Examining Rams’ super collapse after season-closing overtime loss to Seattle
SEATTLE — As the defending Super Bowl champion Rams sank deeper and deeper into irrelevancy during their lost season, one thing remained constant.
Each week, as losses and injuries mounted, coach Sean McVay conducted a videoconference with reporters from his office, a message plastered on the wall above his head:
URGENT ENJOYMENT
Little, if anything, was enjoyable for McVay, who wore a pained or anxious expression throughout a disappointing season that ended Sunday with a 19-16 overtime defeat to the Seattle Seahawks at Lumen Field.
“This year has been, in my opinion from just what I can control, professional failure,” McVay said last week, clarifying a few days later, “That doesn’t mean that I feel like a failure. It means that we haven’t lived up to the expectations.”
How did a team that frolicked in celebratory confetti last February nosedive to a 5-12 record, the worst season-after performance by a Super Bowl champion in history? How did an organization that proclaimed its intention to “Run it Back” after winning the title at SoFi Stadium stumble instead to a season of ruin?
Bobby Wagner: I ‘silenced’ some of the ‘people who wrote me off’
SEATTLE — Fans at Lumen Field welcomed back Bobby Wagner with adoring hand-lettered signs. With a standing ovation as he approached midfield for the coin toss. And by chanting, “Bobby, Bobby” when it was done.
Other than the result of the game — a 19-16 overtime defeat to by the Rams to the Seattle Seahawks — Sunday was a nice homecoming for the Rams linebacker, a Seahawks star for 10 seasons before he was released last March.
“It’s fun playing in this stadium,” said Wagner, a six-time All-Pro who helped lead the Seahawks to a Super Bowl title. “We had a lot of great years. I’m grateful for the fans, grateful for the love they showed.”
Wagner made seven tackles in a game that wasn’t decided until Jason Myers kicked a 32-yard field goal with 4 minutes 43 seconds left in overtime.
The defending Super Bowl champion Rams finished 5-12, far from what Wagner anticipated when the Ontario native returned to Southern California.
Wagner, who was voted a team captain before the season and the team’s most valuable player before the finale, amassed 140 tackles, two shy of the franchise record held by former St. Louis Rams linebacker James Laurinaitis.
Wagner had six sacks and intercepted two passes against the Seahawks.
“There’s a lot of doubters, a lot of people that wrote me off before this year,” said Wagner, 32. “I think I silenced some of those.”
The Seahawks cut Wagner to save more than $16 million. Wagner has said he holds no ill will toward Seahawks coach Pete Carroll, Seahawks general manager John Schneider and Seahawks ownership.
But he clearly wanted to beat the Seahawks when they played in December and to spoil their playoff hopes Sunday.
Wagner came up short both times.
“I saw him in pregame, and we had some fun kind of punching at each other,” Carroll said after the game. “I thought he played really good again. He had some terrific plays. ... You know, bring out the best in him.”
After the Rams’ locker room cleared, Wagner went to the Seahawks locker room and shared a few quiet moments with Carroll in a hallway.
With one season as a Ram behind him, Wagner sounded eager for another.
“I’m grateful and I’m excited,” he said. “I’m healthy and I’m ready to do it again.”
Rams safety Russ Yeast hospitalized with a pulmonary contusion
Rookie safety Russ Yeast was taken to the hospital by ambulance because of a pulmonary contusion and was in stable condition, coach Sean McVay said.
Yeast started in place of injured Nick Scott. He made three tackles, including one for a loss before he was injured.
Yeast is expected to be hospitalized overnight as a precaution, a team spokesperson said.
A team trainer accompanied Yeast to the hospital during the game, and cornerback Jalen Ramsey and defensive backs coach Chris Shula and Jonathan Cooley went to the hospital after the game to be with Yeast, the spokesperson said.
Rams fall to Seahawks in overtime, ending the season at 5-12
🏈Seahawks 19, Rams 16 — FINAL (OT)
Seattle’s Jason Myers kicked a 32-yard field goal in overtime to keep the Seahawks’ playoff hopes alive and end the Super Bowl-defending champion Rams’ season at 5-12.
A 17-yard catch by Tyler Lockett and a 20-yard run by Kenneth Walker III moved Seattle into the red zone, setting up the winning field goal.
