Seahawks at Rams score: Russell Wilson, Seattle struggle again as Los Angeles wins to create tie atop NFC West

The Rams take out the Seahawks in an NFC West showdown

The Seattle Seahawks are officially on a big-time slide. 

The Seahawks have now lost three of their last four games, two of them to division rivals. The Los Angeles Rams took the Seahawks out this time, prevailing 23-16 on Sunday afternoon. Both teams now have 6-3 records, each of which matches that of the Arizona Cardinals. When all the tiebreakers work themselves out, the Seahawks actually drop from first in the division to third, while the Rams move up to second place. 

It was a tough day at the office for Russell Wilson, whose MVP campaign has hit a big snag and might be in freefall. The Seahawks will have to get things turned around quickly, because they play again on Thursday night. The Rams, meanwhile, get an extra day to bask in the glow of victory, because they're on Monday Night Football next week. 

Why the Rams won

Efficient offense and timely turnovers. With the exception of a couple strip-sack fumbles, Jared Goff had an excellent game. He picked apart the Seattle secondary for much of the afternoon with an array of screens and downfield throws. Josh Reynolds had a career day with eight catches for 94 yards. Cooper Kupp and Robert Woods did some work in the short-to-intermediate areas. Tyler Higbee and Gerald Everett both got in on the action. And the running backs capitalized on the scoring opportunities provided by the pass offense. 

On the other side of the ball, the Rams didn't exactly shut the Seahawks down, but they did hold up when it mattered. The Rams forced Seattle into just one touchdown on three red zone trips, and they turned Russell Wilson over three times. Darious Williams had a heck of a game, coming up with two incredibly athletic interceptions -- one of them in the end zone. 

Why the Seahawks lost

Uninspired, turnover-happy offense and typically horrendous defense. Russell Wilson had not one, not two, but three turnovers in this game. One of them was horrendously ill-time and ill-advised, with Wilson trying to throw across his body and across the field into the end zone when he had a free first down and possibly more if he had just taken off and run with the ball. But the offense limped through the game even outside of Wilson's miscues as both DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett failed to really get untracked and the run game did little of note. 

Plays of the game

We've got to hand this one to Darious Williams. He made two absurdly good plays on Wilson's passes, snagging interceptions out of the air when they looked like surefire completions. The first one changed the tenor of the game when the Seahawks were set up with excellent field position, and the second seemingly snuffed out any chance of a comeback at the time. 

Williams, an undrafted free agent who played sparingly during his first few seasons in the league, has been a starter in seven of the Rams' nine games this season and just had what was almost certainly the best game of his career. 

Stats of the game

With a passer rating of just 57.0, Russell Wilson posted his worst mark since Week 14 of the 2018 season. This was Wilson's first game without a touchdown pass since ... the last time he played the Rams, in Week 14 of last year. It was the first time Wilson has failed to throw a touchdown and thrown multiple interceptions since Week 12 of the 2016 season, and just the fourth time he has ever done that. He now has 10 turnovers in Seattle's last four games. For a while they could be explained away by needing to take chances due to the team's horrendous defense, but that was not the case on Sunday. 

What's next

The Seahawks are now 6-3 and have lost three of their last four games. They're no longer in first place in the NFC West. They host the Arizona Cardinals on Thursday night. The Rams are now 6-3 as well, giving them the same record as both the Seahawks and Cardinals. LA had a bye last week after being destroyed by the Dolphins back in Week 8, and the Rams have a long break before their next contest, which is against the Buccaneers on Monday Night Football. 

Relive the game with our live blog below.

[Nov 15, 2020 at 7:30 pm ET · Jared Dubin]

Fantastic win for LA. Both sides of the ball, truly played excellent football.

[Nov 15, 2020 at 7:30 pm ET · Jared Dubin]

Well, the Seahawks, Rams, and Cardinals are now all 6-3. This division is incredible.

[Nov 15, 2020 at 7:28 pm ET · Jared Dubin]

It all comes down to the onside kick for the Seahawks now.

[Nov 15, 2020 at 7:27 pm ET · Jared Dubin]

Well, the Cardinals just got their miracle.

[Nov 15, 2020 at 7:25 pm ET · Jared Dubin]

What a terrific win this is for the Rams, assuming they hang on. Unless the Cardinals pull off a miracle in the next 11 seconds, the Rams are going to move into first place in the NFC West.

[Nov 15, 2020 at 7:20 pm ET · Jared Dubin]

It's about time Jalen Ramsey got called for interference on one of those sideline plays. He's been getting away with that stuff all year. And then Metcalf JUST missed being able to tap the toes on the last play before the two-minute warning.

[Nov 15, 2020 at 7:17 pm ET · Jared Dubin]

The Rams led the NFL in yards allowed per play coming into this game, but I am still really surprised how bad this Seahawks offense has looked all game.

[Nov 15, 2020 at 7:14 pm ET · Jared Dubin]

Big play by Jordyn Brooks to break up that pass over the middle. Woods had it for a first down but instead it's incomplete and a punt.

[Nov 15, 2020 at 7:11 pm ET · Jared Dubin]

Looks like Goff picked it up on the sneak. Big play for LA.

[Nov 15, 2020 at 7:07 pm ET · Jared Dubin]

ANOTHER turnover for Wilson. Darius Williams gets him for the second time today. That's Russ's second pick and third turnover of the game.

[Nov 15, 2020 at 7:06 pm ET · Jared Dubin]

Why are they running the play call down at all? This is crazy.

[Nov 15, 2020 at 7:05 pm ET · Jared Dubin]

Why are the Seahawks running the ball and why are they not playing with more urgency? They're down two scores with eight minutes left.