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NFL world split on Riq Woolen&x27;s taunting penalty in NFC championship Jack McKessy, USA TODAYMon, January 26, 2026 at 3:52 AM UTC 0 No one is happier that the Seattle Seahawks won the NFC championship game than cornerback Riq Woolen. Woolen, a former fifthround pick by the Seahawks and 2022 Pro Bowler, drew a flag late in the third quarter for taunting the Los Angeles Rams' sideline after breaking up a pass on thirdand12. The result of the penalty was 15 yards and a first down for Los Angeles.

NFL world split on Riq Woolen's taunting penalty in NFC championship

Jack McKessy, USA TODAYMon, January 26, 2026 at 3:52 AM UTC

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No one is happier that the Seattle Seahawks won the NFC championship game than cornerback Riq Woolen.

Woolen, a former fifth-round pick by the Seahawks and 2022 Pro Bowler, drew a flag late in the third quarter for taunting the Los Angeles Rams' sideline after breaking up a pass on third-and-12. The result of the penalty was 15 yards and a first down for Los Angeles.

The negative effects of Woolen's penalty were exacerbated when he allowed a 34-yard touchdown pass to Rams receiver Puka Nacua on the following play to pull within four points of Seattle.

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Neither team scored for the rest of the game, so the Seahawks came away with a 31-27 victory. With Seattle's NFC title in hand, the fourth-year cornerback avoided the ignominy that would have come with making a poor decision that adversely affected his team's chance to win a game.

Did Woolen deserve to be penalized for the play? The taunting flag drew mixed reactions from fans and analysts on social media. Some criticized the officials for calling the controversial penalty in a game with high stakes, while others expressed frustration or disappointment in Woolen's actions after the play.

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1 / 0NFL weather games: Football played in adverse conditions ❄️🌧️Dec. 7, 2025: Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) communicates between plays against the Cincinnati Bengals at Highmark Stadium. Despite a heavy snowfall, the Bills and Bengals played a high-scoring game, which was won by Buffalo, 39-34.Referees' taunting flag on Riq Woolen draws ire on social media

Many accounts with large followings on social media expressed frustration at the NFC championship's officials for calling the taunting penalty in such a high leverage situation.

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Published: January 25, 2026 at 11:27PM on Source: OPERA MAG

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When was the last time the Seahawks went to the Super Bowl? Full history Ayrton Ostly, USA TODAY January 26, 2026 at 5:05 AM 0 It took eight quarters and a snowstorm to decide who would face off for football's ultimate prize in Super Bowl 60. The New England Patriots ground out a 107 win over the Denver Broncos in the AFC championship game in the first matchup of the day. Hours later in the Pacific Northwest, the Seattle Seahawks earned a 3127 victory over the Los Angeles Rams.

- - When was the last time the Seahawks went to the Super Bowl? Full history

Ayrton Ostly, USA TODAY January 26, 2026 at 5:05 AM

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It took eight quarters and a snowstorm to decide who would face off for football's ultimate prize in Super Bowl 60.

The New England Patriots ground out a 10-7 win over the Denver Broncos in the AFC championship game in the first matchup of the day. Hours later in the Pacific Northwest, the Seattle Seahawks earned a 31-27 victory over the Los Angeles Rams.

SUPER BOWL 2026: Game date, kickoff, location, everything you

Seattle earned the top seed in the NFC playoff bracket thanks to a seven-game winning streak to close the regular season. After their bye off during the wild-card weekend, the Seahawks handled NFC West rival San Francisco before knocking off Los Angeles for the NFC crown. Now, they're one win away from a title.

Super Bowl 60 is far from the Seahawks' first trip to the title game. You don't have to go back far in NFL history to find the last time this franchise fought for a Lombardi Trophy. Here's a look at the Super Bowl history for the Seahawks:

makes a catch for a touchdown against the Green Bay Packers during the fourth quarter at Lambeau Field. The play was originally ruled an incomplete pass, but the call was overturned. Despite TeSlaa's effort, the Packers won the game 27-13.

" style=padding-bottom:56%>Week 1: Detroit Lions wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa (18) makes a catch for a touchdown against the Green Bay Packers during the fourth quarter at Lambeau Field. The play was originally ruled an incomplete pass, but the call was overturned. Despite TeSlaa's effort, the Packers won the game 27-13.

" data-src=https://ift.tt/eP4Xwl1 class=caas-img data-headline="Best images of the 2025 NFL season" data-caption="

Week 1: Detroit Lions wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa (18) makes a catch for a touchdown against the Green Bay Packers during the fourth quarter at Lambeau Field. The play was originally ruled an incomplete pass, but the call was overturned. Despite TeSlaa's effort, the Packers won the game 27-13.

">Week 1: Detroit Lions wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa (18) makes a catch for a touchdown against the Green Bay Packers during the fourth quarter at Lambeau Field. The play was originally ruled an incomplete pass, but the call was overturned. Despite TeSlaa's effort, the Packers won the game 27-13.

