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Nick Scott’s late interception helps Rams secure 26-17 victory over Seahawks
Rams safety Nick Scott intercepted a pass from Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith just before the two-minute warning to help secure a 26-17 victory for the Rams at Lumen Field on Thursday night.
Matt Gay kicked a 47-yard field goal for the Rams with 24 seconds left to put the game out of reach for Seattle.
Seahawks linebacker Carlos Dunlap II made a huge block on a third-and-eight pass from Matthew Stafford with 2:22 left to give the Seahawks another chance to win the game. Smith, however, threw an interception on the next play while targeting Tyler Lockett. Scott limped off the field after making the game-saving play for the Rams.
Matthew Stafford, who was battling an index finger injury on his right hand most of the game, completed 25 of 37 passes for 365 yards, a touchdown and an interception. Rams wide receiver Robert Woods caught 12 passes for 150 yards and Darrell Henderson led all rushers with 78 yards and a touchdown on 16 carries.
Stafford told Fox Sports’ Erin Andrew after the game that his index finger “popped out” during the game.
Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson, who left the game in the fourth quarter with an injury to his right middle finger, completed 11 of 16 passes for 152 yards, a touchdown and an interception.
The Rams (4-1) will play at the New York Giants next on Oct. 17. The Seahawks fall to 2-3 on the season.
Seahawks add field goal late in fourth quarter
Seattle’s Jason Myers kicked a 32-yard field goal with 2:49 left in the fourth to cut into the Rams’ 23-17 lead.
Myers field goal came at the end of an 11-play, 46-yard drive led by quarterback Geno Smith, who’s playing for the injured Russell Wilson (finger). Smith has performed well filling in for Wilson, connecting on his first touchdown pass since 2017 earlier in the fourth quarter.
Rams cornerback Darious Williams sustained an ankle injury on the drive and was ruled out for the remainder of the game.
Two big catches by Cooper Kupp lead to another Rams TD
Sony Michel scored on a two-yard touchdown run to help give the Rams a 23-14 lead over the Seahawks with 6:08 remaining in the fourth quarter.
The six-play, 73-yard drive was spearheaded by wide receiver Cooper Kupp, who caught an underthrown pass for 33 yards before making a 13-yard catch to put the Rams on Seahawks’ 2-yard line.
Seahawks backup QB Geno Smith leads scoring drive with Russell Wilson injured
Seahawks backup quarterback Geno Smith, playing for the injured Russell Wilson, completed a 23-yard touchdown pass to DK Metcalf to make it 16-14 Rams with 9:16 left in the fourth quarter.
It was Smith’s first NFL touchdown pass since 2017 when he played for the New York Giants. He orchestrated a 10-play, 98-yard drive that included a 17-yard pass to Metcalf and a 21-yard completion to Will Dissly on five-for-five passing.
Aaron Donald becomes Rams’ all-time sacks leader; Russell Wilson injured
Rams 16, Seahawks 7 — 13:35 fourth quarter
Rams pass rusher Aaron Donald became the Rams’ all-time sacks leader when he took down Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson in the fourth quarter.
Wilson is struggling with an injury to his right middle finger on his throwing hand — an injury he sustained earlier in the quarter when he hit Donald’s arm on a pass attempt. Seahawks backup Geno Smith took over for Wilson, who is listed as questionable to return, at the start of the fourth quarter.
Rams can’t catch a break on Seahawks’ double punt
Seahawks punter Michael Dickson pulled off one of the more usual feats of the NFL season when he picked up a blocked punt and managed to kick the ball beyond the line of scrimmage.
The play was reviewed and deemed legal, negating Jamir Jones’ blocked punt and prime field position. Instead the Rams got the ball inside their own 20 after the second punt.
According to the official NFL officiating Twitter account, the second punt was deemed legal because it happened behind the line of scrimmage. But the line of scrimmage was near the 21-yard line and it appears Dickson kicks the ball beyond the line. The Rams did not challenge the call.
Tyler Higbee touchdown gives Rams a 16-7 lead in the third quarter
Matthew Stafford completed a 13-yard touchdown pass to Tyler Higbee to help give the Rams a 16-7 lead over the Seattle Seahawks with 4:46 left in the third quarter.
Darrell Henderson set up the touchdown, weaving his way through the Seahawks’ defense on a 29-yard run that put L.A. into the red zone. Robert Woods did his part, too, catching a pair of 20-yard passes. Woods has 10 receptions for 123 yards tonight.
