Seahawks-Rams Final Score: Seahawks lose 36-31 thriller to Rams

This hurts. The Seattle Seahawks (4-5) were so close to stunning the Los Angeles Rams (9-1) in their stadium, but they couldn’t keep up with LA’s high-powered offense. In a back-and-forth thriller, the Rams hung on for a 36-31 win, as Dante Fowler’s critical strip-sack led to LA’s largest lead of the game, and a deficit the Seahawks couldn’t quite overcome.

Rashaad Penny had a breakout performance with over 100 yards rushing, while Russell Wilson threw for three touchdown passes despite barely attempting any passes until they were forced to throw. The defense predictably struggled, but they did make a pivotal stop to give Wilson one last chance for a heroic comeback, which he couldn’t quite manage.

Playoff hopes for the Seahawks are fading, but they are hanging in with the NFL’s best.

1st Half

The Seahawks started with the ball first. After several runs with Mike Davis, a Cory Littleton roughing the passer bailed out a third down incomplete pass and gave the Seahawks a fresh set of downs. A Tyler Lockett jet sweep gained 16 yards (somehow) through amazing tackle breaking, and a 15-yard face mask penalty to boot. The penalties and the Lockett run put the Seahawks at the Rams’ 14, and on 3rd and 4, Wilson escaped pressure and threw a dart to Nick Vannett for a touchdown. Fantastic play by Russ and Vannett to put Seattle on the board. 7-0 Seahawks.

Of course, the Rams offense kicked it into gear despite bad starting field position. They went up-tempo and Jared Goff picked the Seahawks secondary apart with short passes, while Todd Gurley had good gains on the ground and through the air. Goff capped off an 86-yard drive with a touchdown pass to TE Gerald Everett, who beat Bradley McDougald. 7-7.

Rookie RB Rashaad Penny, helping fill in for the injured Chris Carson, burst through the Rams defense for a 38-yard gain, and two snaps later rushed for an easy 18-yard score for his first career NFL touchdown. What a response! 14-7 Seahawks.

Once again, the Rams marched down the field with ease. A great sideline grab by Cooper Kupp gained 25 yards and put LA in Seahawks territory. They were finally forced into a 3rd down play while in the red zone, and pressure combined with great coverage forced Goff into a throwaway. Greg Zuerlein split the uprights from 35 yards out. 14-10 Seahawks.

A three-and-out by the Seahawks offense soon followed, but the defense bent but didn’t break and made the Rams punt thanks to a Quinton Jefferson third-down sack. Aaron Donald one-upped him by sacking Wilson on third-down for a second time in as many drives, forcing a Michael Dickson punt once again. This time, Seattle’s defense wilted and gave up another 86-yard drive, with Todd Gurley scoring on a toss sweep. 17-14 Rams.

Seattle went to work in the two-minute drill, hoping to get points before halftime, and they instead wasted timeouts and didn’t get into FG range because that’s how we roll now.

2nd Half

The Rams began the 2nd half seemingly on their way to another touchdown, but a Frank Clark/Dion Jordan combined sack, followed by a false start penalty turned a possible TD drive into another Zuerlein FG, a win for the Seahawks defense. 20-14 Rams.

Wilson threw an interception on the first play of the ensuing drive, but Marcus Peters (who caught the pick) was penalized for holding Doug Baldwin, so it was negated. The running game got going through the work of Rashaad Penny, turning in a 24-yard rush deep into Rams territory. However, an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on Germain Ifedi and a Nick Vannett false start pushed them out of FG range. A third-down incompletion to David Moore appeared to destroy a promising drive, except Dante Fowler Jr committed an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty of his own, so 15 crucial yards and a new set of downs. Seattle capitalized, as Russell Wilson threw a dime to Tyler Lockett in the corner of the end zone for the go-ahead touchdown. 21-20 Seahawks.

Just when it looked like the Seahawks would get a pivotal stop on 3rd and 15 in LA’s half of the field, Ken Norton ridiculously dialed up a three-man rush and Robert Woods was wide open for a big-gainer. Terrible defending by Shaquill Griffin, too. Two plays later, Tyler Higbee got just free enough on play-action for the go-ahead touchdown to start the 4th quarter. The two-point conversion was stuffed by Jarran Reed, as Gurley had no room to work. 26-21 Rams.

A couple of good scrambles by Russell Wilson helped put the Seahawks in Rams territory. Wilson rolled out for a play-action throw to Doug Baldwin for 15 yards to the 28-yard line, then he got a penalty after N’Damukong Suh roughed Wilson, so half the distance to the goal. Unfortunately, Suh would get revenge with a third-down sack that forced Seattle to kick a field goal. Sebastian Janikowski converted. 26-24 Rams.

Incredibly, the Seahawks trusted Janikowski with a surprise onside kick and it backfired. Goff attacked Shaquill Griffin by going to Robert Woods for 22 yards, instantly putting them inside Seattle’s 30. Brandin Cooks took them to the 9 yard line for 1st and goal. Jarran Reed nearly picked off Goff on 2nd and goal after the ball bounced off of Gurley’s hands. A screen pass to Cooks got them down to the 2 on 3rd and goal. Sean McVay opted to kick the FG, making that stop that much more vital. 29-24 Rams.

A strip-sack on 3rd down by Dante Fowler was the first turnover of the game, and the Rams scored on a jet sweep touchdown through Brandin Cooks. 36-24 Rams.

The Seahawks were forced into a hurry-up offense and were inside the Rams 5, but they used up the two-minute warning. A good play-action pass rolled Wilson out for a touchdown grab by Mike Davis. Impressive stuff, but wish it could’ve been quicker. 36-31 Rams.

Michael Dickson drop-kicked it deep into Rams territory, and they only returned it to the 25. So 1:51 left and all three timeouts, the Seahawks defense needed a stop. A busted jet sweep lost six yards. On 2nd and 16, they ran for 7 yards on a toss sweep. Game-deciding 3rd and 9... and a false start made it 3rd and 14. The screen pass only gained a few yards so the Seahawks made a stop. 1:24 to go and 75 yards with no timeouts.

Wilson was just about sacked and they called it a fumble, but it was ruled an incomplete pass after they kept playing as if it was a fumble. Intentional grounding was not assessed somehow, then offsetting penalties on Aaron Donald and Justin Britt meant the whole hubbub was over a few seconds and a loss of down. Tyler Lockett was wide open at midfield on the next play after all that controversy. Clock kept ticking. Wilson scrambled for a first down and then spiked it with :37 to go. A deep shot to David Moore was incomplete with :31. Incomplete pass on 3rd down. 4th and 10 and the game on the line... incomplete. Overthrew Tyler Lockett. 36-31 Rams Final.

Seahawks injury report

LB Shaquem Griffin and DB Akeem King were both evaluated for concussions after colliding into each other on a punt return. They both returned to the game.

Next week’s opponent

It’s a short week for the Seahawks, as they return home for a Thursday night (Nov. 15) showdown against the Green Bay Packers (4-4-1) at 8:15 PM ET/5:15 PM PT on FOX/NFL Network/Amazon Prime.