2021 NFL Playoffs: Rams cook wretched Seahawks 30-20 in disappointing end to season

The Let Russ Cook year for the Seattle Seahawks (12-5) ends with a home playoff loss to the Los Angeles Rams (11-6), who pulled off the 30-20 victory at Lumen Field to cap off a disappointing end to a season that started off with amazing offense and atrocious defense, and ended with a vastly improved defense and an atrocious offense.

This is a bitter pill to swallow. Russell Wilson was terrible and worse than his stats showed. DK Metcalf did get two touchdowns and Chris Carson ran hard like normal but otherwise Seattle was outplayed and just sloppy. Bad run defense, -2 in turnovers, tons of sacks allowed by the offensive line, tons of drops, it all sucked.

Wilson was legitimately not better than Jared Goff and if John Wolford could’ve gone the whole way instead of to the hospital after a first quarter neck injury then he might have been the inferior QB to Wolford too.

What a long offseason ahead. Changes need to be made.

1st Half

The Rams got the ball on offense first and got just one first down before punting. John Wolford went just 1-3 for one yard. After a Seahawks three-and-out, a mixture of Wolford throws to Cooper Kupp and good runs by Cam Akers put LA into field goal range. Wolford took a shot to the head via Jamal Adams’ right shoulder on a designed run. The flag was picked up because Wolford was a runner and not afforded his normal QB protections. Jared Goff came in and was sacked on 3rd down, leading to a Matt Gay field goal. 3-0 Rams.

Seattle went three-and-out again and got into the undesirable 2nd and 33 at one point. The Rams punted it right back and the Seahawks finally got a first down on a 24-yard lob to Tyler Lockett for a one-handed catch. Guess what, though? Punt. Rams? Punt. Seattle got the ball back near midfield and got one first down through a Chris Carson run and then stalled out a yard short of the first down but in field goal range. Jason Myers knotted things up at 3-3.

A 44-yard bomb to Cooper Kupp was underthrown, poorly played by Jamal Adams, but beautifully caught by Kupp. That set up another field goal and another make for Matt Gay. 6-3 Rams.

Pick-six by Darious Williams on a quick screen intended for DK Metcalf. 13-3 Rams.

But back came Wilson and Metcalf on some backyard football. From his own 49, Wilson scrambled away from Troy Hill and found DK deep down the field for a 51-yard touchdown to put them right back into the game. 13-10 Rams.

Cam Akers had a catch-and-run of 44 yards on a 3rd and 9 to once again put Los Angeles deep into field goal range. Instead of a FG they got a touchdown, as Akers scored from five yards out on an easy run up the middle. 20-10 Rams.

The Seahawks thought they had a fumble recovery when Cam Akers carried the ball in an effort to run out the clock. It was not remotely close to a fumble and then the worse news was that Bobby Wagner left the game with a left knee injury, but thankfully he returned a few moments later.

2nd Half

DJ Reed returned the opening kick 58 yards to the Rams’ 41. A huge play to start the 2nd half and much needed. But the Seahawks only gained seven yards and settled for a 52-yard Jason Myers field goal. You know he made it. 20-13 Rams.

The Rams went three-and-out after a Jarran Reed sack of Jared Goff for the second time on the afternoon. Seattle ended up punting it back after Wilson missed an open DK Metcalf on third down with Aaron Donald in his face. Donald ended up injuring his ribs on this play after Wilson landed on him and as a result he did not return.

Punts upon punts upon punts by both teams. I’m not even sure the 3rd quarter is ever going to end. It actually did with the Rams getting a big throw from Goff to Robert Woods into Seattle territory. They continued the drive into the 4th quarter and ended up with a 36-yard field goal by Matt Gay. 23-13 Rams with 11:33 to go.

Another Pocic hold put the Seahawks in 1st and 20. A 3rd and 1 run with Carson went nowhere and instead of going for it on 4th and 1 they punted on 4th and 6 after a false start that nearly was a delay of game. DJ Reed fumbled the ensuing punt return after a Rams three-and-out. Rams ball. And a touchdown from Goff to Robert Woods. 30-13 Rams with 4:46 to go.

The Seahawks finally bothered to do offense in garbage time with DK Metcalf scoring his second touchdown on the day. 30-20 Seahawks with 2:23 left.

The Rams recovered the onside kick and then made Seattle burn two timeouts. The defense got the 4th and 1 stop on the Goff sneak to get it back with 1:55 to go. Wilson got sacked twice. Haha. Sums it all up. 30-20 Rams FINAL.

Next week’s opponent

The offseason.