Stafford isn’t the only one dealing with finger issues. Russell Wilson sustained a right middle finger injury when he hit the arm of Rams pass rusher Aaron Donald while making a pass. Wilson remained in the game despite the injury.
Rams take lead on Darrell Henderson touchdown run
Rams 9, Seahawks 7 — 7:56 second quarter
Darrell Henderson vaulted the Rams into the lead, scoring on a five-yard touchdown run to cap an eight-play, 96-yard drive for L.A.
A 68-yard reception by DeSean Jackson set up Henderson’s scoring run two plays later.
Matt Gay, however, missed the extra-point attempt, hitting the right upright.
Seahawks hold 7-3 lead over Rams at halftime
Seahawks 7, Rams 3 — halftime
A costly holding penalty and a missed 35-yard field-goal attempt by the Seattle Seahawks in the closing seconds of the first half might be the momentum swing the Rams need to break out in the second half.
After Matt Gay’s field goal, the Seahawks blazed through the Rams’ defense with a hurry-up attack that moved them to the L.A. 17. A holding penalty by Seattle’s Duane Brown negated a touchdown reception by Tyler Lockett. Two plays later, Jason Myers was wide left on a field-goal attempt to keep the Rams’ four-point deficit in place.
Both teams have struggled to find pace on offense. Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford has completed 13 of 19 passes for 131 yards and an interception while dealing with an injury to his right index finger. Russell Wilson is eight for 11 for 133 yards, with a touchdown and an interception. Sony Michel has 35 yards on nine carries and Robert Woods leads all receivers with six catches for 67 yards.
Matt Gay’s field goal makes it 7-3 Seahawks late in the second quarter
Seahawks 7, Rams 3 — 1:08 second quarter
Rams kicker Matt Gay converted on a 31-yard field goal as Matthew Stafford was being looked at on the sideline by team trainers late for an apparent hand injury late in the second quarter. It doesn’t appear the injury will keep Stafford out of the game.
Seahawks defensive end Al Woods stuffed Sony Michel on third-and-one to end what was a 13-play, 63-yard drive from reaching the end zone. Short passes and plenty of carries by Michel on drive gave it very Jared Goff-like feel.
Rams tight end Tyler Higbee sustained a shoulder injury on the drive and is listed as questionable to return.
Costly Rams pass interference penalty leads to Seahawks touchdown
Seahawks 7, Rams 0 — 9:04 second quarter
A 47-yard pass interference penalty by Rams rookie cornerback Robert Rochell led to a 19-yard touchdown reception by DK Metcalf to help give the Seattle Seahawks the lead.
Trying to cover Tyler Lockett on a deep route, Rochell pulled down the Seattle Seahawks wide receiver, who had the cornerback beat. The penalty probably prevented a Seahawks touchdown, but it put Seattle into the red zone for the first time.
Two plays later, Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson than connected on a speedy pass right through the middle to Metcalf, who battled his way into the end zone from about three yards out.
Rams defense responds to interception with an interception
A little teamwork from Jalen Ramsey and Troy Reeder paid off big for the Rams in the second quarter.
Seattle’s third possession of the game ended with Reeder picking off a Russell Wilson pass that was deflected off a contested pass between Tyler Lockett and Ramsey.
Unfortunately for the Rams, the interception led to another subpar drive that sputtered out at midfield after an apparent miscommunication on the line resulted in Darrell Henderson only picking up two yards on third-and-10.
Matthew Stafford throws costly interception in scoreless game
Rams 0, Seahawks 0 — 12:53 second quarter
Seattle Seahawks safety Quandre Diggs picked off Matthew Stafford in the back of the end zone on what looked to be a bad throwaway pass, thwarting the Rams’ best scoring chance of the game so far.
Diggs managed to get both of his fee down as he corralled the errant pass and ran out of bounds. It looked like Stafford was trying to either pass to Darrell Henderson or throw the ball over the end zone. TV cameras showed Stafford shaking his head on the sideline after the play.
After the Rams struggled to find momentum on their first two possessions, they finally found their groove as the first quarter drew to a close. Darrell Henderson started off possession No. 3 with a 10-yard run before catching a 17-yard pass for another first down. After Stafford was sacked by Darrell Taylor, he connected on back-to-back passes to Robert Woods for 17 and 25 yards to put the Rams into the red zone for the first time.
Diggs’ interception brought the drive to abrupt end.
