The Seattle Seahawks are heading to Super Bowl LX after taking down the Los Angeles Rams 31-27 in the NFC Championship game.
While Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold barely practiced this week due to an oblique injury, he played lights out on Sunday night. Darnold passed for 346 yards and three touchdowns. Catching Darnold’s first touchdown of the game was none other than wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba.
Smith-Njigba, the Seahawks’ first-round pick from the 2023 NFL draft, is in the midst of a breakout year. Following DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett’s departure, he became Darnold’s No. 1 receiving weapon.
The third-year receiver finished the regular season with 119 catches for 1,793 yards and 10 touchdowns. After leading the league in yards-per-target among all receivers with at least 50 catches, he won the Offensive Player of the Year from the Professional Football Writers of America (PFWA).
He looks to add to his trophy case at the NFL honors, as he’s nominated for Offensive Player of the Year. He’s also one of nine players nominated for the FedEx Air & Ground NFL Players of the Year. After recording 10 receptions for 153 yards and a touchdown against the Rams, Fox Sports analyst Tom Brady made a special announcement.
Jaxon Smith-Njiba Named Tom Brady’s Player of the Game Over Sam Darnold
While Darnold put on an incredible performance, seven-time Super Bowl champion Tom Brady named Smith-Njigba as his Player of the Game.
Brady described Smith-Njigba’s performance as “unbelievable” while speaking to the breakout star after the game. Smith-Njigba said of making it to the Super Bowl, “That’s what it’s about. It’s about the journey. What we had to go through, the ups and downs… I’m super proud of this team.”
“It starts in the offseason,” he added on the team’s chemistry. “Just building the culture from the ground up.”
According to NFL+ , Smith-Njigba passed Justin Jefferson for the most receiving yards EVER by a player in their age 23-or-younger season, including playoffs.” ESPN Insights also celebrated the receiver’s historic performance.
“Jaxon Smith-Njigba is the 5th player with 10 receptions, 150 receiving yards and a touchdown in a conference championship game,” the outlet posted . “He joins Julio Jones (2012 Falcons), Pierre Garcon (2009 Colts), Ike Hilliard (2000 Giants) and Michael Irvin (1994 Cowboys).”
Jaxon Smith-Njgiba Game Sam Darnold His Flower After the Game
GettySeahawks quarterback Sam Darnold (R) and Jaxon Smith-Njigba after punching their ticket to Super Bowl 60.
Next up, the Seahawks travel to San Francisco to take on the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LX. Smith-Njigba is confident the team will ultimately lift the Lombardi Trophy with Darnold at the helm.
“He’s a leader. He led us today,” Smith-Njigba told reporters after the game. “I can’t say enough about Sam, man. We got one more to go but for him to overcome what he had to overcome, I’m rolling with Sam all day. We believe in him. The building believes in him. The city believes in him. It’s awesome to run out onto the field with him.”
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