Every team's scouting report on the Seattle Seahawks has pages upon pages on how to stop Jaxon Smith-Njigba. So far, they have found little to no success in that endeavor, but he's clearly the focal point of the passing game.
Notably, there might only be a paragraph or two on Jake Bobo. The undrafted free agent out of UCLA has been mostly an afterthought and an additional blocker for the running game, so he may not draw that much attention.
That mistake was a costly one for Sean McVay and the Los Angeles Rams. Bobo only needed one catch to have one of the biggest moments for the Seahawks this season, and his 17-yard touchdown grab sent a clear message to the New England Patriots: Anybody can make plays for this team.
Jake Bobo's late-game heroics were a testament to the Seahawks' identity
Bobo was a healthy scratch for six games this season. He was on the field for a total of 117 offensive snaps in the regular season, logging just two receptions on as many targets for 20 yards. Then, right after recovering a muffed punt and with the Seahawks up by just four points, he came through with the biggest catch of his career to help the team extend the lead to 24-13.
The Seahawks are now 4-0 whenever Jake Bobo gets a touchdown. Of course, when asked about the big play, he tipped his hat to Sam Darnold for staying in the pocket and being patient to find him, even knowing he was going to take a big hit:
"I hoped he (Sam Darnold) throws it. It was a great job by (Sam)," Bobo said after the game. "That's the coverage we wanted, and if Jaxon [Smith-Njigba] wasn't there, he was going to come to me. He took a big hit for me, so I owe him a couple of beers for that."
The Seahawks need someone else to step up in the passing game in the Super Bowl. Chances are, it won't be Jake Bobo, but Rashid Shaheed should be more involved to take pressure off JSN's shoulders. Whatever the case, this team has shown plenty of character this season, with multiple lesser-known players stepping up in key moments.
From George Holani recovering a kickoff in the end zone to beat the Steelers in Week 2 to backup LB Tyrice Knight logging a couple of strip-sack fumbles for scores in Week 10, to the game-winning two-point conversion by Eric Saubert in the overtime win over the Rams in Week 16, all the way to Bobo's catch. This team is full of playmakers and guys who will rise to the occasion.
The Patriots now have one more weapon to worry about.