Rams squeeze past Seahawks

The Los Angeles Rams needed all sixty minutes to secure first place in the NFC West, defeating their division rival Seattle Seahawks by a final score of 21–19. The victory capped off their fifth straight win and showcased the kind of complete, complementary football that has made this Rams team so enjoyable to watch and cover on a weekly basis.

Offensively, this wasn’t the highest-scoring outing of the season, but the Rams still found the end zone three times. Matthew Stafford continued his strong stretch of play, throwing two touchdown passes, bringing his season total to 27. Kyren Williams opened the scoring with a physical touchdown run, while Davante Adams and Colby Parkinson hauled in Stafford’s two scoring throws.

However, the story of the day belongs to the defense. The Rams’ secondary smothered Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold, who threw four interceptions. Darious Williams led the way with two picks, while Kam Kinchens and Cobie Durant each added one of their own. The Rams seem to have Darnold’s number throughout the agme. Head Coach Sean McVay and the team have faced Darnold four times in the past, with the last time being with the Vikings in the Wild Card Round last season—and Darnold lost that matchup as well.

The most nerve-wracking moment came on the final play of the game, when Seahawks kicker Jason Myers attempted a 61-yard field goal to steal the win. His kick sailed wide, and with that miss, the Rams officially claimed the division lead in dramatic fashion. The Rams are now 8-2 and lead the NFC West.

Next up, the Rams return home to SoFi Stadium for a Primetime showdown next Sunday against another NFC playoff contender, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. With five straight victories, the question now becomes: Can the Rams make it six in a row?