?”
— Sean McVay to Mike Macdonald, NFL League Meetings
Macdonald didn’t miss a beat. He flashed a grin at his rival, asking if the play was still being debated by the league’s competition committee. McVay simply patted him on the back and walked out, leaving the room in stitches. The exchange highlights the massive respect between the two, even after a season where their three matchups were widely considered the “real” Super Bowl path for any NFC contender.
The 2026 Outlook
Seattle enters the 2026 season with a massive target on its back. Retaining Sam Darnold was a priority after his breakout year, but the loss of offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak to the Raiders creates a new hurdle for Macdonald’s staff. Meanwhile, McVay’s Rams are already favorites to reclaim the division. They led for three quarters in both the regular-season rematch and the NFC Championship before Seattle’s late-game heroics snatched the wins away.
The rivalry feels different now. It isn’t just about tactical brilliance; it’s about a budding chess match between a defensive mastermind and an offensive wizard. If Monday’s interaction is any indication, the 2026 season matchups between these two squads will be the most anticipated games on the NFL calendar.