Seahawks gamble and Aaron Donald calls their bluff
Rams 0, Seahawks 0 — 2:59 first quarter
Aaron Donald and Leonard Floyd stuffed Seahawks running back Alex Collins on fourth-and-two on the Rams’ 31-yard line to bring the best drive of the game to unceremonious end for Seattle.
Seahawks coach Pete Carroll opted not to go for a 47-yard field-goal try, will that decision prove costly later in the game?
Prior to Seattle’s questionable decision, the Seahawks were driving thanks to Russell Wilson’s Houdini-like skills in the pocket.
Offensively, Matthew Stafford and the Rams have struggled to get much traction on offense so far. Seattle’s secondary and some missed passes by Stafford have prevented the Rams from driving past midfield on its first two possessions.
Matthew Stafford ready to experience Rams-Seahawks rivalry
The NFC West rivalry between the Rams and the Seattle Seahawks intensified in 2017, when the Rams under first-year coach Sean McVay tipped the division’s balance of power by winning the first of two consecutive titles.
The San Francisco 49ers won in 2019 before the Seahawks reclaimed the title last season.
Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford played the previous 12 seasons with the Detroit Lions, yet the Rams-Seahawks dynamic apparently reverberated across the league.
“I could feel it from afar,” Stafford said Tuesday, adding, “It’s exciting to get my first taste of it.”
Stafford’s opportunity will come Thursday night when the Rams play the Seahawks at Lumen Field in Seattle.
Inactives for Rams and Seattle Seahawks
Here are the inactives for the Rams and Seahawks ahead of Thursday’s game at Lumen Field in Seattle.
Rams can’t afford to fall asleep in Seattle with Russell Wilson running around
SEATTLE — The Rams are only a few days removed from helplessly allowing Kyler Murray to dissect them as a passer and runner.
Now, here comes Russell Wilson.
Long before Murray and other next-gen mobile quarterbacks took the NFL by storm, Wilson established the template.
The Seattle Seahawks star, a Super Bowl champion and 10th-year pro, might not scramble as much at age 32, but he remains one of the league’s biggest challenges.
“Russell Wilson is his own breed,” Rams defensive coordinator Raheem Morris said.
Rams vs. Seattle Seahawks: NFL betting picks, odds and analysis
Los Angeles Rams (-2, 54.5) at Seattle Seahawks
Early bettors seemed to think so. The Rams opened -1 for the short-week road game and have grown into a slightly bigger favorite. There is an interesting narrative swimming around about the Cardinals being the best team in football. It would appear those feelings are allowing bettors to give the Rams a pass for last week’s performance.
You can really take a glass half-full and a glass half-empty approach to last week. The Rams had three turnovers (one on downs) and the Cardinals scored 13 points off those. Los Angeles also punted in plus territory on fourth and three and missed a field-goal attempt. The Cardinals took advantage of every little mistake from the Rams.
Seattle won last week, but the box score tells a different story. The 49ers nearly doubled the Seahawks in yards (457-234) and had two more yards per play. The Seahawks won with just 129 net passing yards from Russell Wilson. The Seahawks also allowed more yards per play than their season average on defense and found a way to win. Usually you want to go against a team like that the next week.
Rams vs. Seahawks matchups: Matthew Stafford looks to bounce back
Breaking down how the Rams (3-1) and the Seattle Seahawks (2-2) match up heading into their game at 5:20 p.m. Pacific time Thursday in Seattle. The game will be carried on Fox (Channel 11).
When the Rams have the ball: The Rams and quarterback Matthew Stafford are looking to bounce back after scoring only one touchdown before the outcome was all but decided in a 37-20 defeat at home to the Arizona Cardinals in an NFC West game. Stafford has passed for 11 touchdowns, with two interceptions. Receiver Cooper Kupp remains Stafford’s favorite target. Kupp has 30 catches on 46 targets. Receiver Robert Woods has 15 receptions on 25 targets. Tight end Tyler Higbee also has 15 catches. Running back Darrell Henderson returned from a rib injury that sidelined him for one game and rushed for 89 yards in 14 carries against the Cardinals. He appeared on his way to more until coach Sean McVay abandoned the running game. Henderson could play a more prominent role against a Seahawks defense that is giving up a league-worst 152 yards rushing per game. Perennial All-Pro linebacker Bobby Wagner is a cornerstone for a unit that also features safety Jamal Adams, the NFL’s highest-paid player at his position. Defensive end Darrell Taylor has three sacks. The Seahawks have recovered three fumbles but this is not a typical Pete Carroll defense causing multiple turnovers. Safety Quandre Diggs has the Seahawks’ only interception.