The Seattle Seahawks have pulled off a historic rally and pulled into first place in the NFC. After throwing a touchdown pass to Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Sam Darnold delivered a game-winning two-point conversion pass to little-used tight end Eric Saubert to defeat the Los Angeles Rams, 38-37, in overtime in an instant classic.
The Seahawks overcame a 457-yard, three-touchdown effort by Matthew Stafford and 12 catches for 225 yards and two touchdowns by Puka Nacua. That duo connected on a 41-yard score on the first possession of overtime, but Darnold and the Seattle offense would not be denied. Darnold, who was unsteady much of the night and had two interceptions, made huge plays on the game-winning drive, including a beautiful 21-yard pass to Cooper Kupp before the two scoring plays.
Seattle, which trailed 30-14 in the fourth quarter, had been 0-172 when down 15 or more points in the fourth quarter over the 50-year existence of the franchise.
The Seahawks (12-4) clinched a playoff berth but still has it sights set on the top overall seed in the conference. Darnold finished with 270 passing yards and two touchdowns, and Smith-Njigba had eight catches for 96 yards and a touchdown -- all after halftime. Kenneth Walker III had 164 yards from scrimmage.
After a somewhat sleepy first half -- the Rams led 13-7 behind a ground-and-pound game plan, and the Seahawks hardly had the ball -- the big plays came quickly in the second half. Kenneth Walker III ripped off a 55-yard touchdown run on the fourth play of the opening drive of the half, giving Seattle a 14-13 lead. Moments later, though, Matthew Stafford converted a third-and-9 with a 48-yard pass to Xavier Smith, who had gotten behind a normally stout, disciplined Seattle secondary. A Harrison Mevis field goal -- his third of the game -- gave Los Angeles the lead back, 16-14.
Then it was the Los Angeles defense's turn to make a big play. Josh Wallace was in perfect position when San Darnold tried to fire a slant to Rashid Shaheed, and the second-year cornerback took his first career interception back 56 yards all the way to the Seattle 1-yard line. Blake Corum banged it in from there to extend the visitors' lead to 23-14.
After another fruitless Seattle drive, the Rams took off on another lengthy scoring drive, this time with the big play being a 58-yard completion from Stafford to Nacua. Nacua fittingly finished the drive with a 1-yard score off a nifty Stafford pass.
The Seahawks embarked on another long drive and got into the red zone, but defensive lineman Kobie Turner dropped back into coverage, catching Darnold by surprise, and picked off the Seattle quarterback.
At that point, Los Angeles appeared ready to cruise to victory. As it turned out, it was simply Seattle's turn to make the big plays.
The Rams quickly went three-and-out, and Rashid Shaheed took the ensuing punt 58 yards for a touchdown. After another Rams three-and-out, Seattle needed just two plays to cover 57 yards: a 31-yard run by Shaheed on a reverse and then a 26-yard touchdown toss from Darnold to A.J. Barner.
Then came one of the strangest two-point conversions ever: Darnold's screen pass was tipped away by Jared Verse. At least, that's what it looked like. But replays showed Darnold's throw had actually gone backward, and because Zach Charbonnet jogged over and picked up the ball in the end zone before any whistle blew, it counted as a successful two-point conversion. Tie game.
Stafford once again led the Rams down the field, but Mevis' 48-yard field goal leaked wide right. That set up a wild, back-and-forth overtime and, ultimately, plenty of heroics for Darnold.
When Sam Darnold is bad, he can be really bad. His first interception was right to Wallace. His second interception was right to Turner. He was clearly fooled on both, and the second one especially looked like it would cost his team a chance to win the game.
But the defense and special teams then took the reins until Darnold could regain his composure. Immediately after Darnold's second interception, the defense forced a quick punt, leading to Shaheed's punt return touchdown. That was the first of three straight three-and-outs by Los Angeles. Overall, the Rams managed just four first downs and zero points over their final five drives of regulation.
Those are just a few of the ways the Seahawks managed to win a game in which they were out-gained 581-415. Also helping ...
