Sam Darnold reaches the Super Bowl after five teams and mockery

Sam Darnold helped the Seattle Seahawks beat the Rams 31-27 in the NFC Championship, throwing three touchdown passes with no turnovers, and will start Super Bowl LX against the New England Patriots at Levi's Stadium on Feb. 8.

Sam Darnold walked into the postgame interview calm after the Seahawks beat the Rams 31-27 to win the NFC Championship. He completed 25 of 36 passes for 346 yards and three touchdowns with no turnovers. The performance came against a Rams defense that had troubled him earlier in the season. Darnold's path to this stage included stints with five NFL teams and roles ranging from starter to backup. Key details: - Game result: Seattle defeated the Los Angeles Rams 31-27 in the NFC Championship and advanced to Super Bowl LX. - Darnold's line: 25 of 36 for 346 passing yards, three touchdown passes and zero turnovers in the game. - Historical note: Per NextGenStats, he became the first NFL quarterback to throw three touchdown passes under pressure in a playoff game. - Injury report: Darnold played through a left oblique injury and received a pain‑killing injection before the game, according to reporting. - Career path: Darnold was the third overall pick in 2018, played for five teams including New York, Carolina, San Francisco and Minnesota, and signed with Seattle before this season. Summary: Darnold's performance was a deciding factor in Seattle reaching the Super Bowl and ended lingering questions about his ability in a championship game. The Seahawks will play the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LX at Levi's Stadium on Feb. 8, and Darnold will be the starting quarterback for Seattle.