SEATTLE SEAHAWKS.
In order of brilliance and context. The NFC Seattle Seahawks' path to Super Bowl LX (2026) was defined by a record-breaking 14–3 regular season and a relentless postseason run led by NFL Offensive Player of the Year Jaxon Smith-Njigba and quarterback Sam Darnold .
These are the five most clutch plays that propelled them into the Super Bowl:
1. Devon Witherspoon’s 4th-Down Red Zone Stop, above.
• Context: NFC Championship vs. Los Angeles Rams.
• The Play: With 4:54 remaining in the fourth quarter and Seattle clinging to a 31–27 lead, the Rams reached the 6-yard line. On 4th-and-4, Devon Witherspoon broke up a pass intended for tight end Terrance Ferguson in the end zone.
• Brilliance: This was the definitive "clutch" moment of the postseason. After the Rams had dominated time of possession on an 84-yard drive, Witherspoon’s lockdown coverage effectively saved the game and Seattle's Super Bowl aspirations.
2. Cooper Kupp’s "Corkscrew" 3rd-Down Conversion
• Context: NFC Championship vs. Los Angeles Rams. • The Play: Facing a 3rd-and-7 with 3:11 left, Sam Darnold scrambled left and found Cooper Kupp, who made a "corkscrew" catch over his shoulder and dove for a 1st down.
• Brilliance: Playing against his former team with a trip to the Super Bowl on the line, Kupp's acrobatic catch allowed Seattle to bleed nearly the rest of the clock. Without this conversion, the Rams would have received the ball back with ample time to score.
3. Rashid Shaheed’s 51-Yard "Deep Shot"
• Context: NFC Championship vs. Los Angeles Rams. • The Play: Early in the second quarter, Sam Darnold launched a deep 51-yard pass to mid-season trade acquisition Rashid Shaheed up the sideline.
• Brilliance: This explosive play shifted the momentum of a tight game, proving that the Seahawks' offense could strike instantly despite the Rams' defensive pressure. It set up an early lead and forced the Rams to play from behind for most of the first half.
4. Jaxon Smith-Njigba’s 74-Yard Drive Capper
• Context: NFC Championship vs. Los Angeles Rams. • The Play: With just 54 seconds left in the first half, the Seahawks moved 74 yards in 34 seconds, culminating in a Jaxon Smith-Njigba touchdown reception in the end zone.
• Brilliance: This play epitomized the "power pair" connection between Darnold and Smith-Njigba. Scoring just before the half silenced a Rams surge and gave Seattle a 17–13 lead and the psychological edge heading into the locker room.
5. The Opening Kickoff 95-Yard Return
• Context: NFC Divisional Round vs. San Francisco 49ers. • The Play: On the very first play of the Seahawks' postseason, Seattle returned the opening kickoff 95 yards for a touchdown.
• Brilliance: This play "seized control" of the game immediately, setting the tone for a 41–6 blowout victory over their fierce rivals. It signaled to the rest of the NFC that the top-seeded Seahawks were a complete team across offense, defense, and special teams.
NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS.
In order of brilliance and context. AFC's New England Patriots advanced to Super Bowl LX in February 2026 behind a historic defensive effort and the emergence of second-year quarterback Drake Maye. After a 4-13 season in 2024, the Patriots executed the greatest one-year turnaround in NFL history to reach the title game against the Seattle Seahawks.
Below are the five most clutch plays from their AFC 2025–26 playoff run, ranked by their brilliance and context:
1. The Snow Globe Scurry (AFC Championship), above.
With the score tied 7-7 late in the fourth quarter against the Denver Broncos, Drake Maye escaped a collapsing pocket in heavy snow to scramble for 28 yards, putting the Patriots in field goal range. This "ice-cold" run set up the game-winning score, securing a 10-7 victory in what were described as "impossible" weather conditions.
2. Gonzalez’s "No-Fly" Interception (AFC Championship)
In the same defensive slugfest, cornerback Christian Gonzalez made a leaping interception on a deep ball from Jarrett Stidham that appeared destined for a go-ahead touchdown. The turnover preserved the tie and shifted momentum back to New England's defense, which shut out the Broncos for the entire second half.
3. The "Zombieland" Flea-Flicker (AFC Championship)
In a game where offense was nearly non-existent, offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels called a risky flea-flicker that resulted in a 31-yard loft from Maye to Mack Hollins. This play was the only significant offensive chunk of the game and provided the spark for New England's lone touchdown drive in Denver.
4. Douglas’s Divisional Dagger (Divisional Round), above.
Wide receiver DeMario Douglas ignited the "Zombieland" celebration craze after scoring the opening touchdown in the Patriots' 28-16 win over the Houston Texans. The score capped a high-pressure opening drive that settled the young team and established the offensive efficiency that defined their playoff run.
5. Taylor’s Fingertip Block (AFC Championship), above.
Defensive tackle Leonard Taylor III got his fingertips on a 45-yard field goal attempt by Broncos kicker Will Lutz, causing the ball to flutter wide. In a game decided by only three points (10-7), this special teams gem was the literal difference between a win and overtime.
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