" src=https://ift.tt/eP4Xwl1 class=caas-img>

1 / 4Best images of the 2025 NFL season

Week 1: Detroit Lions wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa (18) makes a catch for a touchdown against the Green Bay Packers during the fourth quarter at Lambeau Field. The play was originally ruled an incomplete pass, but the call was overturned. Despite TeSlaa's effort, the Packers won the game 27-13.

When was the last time the Seahawks went to the Super Bowl?

Seattle's trip to Super Bowl 60 is the franchise's fourth visit to the championship game. Their most recent trip came in the 2014 season when they played the Patriots in Super Bowl 49.

When was the last time the Seahawks won the Super Bowl?

Seattle's lone championship came in Super Bowl 48 against the Denver Broncos. The Seahawks won that contest in dominant fashion, 43-8.

How many Super Bowls have the Seahawks won?

Out of their three prior trips to the Super Bowl, Seattle has won one. Here's a full list of their appearances and the results:

Super Bowl 40 (Feb. 5, 2006): Pittsburgh Steelers 21-10 Seattle Seahawks

Super Bowl 48 (Feb. 2, 2014): Seattle Seahawks 43-8 Denver Broncos

Super Bowl 49 (Feb. 1, 2015): New England Patriots 28-24 Seattle Seahawks

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: When was the last time the Seahawks went to the Super Bowl?

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Published: January 25, 2026 at 11:27PM on Source: OPERA MAG

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Natalie Portman Calls Out Oscars for Snubbing Female Directors in 2026 Nominations: 'We Have a Lot of Work to Do Still' Erin ClackJanuary 26, 2026 at 3:13 AM 0 Dia Dipasupil/Getty Natalie Portman at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival on Jan. 24 Natalie Portman called out the Oscars for snubbing female directors in the 2026 nominations "You just see the barriers at every level," she said while stepping out at the Sundance Film Festival on Saturday, Jan.

- - Natalie Portman Calls Out Oscars for Snubbing Female Directors in 2026 Nominations: 'We Have a Lot of Work to Do Still'

Erin ClackJanuary 26, 2026 at 3:13 AM

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Dia Dipasupil/Getty

Natalie Portman at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival on Jan. 24 -

Natalie Portman called out the Oscars for snubbing female directors in the 2026 nominations

"You just see the barriers at every level," she said while stepping out at the Sundance Film Festival on Saturday, Jan. 24

Chloé Zhao, who directed Hamnet, is the only woman up for Best Director this year

Natalie Portman is calling out the Oscars for snubbing female directors in the 2026 nominations.While stepping out at the Sundance Film Festival in Utah to promote her new film The Gallerist on Saturday, Jan. 24, the actress shared her frustrations about the lack of female representation in the Best Director category.

"So many of the best films I saw this year were made by women," Portman, 44, said while speaking with Variety. "You just see the barriers at every level because so many were not recognized at awards time."

"Between Sorry Baby and Left-Handed Girl and Hedda and The Testament of Ann Lee… Extraordinary films this year that I think a lot of people are enjoying and loving, but are not getting the accolades that they deserve," she continued.

Chloé Zhao, who directed Hamnet, is the only woman up for Best Director this year. The category also includes Josh Safdie for Marty Supreme, Paul Thomas Anderson for One Battle After Another, Joachim Trier for Sentimental Value and Ryan Coogler for Sinners.

Kevin Mazur/Getty

Chloé Zhao at the 2026 Critics Choice Awards on Jan. 4

Among the 10 nominated films in the Best Picture category, Hamnet is the only one directed by a woman.

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Portman went on to speak to Variety about the challenges of getting a movie made today.

"Even when you pass the barriers of getting your financing, which is harder, getting into festivals, which is harder. Every step of the road is harder, and then you're out and it's great, and then it also doesn't get the attention," she said, noting, "We have a lot of work to do still."

"But joyfully, with a lot of joy, working with each other," she added with a laugh, "and it's a very special process to be in community with women on set."

Courtesy of Sundance Institute

Natalie Portman and Jenna Ortega in 'The Gallerist'

For The Gallerist, Portman worked with a female director, Cathy Yan. The dark comedy thriller, which also stars Jenna Ortega, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Sterling K. Brown and Da'Vine Joy Randolph, follows a desperate gallery owner (Portman) who schemes to sell a dead man as art at Art Basel in Miami.

Another project of Portman's, the futuristic kids' movie Arco, earned a 2026 Oscar nomination for Best Animated Feature after debuting at the Cannes Film Festival last year. The actress voices the mother of a character named Iris, who befriends the titular Arco.

Portman recently told PEOPLE that the movie — about the friendship between Iris and Arco, who meet when a time-travel trip goes awry — sparked "interesting conversations" with her two kids, son Aleph, 14, and daughter Amalia, 8.

"It was incredible to watch it with them," she said. Portman explained that the movie "raised so many interesting conversations from why the parents are holograms and not at home to, of course, the climate challenges that the kids face in it, to some of the solutions that the kids come up with, like 'Is that really possible in life, living on platforms above the earth to let the earth rest?' Things like that are amazing conversations I got to have with the kids because of the movie."

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Published: January 25, 2026 at 09:36PM on Source: OPERA MAG

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