It was a highly contested, hard-fought game, but in the end the Los Angeles Rams prevailed over the Seattle Seahawks 26-20 in overtime.
Like most divisional rivalries, this game was filled with ebbs and flows of emotion and momentum. The Rams’ receiver Puka Nacua was ejected in the second quarter for punching Seahawks linebacker Tyrel Dodson. Seattle took advantage of the favorable field position and entered the locker room leading 13-3 at halftime.
The Rams opened the third quarter by scoring 17 unanswered points to take a 20-13 lead early in the fourth quarter on a 103-yard interception return by Kamren Kinchen for a touchdown. The Seahawks managed an impressive comeback to tie the game late in the 4th quarter when Quarterback Geno Smith connected with Jaxon Smith-Njigba for a 14-yard touchdown with .51 seconds left to send the game into overtime.
On their only possession in overtime, the Seahawks failed to execute on 4th and one and were forced to turn the ball over on downs.
“That was the play call we liked. We liked the look. We’ve got to be able to get a half yard in two shots,” Seahawks head coach Mike MacDonald said. “Great football teams convert third and fourth and short, and right now we’re not doing that.”
The Rams then capitalized on the failed effort with a 39-yard, one-handed, touchdown catch from Demarcus Robinson to seal the victory on the road.
Turnovers and poor offensive line play were the keys to the Seahawk’s demise. Quarterback Geno Smith threw three interceptions, including a pick-six, and their seventh-year center, Conner Williams, sent two snaps over Smith’s head, leading to a loss of yardage and poor field position.
Even with all of the miscues, Seattle still had plenty of chances to win the game. In the end it was their inability to physically impose their will to gain one yard when it really counted.
“We’ve got guys that fought, but we have to go to work and make this right because right now we’re doing too many things that it’s not winning football, it’s not complementary,” Macdonald added. “We’re going to find the solution at some point. I wish I had the solution right now. But we’re going to go to work and we’re going to figure it out.”
As the league eclipses the midway point of the season, there are more questions than answers regarding the Seahawk’s development going into their bye week; and given the difficulty of their upcoming schedule.
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