Enemy Reaction 2020: Los Angeles Rams

Oh how I’ve waited for this moment!

The Seattle Seahawks clinched the NFC West for the first time since 2016, and they did it in impressive fashion over the hated Los Angeles Rams. Seattle was 2-5 in its last seven against Sean McVay’s side, but they held LA out of the end zone and pulled away late in the 4th quarter to assure Seattle of at least one home playoff game and keep their slim hopes of the #1 seed alive.

Do you think Rams fans are pissed? Oh you better believe it. And they are in meltdown mode over at Turf Show Times. Let’s recap this awesome win in a jam-packed Enemy Reaction, which even includes a glance at the insane ending to Saturday’s Miami Dolphins-Las Vegas Raiders thriller.

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Pre-Game: Nice prediction!

Ryan Neal commits drive extending roughing the punter (6-3 LAR)

Jared Goff gleefully flings a pass into Quandre Diggs’ waiting arms (6-3 LAR)

David Moore makes a great catch for 45 yards (6-6)

Russell Wilson gets the first touchdown of the day (13-6 SEA)

Seahawks stuff Rams on 4th and goal (13-6 SEA)

Jacob Hollister seals the deal (20-9 SEA)

Josh Reynolds what did you just do?! (20-9 SEA)

Rams turn it over on downs, Seahawks win the NFC West! (20-9 SEA FINAL)

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Post-Game: Jared Goff is holding the Rams back (Cameron DaSilva, The Rams Wire)

It’s been said multiple times this season, but it really showed on Sunday against the Seahawks. Goff is the weakest part of this team right now and he might be the one preventing the Rams from being legitimate Super Bowl contenders.

It’s not that he played awful in Seattle. He actually was quite good on third down and made a handful of quality throws. But it’s his mistakes that prove especially costly. His interception in the first half just as the Rams were driving was a throw Division II quarterbacks don’t make. There was no receiver in the area and Goff had no business throwing the ball.

He also fumbled on the goal line on a sneak attempt, though there fortunately was no clear recovery by either team, so the Rams kept possession. If he’s able to play in Week 17 and the Rams make the playoffs, he has to step up in a big way during the postseason if L.A. is to have any chance.

Post-Game: Jared Goff has become Jameis Winston West (Bill Plaschke, Los Angeles Times)

The Seahawks won 20-9 in a game that felt like a 60-minute indictment of the Rams’ five-year future.

In the short term, even if they defeat the Arizona Cardinals in the season finale and qualify for the playoffs, there is little hope the Rams can survive long with a quarterback whose horrible game-changing interception Sunday was his 13th turnover in the last eight games and 17th this season.

In the long term, how are they supposed to move confidently forward while being tied until 2024 to a quarterback to whom $110 million is guaranteed, a quarterback who has committed a league-worst 39 turnovers since 2019?

Jared Goff has become Jameis Winston West, and there’s seemingly nothing the Rams can do about it.

Post-Game Audio: Opponent audio recap with Rams radio announcers J.B. Long, D’Marco Farr, and Maurice Jones-Drew (via Sports Radio KJR)

BONUS Enemy Reaction: That ridiculous ending to Miami Dolphins 26 Las Vegas Raiders 25

Enemy Preaction: San Francisco 49ers

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And so we’ve reached the final week of the regular season. The Seahawks have the division locked up and depending on the outcomes of Sunday’s matchups, they could bump their seeding to #2 or #1. Remember that the #2 seed may lose the bye but as long as you win the wild card you’re guaranteed a home game in the next round. You may say that HFA doesn’t matter as much but the Seahawks are 7-1 at Lumen Field and that ain’t insignificant.

Oh yeah, and beating the 49ers regardless of their record is always significant and delightful.

Thanks for reading and go ‘Hawks!