Furthermore, one of the league's worst rushing attacks produced 171 yards against one of the league's best rush defenses. Walker was outstanding, and Charbonnet came up big in big scenarios.
Here's the updated top seven in the NFC:
The Seahawks are in a great spot, but their win also helps the 49ers significantly. The 49ers face the Colts in Week 16, the Bears in Week 17, and ... the Seahawks in Week 18. Remember, the 49ers beat the Seahawks in Week 1. If San Francisco is within a game of Seattle come Week 18, it could have a chance to take the No. 1 seed in the NFC -- or at least the NFC West crown -- with a win.
Meanwhile, the Rams fall all the way to the No. 5 seed, and they could go all the way to No. 6 if the 49ers beat the Colts on Monday night.
Consider this: The Rams are the only team since at least 1940 to have ...
Stafford was absolutely magnificent. So, too, was Nacua. But red-zone and short-yardage miscues and misfortune (a questionable ineligible man downfield penalty at the 1-yard line) came back to bite the Rams, as did a very poor special teams performance.
These are the issues that stick out most as potential pitfalls for an otherwise excellent team. The Rams are dead last in special teams expected points added. For as good as the offense is, the Rams are just 19th in third-down conversion rate, and that falls to 27th on third-and-3 or shorter.
Still, it's hard not to talk about Stafford, who somehow has never even received an MVP vote but seems on the brink of wrapping up the award. This was his third game this season with 375+ passing yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions, tied for the most in a single season ever.
Nacua, meanwhile, overcame a roller-coaster week to have one of the finest performances by a pass catcher in recent memory. On Tuesday, Nacua appeared on a live stream in which he made comments disparaging NFL referees and did an antisemitic dance -- one that he pledged to do if he scored a touchdown. Nacua issued an apology for doing the dance Thursday before the game, and the Rams and the NFL also issued statements. Coach Sean McVay also apologized postgame.
On the field, Nacua was terrific throughout the game. He won on short routes, he won on intermediate routes, and he won on deep routes. He was a load to bring down once he had the ball in his hands. With no Davante Adams, Nacua became the first player with a 12/225/2 receiving stat line since Tyreek Hill in 2020.
Jaxon Smith-Njigba scores the touchdown, and Eric Saubert scores the game-winning two-point conversion. What a rally from Seattle to take the NFC lead!
Matthew Stafford is on an absolute heater. Puka Nacua is having arguably his finest game as a pro. Just so, so good between both of these players:
Stafford has thrown for 457 yards. Nacua has 225 receiving. Wow.
Jones nearly had a huge play against his former team, but that ball moved when it hit the ground. Blake Corum can breathe a huge sigh of relief after a bad drop.
The Rams got into Seattle territory on its penultimate drive of regulation and near midfield on its last drive but was unable to convert either one into points.
Nacua extends all the way up for a 27-yard gain. Outstanding throw and catch. Nacua is up to 168 yards receiving.
That's Mevis' first miss all season. The Rams' special teams have been a disaster tonight.
Third-and-4, away crowd in full force, and Stafford delivers an absolute dime to Terrance Ferguson for 29 yards. Add in a personal foul on Ty Okada, and Los Angeles is on the edge of field goal range.
What a wild turn of events. Jared Verse appeared to break up Darnold's pass, but upon review, it was a backward pass, and because Zach Charbonnet -- without really trying -- picked up the ball in the end zone, it's a fumble recovered for a game-tying score!
What a turn of events! In the last few minutes ...
Not so fast! Just when it seemed like the Rams might cruise to victory, they go three-and-out, and Shaheed brings the punt back 58 yards for a touchdown. Sam Darnold finds Cooper Kupp for the two-point conversion, and we have a one-score game.
He's the first Rams defensive lineman to do that in a game since Leonard Little in 2009.
That's Darnold's second interception and the Seahawks' third turnover of the game. Remember, Darnold threw four picks in the Week 11 game between these two teams, and Chris Shula & Co. have thoroughly flummoxed him again.
The Seahawks nearly jumped this one. Stafford knew better. It's not a "no look" pass per se, but he did have his shoulders face one way and his throw go the other to juke out a Seattle defender.
