NFC Championship predictions for Seahawks-Rams? National writers are split

If you’re wondering which team has the edge in Sunday’s NFC Championship, history won’t give you the answer.

The Seattle Seahawks are 29-28 against the Los Angeles Rams in 57 all-time meetings between the NFC West rivals. In four games since 2024 — split two games apiece, of course — Los Angeles outscored Seattle 109-107. The Rams had 1,599 scrimmage yards in those games. The Seahawks? 1,589.

Heading into Sunday’s NFC Championship Game, here’s how the Rams and Seahawks have fared in their last four matchups: pic.twitter.com/QwMvio5PCS

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 22, 2026

So what are national media outlets and sportsbooks predicting for a pivotal Game No. 58, where the winner books their ticket to Super Bowl LX in Santa Clara, California? It’s a rematch of a Week 16 thriller on Thursday Night Football, when Rashid Shaheed’s 58-yard punt return touchdown sparked a 16-point fourth-quarter rally in a 38-37 overtime win at Lumen Field.

The News Tribune rounds up picks, predictions, and odds for Sunday’s NFC Championship:

POLLING NATIONAL WRITERS

ESPN polled 10 of its NFL writers and reporters for AFC and NFC championship predictions. Seven of them, including Mike Clay and Dan Graziano, picked the No. 1-seed Seahawks to beat No. 5 Los Angeles. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, Matt Bowen, and Jason Reid picked the Rams.

ESPN’s Pamela Maldonado trusts Seattle’s defense. “The Seahawks don’t bust coverages; they tackle and force opponents to earn every yard,” she wrote. “The Rams want rhythm and explosive plays, but Seattle doesn’t give you either. If this turns into a grind -- and it probably does -- I trust Seattle to control it. Good luck, Matthew Stafford.”

CBS Sports polled a dozen of their NFL writers with contrasting results: Eight picked the Rams to upset Seattle in Sunday’s clash at Lumen Field. John Breech was one of them.

“The Seahawks definitely have one of the best defenses in the NFL, but the last time I saw them on the field against the Rams, Matthew Stafford went off for 457 yards and three touchdowns, and he did that even though he didn’t have Davante Adams in the lineup,” Breech wrote. “Adams led the team in touchdown catches, but he didn’t play in the Rams’ wild Week 16 loss to Seattle. I think Stafford goes off again and leads L.A. to the Super Bowl.”

CBS Sports’ Garrett Podell doesn’t yet trust Sam Darnold, who “sees ghosts every time he plays the Los Angeles Rams defense,” Podell wrote. “Whether it’s getting sacked an NFL record nine times against them as a Minnesota Viking in the 2024 postseason or throwing a combined six interceptions against them in two regular season games this season with the Seahawks, Darnold can’t quite figure out Rams defensive coordinator Chris Shula’s unit.”

History doesn’t paint a clearer picture for Sunday’s game, and the consensus of national media won’t, either.

WHAT’S VEGAS SAYING?

Soon after the Rams beat the Chicago Bears in overtime of last Sunday’s NFC Divisional playoffs, the Seahawks opened as a 2.5-point favorite in this weekend’s championship game. That line hasn’t moved, with FanDuel and DraftKings offering the Rams as a 2.5-point underdog as of Thursday night.

Sunday’s over/under is set at 46.5 points. The Seahawks are -138 for moneyline bets, per FanDuel. The Rams are +118.

In other words: It’s close. Really close.

Six writers at USA Today made picks against the spread. Four suggest taking the points with underdog-Los Angeles (+2.5).

“No reason to stop picking the Rams now,” USA Today’s Christopher Bumbaca wrote. “If it comes down to quarterbacks, I’ll take Matthew Stafford over Sam Darnold any day of the week. Sean McVay, I’m begging you to run the ball.”

USA Today’s Lorenzo Reyes doesn’t see it that way, rolling with Seattle at -2.5.

“The Seahawks have been the most consistent team in the NFL this season,” Reyes said. “They’re at home, are balanced and have an aggressive defense that puts pressure on quarterbacks. These games have been close, and the coaching matchup is fascinating, but Seattle is just playing on another level. Its dominance against the 49ers was pretty telling. With this under a field goal, don’t hesitate before the line moves further.”