The Seattle Seahawks (11-4) are NFC West Champions! Let’s celebrate!
With a brilliant, wire-to-wire defense performance that bolstered Seattle’s improvement on that side of the field, the Seahawks kept the Los Angeles Rams (9-6) out of the final zone and the offense went into the second half. woke up to turn a halftime score of 6-6 to a 20-9 victory. Seattle is still alive for the # 1 seed and is guaranteed to be no worse than # 3, given the deplorable condition of the NFC East.
Russell Wilson overcame a slow start with a hurried touch and a dagger from a passing touch with Jacob Hollister, while Jared Goff was sacked three times and threw an interception.
What a performance!
1st half
The Rams got the ball first and went three-and-out with a bad field position. That put the Seahawks on their own 46. Russell Wilson was lucky not to throw a sixth-place finish for Darious Williams in third place, and the Seahawks certainly packed it back up again. Jared Goff converted the third round of the Rams’ next possession, but an inaccurate throw to Van Jefferson led to a 44-yard goal from Matt Gay. 3-0 Frame.
Both teams exchanged points as the quarter came to an end and the defense remained above all. Russell Wilson got a little rhythm and took the Seahawks into the goal area. He should have touched Jacob Hollister on the bike path, but it was off target and Hollister might have bumped on the way there. Wilson was fired in third place and Jason Myers equalized. 3-3.
Robert Woods and Cooper Kupp reached the Rams in field goal. Jamal Adams dropped an interception on a throw intended for Tyler Higbee, but the Seattle defense held the Rams by Matt Gay to a 51-year-old. 6-3 Frame.
Since the Seahawks attack did nothing, the defense still played its hole. The Rams initially had a three-and-out series, only for Ryan Neal to turn a point-block attempt into a drive extension that breached the penalty kick. Once again in the field goal, Jared Goff threw on the flight and Quandre Diggs was the only one in the camera frame with the chance to catch the ball. Fifth pick of the year for Pro Bowl safety.
The Seahawks turned it into a field goal. DK Metcalf had a 17-year conversion in third place in the FG series. Wilson takes down a third bag as usual. 6-6 with 1:04 until halftime.
Another three-and-out by the Rams meant the Seahawks got the ball back with: 42 left and two endurance, but a pretty scratchy field position. The ride was a mess and they went to rest.
2nd half
A brilliant start from the dressing room. Wilson hit David Moore 45 yards on a third and eighth lead. Another third-time conversion to Carlos Hyde gives the Seahawks a first goal. Russell scrambled to his left for four yards and six points! 13-6 Seahawks.
The Rams came back and finally their offense came into the red zone for the first time all afternoon. Jamal Adams saved an attack when Darrell Henderson had the lead but was chased (and unfortunately injured) at the 1. Four cracks in the end zone, all runs, and the Seahawks defense made the stand! Jordyn Brooks in the middle of it all fills Malcolm Brown on 4th and goal.
A Seahawks three-and-out result resulted in a point being folded, but the Rams somehow recovered it. So the Rams got the ball at the Seahawks ’44 for their best starting position of the day. Seattle held them against a field goal, with Alton Robinson getting a key bag. 13-9 Seahawks with 12:49 left.
It looked like Seattle had a critical 3rd and 1st conversion with Chris Carson, but DK Metcalf had an illegal innings penalty that ignored the game. The third and sixth games were a throwaway and so Seattle scored a point. The Rams are in midfield after a nice run by Malcolm Brown and a great catch-and-run by Josh Reynolds. Jarran Reed fired Jared Goff at 2 and 10 and the 3rd and 12 throws were incomplete. Seahawks ball back on their own 20 with 7:20 to go.
First down to Lockett, first down by Carson, and first down to Lockett to the Rams ’35. Just like that! Another third torque conversion to DK Metcalf drained the watch more and placed it in a comfortable field goal distance. A big third and fourth place for the Seahawks with 2:56 left after a Rams timeout. AND WILSON FIND JACOB HOLLISTER FOR A TOUCHDOWN! A 9-play, 80-yard, 4:29 drive. 20-9 Seahawks with 2:51 left.
Josh Reynolds “surrendered” by catching the ball and then dropping the ball. It’s a theory in theory, but Reynolds decided not to catch and run. I assume this is not a turnover. Sean McVay was furious at what he thought was a lost ploy, and they lost 15 yards with the bench penalty. Jarran Reed fired Goff again to force 4th and 20th, which they could not convert. Game, set and section title! 20-9 Seahawks.
Seahawks Injury Report
CB Jayson Stanley did not return with a hamstring injury.
DT Jarran Reed apparently aggravated a chest injury again in the 4th quarter. He gets up and walks away. Then he returned to beat Goff again.
Next week’s opponent
The Seahawks end the regular season against the San Francisco 49ers (6-9) at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, AZ. The kick-off time is 13:25 PT on Sunday 3 January on FOX.