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Fast Facts: Seahawks fall to Rams 20-10, guaranteeing losing season
A win for the Seahawks on Tuesday night in Los Angeles was absolutely necessary to keep their slim playoff hopes alive.
For a myriad of reasons, it didn’t work out the way Seattle needed.
Rams 20, Seahawks 10: Instant Reaction | 5 Moments That Sink Hawks | Stats
The Seahawks struggled to get their passing game going with star receiver Tyler Lockett out due to COVID-19, penalties and non-calls happened at the worst times for Seattle, and the Rams won 20-10 to guarantee the Seahawks their first losing season since 2011.
With the defeat, Seattle falls to 5-9, meaning the best they can do is 8-9 in the new 17-game NFL schedule.
The Rams improved to 10-4, moving into a tie with Arizona for first place in the NFC West.
Rost: It’s been that kind of year for Seahawks
The game was the first on a Tuesday in Seahawks history. It was postponed from Sunday due to the Rams’ issues related to COVID-19 late last week, as at one point 29 players were on LA’s reserve/COVID-19 list. The Seahawks’ roster was depleted for the game, as well, with seven players missing the game due to the virus.
Check out the fast facts from the game below.
Scoring plays and highlights
• First half
Defense was the story of the first two quarters as the game reached halftime knotted at 3-3.
Seattle might have gone into the break with a small lead had it not been for a running into the kicker call on a Rams punt that would have ended the first drive of the game. Instead, the 5-yard penalty brought Los Angeles just into kicker Matt Gay’s range, and he was good from 55 yards to put the Rams ahead 3-0.
The Seahawks struggled to get going on offense, but they showed enough life late in the second quarter to get on the scoreboard. On three straight plays to open the series, Russell Wilson found Gerald Everett for 11 yards, DeeJay Dallas for 9, and Everett again for 34 to get into field goal range.
A little @DangeRussWilson magic 🪄
📺 #SEAvsLAR on FOX pic.twitter.com/jreYf9UQq7
— Seattle Seahawks (@Seahawks) December 22, 2021
The Hawks stalled out, unfortunately, but Jason Myers was able to just sneak a 39-yard kick inside an upright to tie the score 3-3 with 10 seconds left in the half.
Los Angeles may have found the end zone early in the second quarter, but Seahawks safety Quandre Diggs picked off Matthew Stafford on the first play of the frame near the goal line on a pass from the Seattle 32. It was Diggs’ fifth interception of the season, tying his career high, and second this year against Stafford, his former Detroit Lions teammate.
Quandre Diggs gets his 5th interception of the season 🙌 @qdiggs6 #Seahawks
📺: #SEAvsLAR— 7pm ET on FOX
📱: NFL app pic.twitter.com/vgtR874svg— NFL (@NFL) December 22, 2021
• Second half
The Seahawks built on their momentum from their final drive of the first half with one of their best offensive series of the entire season.
Rashaad Penny got things going with consecutive runs to get a first down, then passes of 9 and 25 yards to DK Metcalf and Freddie Swain, respectively, moved Seattle into Rams territory. Then it was Dallas’ turn, and he ran for a 25 combined yards on four runs, including a four-yard touchdown, to put the Seahawks ahead 10-3. Metcalf also hauled in an additional 12-yard pass from Wilson along the way. The long, sustained drive covered 75 yards on 10 plays and took 5:37 off the clock.
Go DeeJay. @Seahawks take a 10-3 lead! @DallasDeejay #Seahawks
📺: #SEAvsLAR on FOX
📱: NFL app pic.twitter.com/4DNvQjuDvo— NFL (@NFL) December 22, 2021
The lead didn’t last long, though.
The Rams answered quickly with a six-play, 86-yard drive, finding the end zone in just 2:52. Yakima native Cooper Kupp, the NFL’s leading receiver, caught a 32-yard pass from Stafford, which was immediately followed by a 39-yard Sony Michel run to get the Rams a first-and-goal. Stafford found Kupp two plays later for a 6-yard TD pass.
With this touchdown catch, @CooperKupp passes @IsaacBruce80 for the most receptions in a season in @RamsNFL history!
