Rashid Shaheed might have doubted you if you told him a few months ago that he'd be playing in the NFC Championship game. He was with the New Orleans Saints at that time, so he'd be right to be skeptical. The fact now, though, is that he'll be playing his 10th game with the Seattle Seahawks, and it's the most important game of his career.
Shaheed was traded to Seattle on Nov. 4. In his two months in Seattle, he has really leaned into his skills as a punt/kick returner. He's returned four punts for a total of 210 yards and one touchdown as a Seahawk, but it's his kick-returning skills that have really taken a jump since the trade. Returning 14 kicks (13 more than he did for the Saints this year), Shaheed gathered 418 yards and one touchdown. He also has a kick return touchdown in the playoffs this year.
Former Saints will be well represented on Sunday. Running backs Velus Jones Jr. and Cam Akers were called up to the Seahawks' active roster earlier this week, with Akers going up against another former team of his, the Los Angeles Rams. It will be Shaheed, obviously, who has the greatest impact.
Rashid Shaheed could be the Seahawks' game changer vs the Rams again
The Seahawks and Rams third time time facing this year. Ironically, Shaheed's last game in New Orleans was against the Rams. He then proceeded to play them twice more with the Seahawks, so this is his fourth time facing Rams this season.
None of those games were more impacted by Shaheed than that final game. The Rams appeared well on their way to a season sweep over Seattle until Shaheed returned a punt for a touchdown. The Rams had scored 17 unanswered points to that point, and the Seattle offense was struggling. Shaheed's touchdown
It was Shaheed's only touch of the game, but it couldn't have been more important. It completely changed the momentum of the game. Shaheed had a similar tone setting play last week where he returned the opening kickoff for a touchdown in his first ever playoff game.
Shaheed seems reinvigorated as a return specialist in Seattle. Don't be surprised if the Rams look to mitigate that impact by kicking away from him as much as possible. Shaheed may not touch the ball much in the championship game, but he may not need to. If it's one thing that we all know in football, it only takes one.