Seahawks mount comeback vs. Rams in OT to take control of NFC West

Seattle–Thursday night, Seattle Seahawks Green Los Angeles Rams38–37, in overtime to clinch a playoff spot.

During the first 15 weeks, the Seahawks looked to be one of the best teams in the NFL, posting an 11–3 record.

On Thursday night, with so much at stake in one of the biggest games of the regular season in recent memory, they looked like the team of destiny. The story was written entirely about how Seattle had a long way to go in the playoffs, with two losses to the Rams ending their hopes of winning the NFC West and claiming the conference’s top seed, with a first-round bye and home-field advantage.

But after a completely improbable comeback, the Seahawks are now in the driver’s seat for both of those things. It saw Seattle come back from a 16-point deficit in the fourth quarter when the game was turning into a blowout after two Sam Darnold Interception against the same team that picked him off four times at So-Fi Stadium last month.

The Seahawks got a special teams touchdown. Rasheed Shaheed To begin their comeback, which continued with Darnold throwing a touchdown at the end of regulation and another touchdown in overtime.

Mike McDonald scored two runs and got the win, and Darnold threw the ball to the tight end Eric Saubert in the back of the end zone, securing a thrilling win and punching Seattle’s ticket to the playoffs.

According to ESPN Research, before tonight, the Seahawks were 0-155-0 when trailing by more than 16 points in the fourth quarter.

Here are the most important things to know from Thursday night for both teams:

Most Amazing Performance: The Seahawks entered Week 16 allowing the second fewest points of any defense in the NFL. You’ve rarely seen a McDonald’s unit attacked the way it was on Thursday night.

Explosive passing play was a big issue, as Stafford hit them early and often, completing seven throws for more than 25 yards. The Rams rushed for 257 yards in the first half – eight more than they accomplished in four quarters in their win over Seattle in Week 11. And finished with 581. Even with some long developing plays, the Seahawks did not sack Stafford.

But in the end the defense took a big lead without Kobe Bryant, nickelback Nick Emmanvori and cornerback Rick Woolen, who were all lost in the fourth quarter.

Viewing Trends: Martyr business is giving massive profits. The speedy receiver had two catches on the Seahawks’ game-winning field-goal drive last week, continuing his emergence as a secondary option. Jackson Smith-Njigba,

On Thursday night, he returned a fumble 58 yards for a touchdown to kickstart Seattle’s fourth-quarter rally. It was Shahid’s second return touchdown since the Seahawks acquired him before the deadline from New Orleans for fourth- and fifth-round picks., Martyr had 89 scrimmage yards on two touches against the Rams.

Statistics to know: Kenneth Walker III Had a 55-yard run for a touchdown as well as a 46-yard catch on a screen play. According to ESPN Research, he is the first Seattle player to rush with a 40-yard reception and a 40-yard rush in the same game since Shaun Alexander against the Vikings in 2002.

The Seahawks’ run game has been tough for most of the season, and running back screens haven’t been a big part of it Clint KubiakCrime of. But Seattle had both going against the Rams. Walker (100 yards) and Zach Charbonnet (32) combined for 132 rushing yards, and each scored a touchdown.

turn. The Seahawks’ fourth-quarter rally included one of the strangest two-point attempts you’ll ever see. Charbonnet’s quick screen from Darnold was bunted at the line of scrimmage and rolled into the end zone to look like an incomplete pass. But Charbonnet acted wisely, ran towards the ball and caught it on the goal line in any case. Officials reviewed the play and determined that Darnold’s pass went backward, meaning it was a fumble which Charbonnet recovered for a successful attempt. — Brady Henderson

Next game: But carolina panthers (1 p.m. ET, Dec. 28)

According to ESPN Analytics, the Rams entered the game with a 62% chance of winning the NFC West, but after losing to the Seahawks, those chances dropped to 25%.

The Rams fell to the No. 5 seed in the NFC after Seattle took over the No. 1 spot. Their last two matches are against atlanta falcons Week 17 on Monday Night Football and at home against Arizona Cardinals,

The Rams took a 30–14 lead in the fourth quarter, giving them a 97% chance of victory, according to ESPN Analytics. If Los Angeles had won they would have had a 91% chance of winning the NFC West.

Instead, the Rams are no longer in the driver’s seat in the NFC West.

What is meant by QB performance: without any injuries davante adamswho was inactive after aggravating his left hamstring injury in Week 15, Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford The Seahawks were more effective against the defense for the majority of the game, having had much success when these teams played in Week 11. On Thursday night, Stafford completed 29 of 49 passes for 457 yards and three touchdowns, including one in overtime, but it was not enough for the win. The 457 yards is the fifth most in a game in Rams history and the most since Jared Goff 2019 was 517 in week 4.

Viewing Trends: puka nakua He has 573 receiving yards in his last three games. This is the most in a three-game period since josh gordon There were 649 runs for the Browns in 2013. With Adams injured, Stafford relied even more heavily on Nacua, whose 225 receiving yards were the most by a Rams player since Isaac Bruce in 1997.

stat to know: Entering Thursday, the Rams were the only team in the NFL that had yet allowed a rush of 30 or more yards, according to ESPN Research. It ended against Seattle when Seahawks running back Walker ran for a 55-yard touchdown in the third quarter. — Sara Barshop

Next game: But atlanta falcons (8:15 p.m. ET, Dec. 29)