📺: #SEAvsLAR on FOX
📱: NFL app pic.twitter.com/WJO5l7c9Hq— NFL (@NFL) December 22, 2021
Stafford and Kupp weren’t done, either.
After a questionable defensive holding call on Seahawks cornerback Bless Austin negated a third down stop and let Los Angeles keep driving early in the fourth, Stafford eventually found Kupp on a 29-yard TD pass to put the Rams ahead 17-10. Michel had another long run, this time a 24-yarder, to help set up the score.
COOOOP!
This @CooperKupp guy is pretty good. @RamsNFL lead 17-10. #RamsHouse
📺: #SEAvsLAR on FOX
📱: NFL app pic.twitter.com/akZfmlS2u9— NFL (@NFL) December 22, 2021
Two more tough officiating breaks that didn’t go the Seahawks’ way sealed the game for Los Angeles. First, a false start was called on Penny ahead of a third-and-1 at LA’s 35, pushing Seattle back to third-and-6. Replays of Penny showed the smallest of movement. The Seahawks faced fourth-and-6 two plays later, and a seemingly obvious case of a defender interfering on a pass intended for Dallas wasn’t called, giving the Rams the ball back with a seven-point lead and just over three minutes to go. Making matters worse, an understandably frustrated Dallas kicked the ball after pleading for a pass interference call, resulting in a 15-yard unsportsmanlike penalty call.
Seattle had only itself to blame for an earlier missed opportunity on its previous drive, as a long pass intended for a wide open DK Metcalf was underthrown by Wilson, eventually leading to a punt.
The Rams added a 35-yard field goal by Gay to go up 20-10 inside of the final two minutes.
Key stats
Perhaps the biggest number was the Seahawks’ eight penalties for 65 yards compared to the Rams’ four for 34.
Los Angeles had the advantage in just about every team stat, including time of possession (35:06 to 24:54), total yards (332 to 214), and first downs (20 to 13).
Seattle QB Russell Wilson threw 17 of 31 for 156 yards, no touchdowns and one interception. He was sacked three times for a loss of 22 yards.
DeeJay Dallas and Rashaad Penny did all of the rushing for the Seahawks. Dallas had 41 yards and a touchdown on eight carries, while Penny had 39 yards on 11 attempts.
Tight end Gerald Everett led Seattle receivers with 60 yards on four catches against his former team. DK Metcalf had a team-high six catches for 52 yards.
Quandre Diggs made his fifth interception of the season, Carlos Dunlap had his first three-sack game with the Seahawks, and Jordyn Brooks made 11 tackles, including two tackles for loss. Rasheem Green added a sack.
Third sack of the game for @Carlos_Dunlap! 😤 #Seahawks
📺: #SEAvsLAR on FOX
📱: NFL app pic.twitter.com/NSDZccZipp— NFL (@NFL) December 22, 2021
Rams QB Matthew Stafford completed 21 of 29 passes for 244 yards, two touchdowns and a pick.
Cooper Kupp was Stafford’s favorite target, as is to be expected this season, hauling in nine receptions for 136 yards and both of LA’s TDs.
Sony Michel rushed 18 times for 92 yards.
The fearsome trio of Aaron Donald, Leonard Floyd and Von Miller combined for three sacks.
Bellingham native and UW Huskies product Taylor Rapp, a Rams safety, intercepted Wilson to effectively end the game.
Seahawks injury notes
Key Seahawks special teamer Jon Rhattigan left the game with a knee injury late in the first half.
Up next for the Seahawks
Because of the postponement of the Rams game to Tuesday, Seattle will have a quick turnaround before meeting the Chicago Bears (4-10) at 1:05 p.m. Sunday at Lumen Field. The good news for the Seahawks is that the Bears will be on short rest, too, as they lost to the Vikings 17-9 on Monday.
Coverage of Sunday’s game will begin on 710 ESPN Seattle and KIRO Radio 97.3 FM with the pregame show at 10 a.m.
Based on weather forecasts in the area, there is a strong chance it will be the third home Seahawks game ever in snowy conditions. Click the link below for more details.
