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Rams come up short of Super Bowl in 31-27 NFC Championship loss
Head coach Sean McVay talks with Matthew Stafford #9 of the Los Angeles Rams during the second quarter against the Seattle Seahawks in the NFC Championship game.
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Ronald Martinez
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Getty Images
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Topline:
The Los Angeles Rams came up just short in their pursuit of a trip to Super Bowl LX after losing 31-27 to the Seattle Seahawks in the NFC Championship Game Sunday night.
Why it matters: It's a disappointing end to a promising season for the Rams, who had the best offense in the NFL by several metrics during the regular season and were competing for their second trip to the big game in five years. The last time they were there was the 2021-22 season, when they won it all. During a brief postgame news conference, Head Coach Sean McVay acknowledged the stunned disappointment his team and its fans were feeling. "You know I'm...never really short on words, and I am right now. So, it's tough. But this is sports, and you gotta be able to deal with it," McVay told reporters.
The backstory: The Rams had a couple of opportunities to take the lead in the final minutes of the game that didn't shake out their way. Down four points with about 5 minutes left, the Rams chose to go for it on a pivotal fourth down deep in Seattle territory, instead of kicking a field goal that would have cut the Seahawks' lead to one. But they didn't convert and had to turn the ball over. They then got one final possession with about 25 seconds left in the game, but needed a touchdown to take the lead and were unable to go the length of the field.
More opportunities: While they'll have to take in Super Bowl LX from the comfort of home, there are still opportunities for the Rams to get their flowers for a memorable season. Quarterback Matthew Stafford is a finalist for the NFL's Most Valuable Player Award after leading the league in passing yards and touchdowns in the regular season. Wide receiver Puka Nacua is also a finalist for Offensive Player of the Year after he posted yet another stellar season. They'll find out whether they won at the NFL Awards on Feb. 5.
What's next: The Super Bowl will be on Feb. 8 at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, the home of the San Francisco 49ers. The Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots will play in a rematch of the 2014 Super Bowl, which the Patriots won in last-minute fashion.
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