SEATTLE — How do you quantify and measure the amount of absolutely insane things that happened in the Rams’ game against the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday?
Both teams combining for 20 penalties for 178 yards, each one seemingly more damaging than the last. Two Seahawks touchdowns in the final minute of the first half brought on by Rams offside flags. Three fumbled snaps, two by Seattle that led to the loss of 44 yards. A blocked PAT. A Pro Bowl receiver ejected after a Pro Bowl quarterback threw his fifth interception in five games. A pick-six by a rookie reserve.
But when push came to shove, with Seattle going for it on 4th-and-1 from the Rams 16 in overtime, it came down to disciplined football. Beating your blocks and tackling the ball carrier. Defensive tackle Bobby Brown and linebacker Omar Speights combined for the stop, and handed the ball over to quarterback Matthew Stafford.
The Rams’ offense may have only managed one first down in four drives in the fourth quarter, but it didn’t matter. Stafford moved the team down the field, then hit Demarcus Robinson for a 39-yard, game-winning touchdown as the Rams (4-4) escaped Lumen Field with a 26-20 win.
The Rams defense looked strong to start Sunday, except for one area. They committed five offsides or neutral zone infractions, two of which led directly to free plays in which QB Geno Smith hit Tyler Lockett in stride for a touchdown and found Jaxon Smith-Njigba downfield for a 46-yard gain. Smith-Njigba would score two plays later, and the Rams’ 3-0 lead had turned into a 13-3 halftime deficit, all in the span of 31 seconds of game time.
But that second score was only because of an overthrown interception by Matthew Stafford on the drive between those two scoring plays. Worse, as linebacker Tyrel Dodson tried to block Puka Nacua, the intended target, the receiver punched the Seahawk in the helmet and was ejected.
Nacua’s absence certainly didn’t help the Rams offense, but the unit had been struggling before his disqualification. Seattle (4-5) had shown little ability to stop the run entering Sunday but held the Rams to 14 yards on eight attempts in the first half. Stafford felt a lot of pressure in the pocket and rushed several passes to avoid sacks.
But the Rams offense came to life with an 11-play, 75-yard touchdown drive to open the second half. Kyren Williams rushed seven times for 38 yards, and the Rams used a goal-line carry to set up a play-action pass that left Demarcus Robinson open for a touchdown.
The game was tied, but Seattle marched right back and got into a 1st-and-goal in the fourth quarter. Outside linebacker Byron Young ripped through his blocker and was barreling toward Smith. Feeling the pressure, the Seahawks QB hurried the ball into the end zone, but was off target. Waiting, hands outstretched, was rookie Kamren Kinchens. The third-round pick, only in the game due to injury took his first career interception 103 yards, a franchise record, for the go-ahead touchdown.
The Rams defense forced a three-and-out, but like it had for much of the game, the offense, down receiver Puka Nacua after his first-half ejection for unnecessary roughness, stalled and failed to get a first down. The Seahawks blocked the punt off the foot of Tyler Zentner, called up from the practice squad with Ethan Evans out sick. Seattle would begin its next drive at the Rams 19, needing a touchdown to tie.
But again Kinchens appeared when the Rams most needed a play, diving forward to intercept a low Smith pass and turn the ball over in the red zone.
Still, the Rams’ offense could not put their foot on the collective Seattle throat. Three-and-out and a punt. This one wasn’t blocked, and a sack by Braden Fiske on first down put Seattle in a 2nd-and-24 hole.
But a 28-yard pass to practice squad call-up Cody White got Seattle back in motion. A 29-yard completion to Smith-Njigba on 4th-and-5 put the Seahawks in the red zone. And Smith tied the game by going back to Smith-Njigba in the end zone on the next play.
The Rams only managed one first down on their next drive and punted again to send the game to overtime.
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