Seahawks And Rams Brace For Chilly NFC Championship Showdown

All eyes in the football world are fixed on Seattle this Sunday as the Seattle Seahawks prepare to host the Los Angeles Rams in the NFC Championship at Lumen Field. With a Super Bowl LX berth hanging in the balance, both teams are bracing for a high-stakes battle that promises drama, intensity, and—perhaps surprisingly for a Pacific Northwest winter—a refreshing lack of weather chaos.

Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. PT on January 25, 2026, and the forecast has been a hot topic all week. In a city famous for its drizzle and unpredictable skies, fans and players alike are breathing a sigh of relief. According to The Weather Channel and Accuweather, conditions at Lumen Field will be nearly perfect for football: partly cloudy, a temperature hovering around 42 degrees Fahrenheit, and wind speeds barely nudging past 2 mph. There’s less than a nine percent chance of precipitation, so forget the rain ponchos—just bring a warm jacket and your loudest voice.

"No need to take the rain ponchos, but do layer up, it will be chilly!" FOX 13 Seattle advised, highlighting the cold start to the day. The city began Sunday under a cold weather advisory, with morning lows dipping into the mid-20s and a RealFeel in the upper 20s. By mid-afternoon, though, sunshine will help nudge temperatures into the low-to-mid 40s—still brisk, but a welcome change from the frigid, snowy conditions the Rams faced last week in Chicago during the Divisional Round.

The Rams, led by head coach Sean McVay, proved their mettle in the Windy City, enduring bitter cold and snow to advance. "The Rams have played in worse during this season's playoffs," one report noted. That resilience could be tested again, albeit in a different way, as they face a Seahawks squad that’s grown comfortable in their own chilly backyard.

The Seahawks, under first-year head coach Mike Macdonald, are riding high after dismantling the San Francisco 49ers 41-6 in the Divisional Round. That game, played on a dry field with little wind, showcased Seattle's ideal conditions for domination. Now, with the weather forecast looking similarly tame, the Seahawks have every reason to believe they can replicate that performance.

Yet, it’s not all smooth sailing for Seattle. The team’s injury report reads like a laundry list of playoff headaches. Linebacker Chazz Surratt has been ruled out with an ankle injury, thinning the defensive ranks against a Rams rushing attack that can punish the edges. Tackle Amari Kight is listed as doubtful after missing practice all week with a knee issue, complicating matters on the offensive line. Versatile lineman Josh Jones is questionable, though he did return to full practice on Friday. Fullback Robbie Ouzts is also questionable with a neck injury, a potential concern given the physical nature of playoff football in cold conditions.

Quarterback Sam Darnold, the man at the center of Seattle’s hopes, was limited in practice all week with an oblique injury. The good news for Seahawks fans? He carries no official game-status designation and is expected to start. His mobility and comfort in the pocket will be closely watched, especially given the importance of ball security in cold weather. Darnold’s recent performances against the Rams have been a mixed bag—he threw four interceptions in a Week 11 loss but rebounded with a heroic, come-from-behind win in Week 16, leading Seattle to a 38-37 victory in overtime. If Darnold can channel his late-season form and avoid costly mistakes, the Seahawks’ offense could be tough to stop.

Seattle’s defense, meanwhile, needs to recapture the magic from that Week 11 matchup, when they limited the Rams to fewer than 300 total yards. Execution, not weather, will determine the outcome. As one local analyst put it, "If Darnold plays a clean game and Seattle plays defense as it did in Week 11, the game will not be close." A confident assessment, but one grounded in recent history.

On the other sideline, the Rams arrive with fewer injury concerns but still face some uncertainty. Linebacker Byron Young returned to limited practice Friday after missing earlier sessions with a knee injury, and safety Quentin Lake bounced back from an illness to practice fully by week’s end. Neither player has been given a game status, so their availability will be a storyline to monitor as kickoff approaches.

One thing is clear: the weather won’t be an excuse for either team. The Sporting News summed it up best: "No precipitation is expected at all, and wind gusts will be in the single digits, so there's no concern for passing attacks and kickers." For the Rams, who are less accustomed to cold weather than their Pacific Northwest hosts, the relatively mild conditions are a welcome reprieve. For the Seahawks, it’s business as usual.

The broader context adds another layer of intrigue. This will be the third meeting between these NFC West rivals this season, with each side having tasted both victory and defeat. The stakes, of course, have never been higher. The winner punches a ticket to Santa Clara, California, for Super Bowl LX on February 8, 2026—a chance to etch their name in NFL history.

Fans attending the game are encouraged to dress warmly, as post-game temperatures are expected to dip into the 30s. But with the dry stretch in Seattle now tying a 13-day record, the atmosphere inside Lumen Field should be electric—and not just because of the weather. "All eyes will be on Lumen Field Sunday for the NFC Championship game," FOX 13 Seattle declared, capturing the city’s anticipation.

For those watching at home, the game will be broadcast on Fox at 6:30 p.m. ET and streamed on Paramount+ at 3 p.m. ET, ensuring that fans nationwide can tune in for what promises to be a classic showdown.

As both teams finalize their preparations, the message is clear: execution, not elements, will decide who advances. The Seahawks hope their home-field advantage and recent dominance carry them to the big stage, while the Rams aim to prove that their resilience travels as well as their game plan.

With kickoff fast approaching and the weather gods smiling on Seattle, the NFC Championship is set to unfold under ideal conditions—at least as far as January football goes. One thing’s for sure: neither rain nor snow will stand in the way of crowning a conference champion tonight at Lumen Field.