SEATTLE – The Rams (11-4) fell to the Seahawks 38-37 in overtime Thursday night at Lumen Field.
The loss moved Los Angeles from the No. 1 seed in the NFC to the No. 5 seed with the rest of Week 16’s schedule still to be played. Meanwhile, Seattle (12-3) moved into the top spot in the conference.
After the Rams were forced to punt near midfield with 53 seconds left, the Seahawks got the ball back with 42 seconds left at their own 15. However, with no timeouts left and after quarterback Sam Darnold was sacked on second down, the Seahawks let the remaining clock run to take the game to overtime, tied 30-30.
Seattle won the toss in overtime and elected to kick off to start the extra period. Although running back Ronnie Rivers returned the ensuing kickoff 41 yards to the Rams’ 48, the Rams’ return unit was called for holding, and they were forced to start the drive from their own 20 instead.
That opening drive of overtime nearly ended with Matthew Stafford getting picked off by Seahawks linebacker Ernest Jones, but that interception was overturned upon further review by the officials and the Rams kept possession of the ball. On the next play, Stafford’s third-down completion to Puka Nacua kept the drive alive. Two plays later, the Rams regained the lead 37-30 as quarterback Matthew Stafford fired a 41-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Puka Nacua.
On the ensuing possession, Seattle answered with a four-yard touchdown pass from Darnold to wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba, then Darnold completing the game-winning 2-point attempt to tight end Eric Saubert to clinch the win for Seattle.
Stafford finished the game 29 for 49 passing for 457 yards and three touchdowns in the loss, while Nacua finished with 12 catches for 225 yards and two touchdowns. The Rams played without their top redzone target in wide receiver Davante Adams, who was inactive due to the re-aggravated hamstring injury he sustained in Week 15.
Rams offensive lineman Kevin Dotson sustained an ankle injury late in the first quarter and was questionable to return before being ruled out in the second half. He was replaced at right guard by Justin Dedich.
Here is the complete game recap, presented by Porsche:
The Rams went for it on 4th and 1 twice on the opening drive; the second attempt failed at the Seahawks 39 after virtual measurement ruled them short of the line to gain.
On the ensuing drive, the Seahawks quickly reached Rams territory after running back Kenneth Walker III took a screen pass 46 yards to the Rams’ 5. Two plays later, running back Zach Charbonnet’s four-yard touchdown run gave them a 7-0 lead with 7:09 left in the first quarter.
Aided by an impressive catch by Nacua on 4th and 5 and a 27-yard catch by tight end Davis Allen, the Rams made it all the way to the Seahawks 1-yard line, but had a 1-yard touchdown pass from Stafford to tight end Terrance Ferguson negated by an ineligible player downfield penalty against them. As a result, Los Angeles settled for a 23-yard field goal by Harrison Mevis to cut its deficit to four with 1:43 left in the first quarter.