A TWO-SIDED ATTACK

Rams hope their line can pressure Seahawks' Darnold, let secondary's ball hawks fly

- BY GARY KLEIN

THE KEY to the Rams' success depends on how much pressure they can put on Sam Darnold, who is rushed by Braden Fiske (55) and Byron Young in a Nov. 16 game.

(ROBERT GAUTHIER Los Angeles Times)

Kobie Turner makes his living as a pass rusher and run defender for the Rams, not a defensive back.

But the last time the Rams played the Seattle Seahawks, the third-year defensive lineman snatched a Sam Darnold pass near the goal line for his first career interception.

"It was like time almost stopped," Turner recalled Thursday. "It was a perfect spiral. It was beautiful."

Turner's turnover was one of seven the Rams forced in two games this season against the Seahawks, including six interceptions.

Of the Rams' 16 interceptions this season, more than a third came against the Seahawks.

The Rams aim to continue their torrent of takeaways against the Seahawks on Sunday when they play in the NFC championship game at Lumen Field.

Four of second-year safety Kam Kinchens' six career interceptions came against the Seahawks, including two in the first matchup between the teams this season.

"Usually, you hope a guy doesn't make the same mistake twice," Kinchens said of Darnold. "In my case, I'm hoping he makes the same mistake twice, because that's more picks for me."

Are the Seahawks his favorite team to play against?

"Yes," Kinchens said, "Because they like to test the secondary. They have good receivers and Sam Darnold wants to throw the ball down the field and push it down the field.

"That's a lot of opportunities, and I love when I get to show people my receiver skills."