The Rams’ efforts to win the game in overtime were thwarted when Seattle safety Quandre Diggs picked off Baker Mayfield on a deep pass intended for Van Jefferson. Diggs was not called for an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty when he taunted former Seahawks teammate Bobby Wagner after making the catch.
Cam Akers rushed for 104 yards in 21 carries, eclipsing the 100-yard mark for the third consecutive game. Mayfield completed 13 of 26 passes for 147 yards and Jefferson made three catches for 61 yards.
Seattle quarterback Geno Smith completed 19 of 31 passes for 213 yards, with one touchdown and two interceptions — both by Jalen Ramsey. Walker rushed for 114 yards in 29 carries.
The Seahawks still need help to reach the postseason. They’ll make the playoffs if the Green Bay Packers lose to the Detroit Lions on Sunday Night Football.
Jason Myers sends field-goal try off upright, sending game into overtime
🏈 Rams 16, Seahawks 16 — END OF REGULATION
Seattle’s Jason Myers kicked a 46-yard field-goal attempt off the right upright as time expired in regulation, sending the game to overtime.
A costly unnecessary roughness penalty on Jalen Ramsey helped the Seahawks drive to the Rams’ 28 before Myers clanked the field-goal attempt. It was only the third time this season Myers had missed a field-goal attempt.
Seattle needs to beat the Rams to stay in the NFC playoff picture.
Roughing the kicker penalty on Rams helps Seahawks take lead
🏈 Rams 16, Seahawks 16 — 2:19 left in the fourth quarter
A controversial roughing the kicker penalty on Rams defensive tackle Jonah Williams allowed the Seahawks to sustain a drive and tie the score on a 22-yard field goal by Jason Myers late in the fourth quarter.
The Rams slowed down the Seahawks when they reached the red zone, with Seattle unable to punch it in after achieve first-and-goal from the Rams’ five-yard line.
Can Baker Mayfield and Cam Akers help the Rams pull off a win and deny the Seahawks’ playoff aspirations?
Matt Gay kicks his third field goal to give Rams lead again
🏈 Rams 16, Seahawks 13 — 4:13 left in the third quarter
Matt Gay kicked a 36-yard field goal to put the Rams back in front.
The Rams drove 62 yards in nine plays before the drive stalled.
Baker Mayfield completed passes of 14 yards to receiver Van Jefferson and 21 yards to receiver Tutu Atwell as the Rams moved to the Seahawks’ 19 yard line.
Cam Akers rushed for four yards, Mayfield for another before the Seahawks pressured Mayfield into throwing away a third-down pass.
Mayfield has completed 10 of 18 passes for 127 yards.
Gay has kicked three field goals.
Geno Smith connects with Tyler Lockett on 36-yard TD pass
🏈 Rams 13, Seahawks 13 — 9:09 left in the third quarter
Geno Smith connected with receiver Tyler Lockett for a 36-yard touchdown pass to tie the score.
The Seahawks drove 88 yards in five plays, Smith completing passes of 15 yards to tight end Colby Parkinson and 23 yards to receiver DK Metcalf before running back Kenneth Walker III rushed for 15 yards to set up the touchdown pass.
Smith has completed 11 of 16 passes for 120 yards and a touchdown, with an interception.
Tutu Atwell scores touchdown to give Rams halftime lead
🏈 Rams 13, Seahawks 6 — HALFTIME
Receiver Tutu Atwell scored on an 11-yard reverse with 39 seconds left to give the Rams momentum going into halftime.
Atwell’s run capped a nine-play, 87-yard drive that included several key passes by quarterback Baker Mayfield.
Van Jefferson had a 35-yard reception and tight end Tyler Higbee had a 17-yard catch. Receiver Brandon Powell also had a 15-yard run.
Mayfield has completed seven of 12 passes for 88 yards.
Geno Smith has completed eight of 13 passes for 46 yards, with an interception.
Rams running back Cam Akers has rushed for 59 yards in nine carries. He also has three receptions for 24 yards.
Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III has rushed for 41 yards in 10 carries.
Matt Gay of the Rams and Jason Myers of the Seahawks each have kicked two field goals.
