SEATTLE — The Seattle Seahawks are headed to Super Bowl LX. In a slugfest at Lumen Field, Seattle held off a late surge from the Los Angeles Rams to secure a 31-27 victory in the NFC Championship Game on Sunday night. The win marks Seattle’s first trip to the Super Bowl since 2014 and sets up a high-stakes rematch with the New England Patriots on February 8 in Santa Clara.
Defensive Captain Lights Up the Podium
Ernest Jones IV didn’t wait to get home to start the party. Minutes after the clock hit zero, the Seahawks’ defensive captain strode to the press conference podium wearing a fresh “Conference Champions” hat and clutching a thick victory cigar. It was a statement of intent from the man who has become the heartbeat of Mike Macdonald’s defense. Jones was relentless against his former team, leading the Seahawks with 8 tackles and providing the vocal leadership that kept the unit composed when Matthew Stafford started heating up in the second half.
The atmosphere inside Lumen Field was electric, with the “12s” creating a deafening wall of sound that forced several Rams pre-snap penalties. Seattle’s defense, anchored by Jones and an emerging secondary, bent but didn’t break. After the Rams pulled within four points late in the fourth quarter, Jones helped rally the troops for a final stand that ended Los Angeles’ hopes of a comeback. The linebacker’s journey—from being traded by the Rams to Tennessee, and then to Seattle—has come full circle with a chance at a second ring.
“I can’t describe it, man. This is everything that we prayed for, everything that we worked for. Won the West, won the division, now we’re NFC Champions. There’s nothing better. I’m excited, ready for this opportunity.” — Ernest Jones IV, Seahawks Linebacker
Super Bowl Rematch: Seahawks vs. Patriots
The win sets the stage for a historic showdown at Levi’s Stadium. For the first time in NFL history, a Super Bowl will feature two starting quarterbacks (Sam Darnold and Drake Maye) and two head coaches (Mike Macdonald and Mike Vrabel) who are all in their first or second seasons with their respective teams. Darnold was sensational on Sunday, throwing for 346 yards and 3 touchdowns, including a clutch strike to Jake Bobo that helped seal the momentum.
Seattle now faces a familiar foe in the New England Patriots, the team that dealt them a heartbreaking loss in Super Bowl XLIX over a decade ago. However, this 2026 iteration of the Seahawks feels different. They are young, physical, and clearly following the lead of players like Jones, who isn’t afraid to celebrate a milestone before the smoke even clears. The focus now shifts to Santa Clara, where Seattle looks to hoist its second Lombardi Trophy in franchise history.