What a day for Matthew Stafford and Puka Nacua. Stafford just lasered a deep ball to Nacua over the middle, and Nacua nearly took it the distance, eventually getting run down after a 58-yard gain.
Against one of the NFL's best defenses, on a short road week, without Davante Adams, Stafford and Nacua have connected on five of seven targets for 132 yards. This was one of Stafford's best throw of the night.
This has been by far the biggest difference between the two teams. Los Angeles can move the ball downfield through the air consistently. Seattle can't.
Josh Wallace read Sam Darnold like a book. The Seattle quarterback tried to squeeze a slant pass into Rashid Shaheed, but instead he found Wallace, who returned the ball all the way to the 1-yard line. Blake Corum bashed it in from there, and the Rams have now scored 10 points in about two minutes. Huge response after Seattle opened the half with a touchdown.
Just what the doctor ordered for Seattle. Kenneth Waker III started left, found a lane back to his right and took off for a 55-yard score. Huge run, and Seattle is back on top.
Prior to this, Walker's longest run this season was 31 yards.
Seattle has only run 20 plays to the Rams' 42, which is a big problem, but it has to find a way to get the NFL's leading receiver involved. Sam Darnold has thrown just six passes.
The Seahawks worked their way into field goal range just before the half, but Kam Curl dislodged the ball from Cooper Kupp, and Cobie Durant fell on the ball at the 1 and officially recovered in the end zone.
Brutal half offensively for Seattle.
On third-and-16, the Seahawks appeared to be willing to just try to get a few yards on a run up the middle and punt the ball back to Los Angeles. Instead, Walker III spun through one tackle and burst ahead for 17 yards. It's Seattle's first first down since the opening drive of the game.
Ferguson had his first touchdown wiped off due to an ineligible man downfield penalty. This time, there were no flags, and Matthew Stafford made no mistake finding his open tight end.
You can scroll down to see that we wondered about how Davante Adams' absence would impact the red zone defense, and so far, the answer is clear and obvious. Los Angeles has been inside the Seattle 10-yard line twice. It only has two field goals to show for it.
Sean McVay certainly isn't being shy. The Rams converted a fourth-and-5 with a great connection between Matthew Stafford and Puka Nacua and then appeared to convert a fourth-and-goal from the 1, but it was waived off for ineligible man downfield.
Instead, they'll settle for a short Harrison Mevis field goal.
That's already three official fourth-down attempts by Los Angeles, two of which have been successful.
In Week 11, the Seahawks didn't score a touchdown against the Rams until there was 2:23 left in the fourth quarter. Tonight, they score on their first possession, with Zach Charbonnet capping a five-play, 61-yard drive with a 4-yard touchdown.
It was the other running back, Kenneth Walker III, who had the biggest play on the drive, a 46-yard catch and run on a screen pass. The Seahawks have used play action on two of Sam Darnold's three throws, and it has worked well early.
Eight of the Rams' first 10 plays were runs, and the last one didn't work: Kyren Williams got stopped just short on fourth-and-1, and the Seahawks will take over with good field position.
Kyren Williams converts the fourth-and-1 inside his own territory. Love the aggressiveness and confidence from Sean McVay on the opening drive.
The Rams start with the ball on this rainy, windy night.
Without Adams, expect a ton of three-tight end looks from Los Angeles. The Rams have already run 213 plays with three tight ends on the field, by far the most in the NFL, and that might be their go-to look tonight.
Where Adams' absence could show up most is in the red zone. Adams' 12 red zone touchdowns are most in the NFL, and he is a huge weapon in short-yardage situations -- an area the Rams can sometimes struggle with otherwise. We'll see what Sean McVay has dialed up on a short week.
These are part of the "Rivalries" series. Although I'm still partial to Seattle's awesome throwbacks, these are pretty good!
Adams (hamstring) was doubtful, so him being ruled out is not a surprise. Braden Fiske (hamstring, questionable) is good to go, but it'll be worth keeping an eye on how much and how effectively he plays. Those were the only two players on Los Angeles' injury report.
