The Los Angeles Rams had the defensive mindset to give the Seahawks their third loss of the season. Their defense gave Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson six sacks and two interceptions in the 23-16 victory.
“We played a good game,” said Rams corner Jalen Ramsey. “We pride ourselves on being a defensive team.”
Rams quarterback Jarred Goff completed 27 passes for 302 yards. Running back Malcolm Brown scored two touchdown runs while running back Cam Akers had 38 rushing yards. Wide receiver Josh Reynolds had 94 receiving yards and linebacker Micah Kiser made 10 solo tackles.
While the defensive end was the key behind the win, the Rams offense went scoreless in the fourth quarter. Players said that they have to be more consistent by working on their fundamentals and attention to details.
“If we were able to finish those drives with a touchdown, it would be a much different outcome,” Rams quarterback Jarred Goff said. “Scoring 35 instead of 23 would have been tremendous.”
Seattle quarterback Russell Wilson had 248 passing yards and 60 rushing yards. Wideout Tyler Lockett had five catches for 66 yards and safety D.J. Reed Jr. had 10 solo tackles and one tackle for loss.
Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll noticed the team played better in the second half but it was too little too late.
“We have to not give stuff up, and we made enough mistakes here that we were giving plays to teams that are executing well,” Carroll said. “We moved the ball well early on offense and then we struggled. It was a hard game.”
The Rams advanced down the field through small plays until Goff created a 31-yard pass to wide receiver Cooper Kupp. The Seahawk defense denied the Rams a touchdown, but L.A. got on the scoreboard with a field goal.
Wilson came on the field and launched two 20+ yard passes. Practice team running back Alex Collins made a 13-yard run to the endzone, giving the Seahawks a 7-3 lead.
The Rams offense responded with Goff relying on tight end Tyler Higbee’s catches to advance. On two plays, they gained a combined 43 yards. Rams rusher Darrell Henderson Jr. scored a touchdown with a one-yard carry.
The Rams defense intensified, forcing Wilson to throw two bad passes; he picked up an intentional grounding penalty that pushed the Seahawks back 11 yards.
Brown also made catches and rushes in the second quarter. On a third down, Brown hurdled a defender to give the Rams their second touchdown of the day.
Wilson then executed a flee flicker play that resulted in a 39-yard gain. The Rams defense forced the Seahawks to lose yards and Ramsey denied running back Travis Homer from making a first down. Seattle settled for a field goal to bring them within 10 points of the Rams.
At the Los Angeles 33-yard line, Goff lost the ball to strong safety Jamal Adams. The Seahawks offense returned to the field.
On a second down, Wilson began a scramble play, but chose to send a pass to tight end Will Dissly; Rams corner Darious Williams picked him off in the endzone.
“I should’ve just took off and just ran it,” Wilson said. “I saw (TE Will) Dissly sneak out early, I just stepped up, slid and I thought I still had him and so, you know, it was just a bad decision.”
The defense on both teams was strong in the final minutes of the second quarter. Adams sacked Goff for a loss of five yards while linebacker Terrell Lewis sacked Wilson. The first half ended with Seattle kicker Jason Myers kicking a 61-yard field goal, the Seahawks trailed the Rams 13-17.
Los Angeles escaped from three third downs before Brown made a one-yard touchdown. Rams linebacker Leonard Floyd sacked Wilson twice, forcing their offense off the field. Seahawks defensive tackle Poona Ford made trouble for Goff, sacking him for an eight-yard loss.
To begin the fourth quarter, Wilson fumbled and Floyd recovered to give the Rams possession. Yet, the Seattle defense refused the Rams a first down.
After three first downs, the Seahawks were midfield. Wilson targeted tight end Greg Olsen, but Williams committed a second interception and made a 19-yard return. The Rams started in Seattle’s territory, but their defense stifled them from going beyond 10 yards.
With a little over three minutes left in regulation, the Seahawks began their final possession of the game. After a slew of short advances and a -10-yard sack by defensive lineman Michael Brokers, Myers scored a field goal to finalize the Seattle score at 16.
The Rams will battle quarterback Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for Monday Night Football on November 23 at 5:15P.M. PST.