Cam Akers breaks off 32-yard run to help Rams tie game
🏈 Rams 6, Seahawks 6 — 11:58 left in second quarter
Cam Akers continues his late-season roll.
Akers broke off a 32-yard run to the Seahawks’ 34-yard line. But the drive ended with a sack and Matt gay came on to kick a 45-yard field goal.
Akers, who has rushed for more than 100 yards in each of the last two games, has gained 43 yards in five carries.
Seahawks take the lead on Jason Meyers field goal
🏈 Seahawks 6, Rams 3 — End of the first quarter
Pro Bowl kicker Jason Myers kicked a 36-yard field goal to give the Seahawks the lead.
The Seahawks got the ball at the Rams’ 49-yard line after DeeJay Dallas returned a punt 20 yards.
Quarterback Geno Smith scrambled twice and the Seahawks moved to the 28. But a false start penalty on third down stalled the drive.
Smith has completed four of six passes for 20 yards.
Seahawks field goal ties game in first quarter
🏈 Rams 3, Seahawks 3 — 7:09 left in the first quarter
Jason Myers kicked a 37-yard field goal to tie the score.
The Seahawks were on the move after running back DeeJay Dallas broke off a 29-yard run to the Rams’ 14-yard line.
But cornerback Troy Hill broke up a third-down pass intended for DK Metcalf, forcing the Seahawks to settle for the field goal.
Kenneth Walker III had rushed for 26 yards in five carries.
Jalen Ramsey interception helps Rams jump out to early lead
🏈 Rams 3, Seahawks 0 — 13:28 left in the first quarter
Rams cornerback Jalen Ramsey intercepted a pass by Geno Smith on the first play of the game, but the Rams could not convert it into a touchdown, settling instead for Matt Gay’s 22-yard field goal.
Ramsey intercepted the pass over the middle and returned it 33 yards to the Seahawks’ 11-yard line.
Baker Mayfield’s pass on first down was tipped by linebacker Uchenna Nwosu and Cam Akers ran the ball twice before Gay came on for the field goal.
It was Ramsey’s third interception of the season.
NFL readers Q&A: Have the Rams learned any lessons from this season?
Will the Rams take the lessons learned from this past season and use their first draft pick in the second round of the NFL draft in April on an offensive lineman?
Brian Haueter, Ventura
Klein: Offensive linemen will be a priority for the Rams, but that does not necessarily mean they will choose a lineman with their first pick in the draft. They did that last year when they selected offensive lineman Logan Bruss with their first pick — and then saw him suffer a season-ending knee injury during the preseason. The Rams no doubt must improve that position group, but the draft is not the only means. Trades and free-agent signings are other routes.
For Rams’ Brandon Powell, Damar Hamlin situation releases a lot of emotions
Rams receiver Brandon Powell got to know Damar Hamlin during training camp with the Buffalo Bills in 2021.
Powell did not make the roster, but Hamlin, a rookie safety, left an impression.
“He was always in a good mood,” Powell said Thursday. “On the field he was always working hard, flying around, celebrating.
“Just a guy who makes you want to work. If you’re playing against him, you better bring it.”
Hamlin, 24, this week went into cardiac arrest and was resuscitated on the field during a game against the Cincinnati Bengals on “Monday Night Football.”
Rams will try to end season by eliminating Seahawks from playoff picture
SEATTLE — The Rams’ lost season ends Sunday, and though the defending Super Bowl champions will not play in the postseason, they can still affect the playoff race.
A Rams victory over Seattle at Lumen Field would end the Seahawks’ bid for a playoff berth.
Not exactly stakes equivalent to playing for the Lombardi Trophy, but that’s the situation for an injury-ravaged, 5-11 team in the final stage of a Super Bowl hangover.
“The main thing is to beat Seattle so that they can be going home too — keep them out of the playoffs,” edge rusher Leonard Floyd said.
‘You can’t suppress it.’ Rams’ Matt Skura shares painful story of his dad’s death by suicide
The weight has been unimaginable, a burden far bigger than a rushing defensive lineman, attacking with far more ferocity, and sometimes Matt Skura fights simply to stay on his feet.
While helping carry the Rams through this difficult season, the massive offensive lineman has struggled with the far more challenging task of carrying himself.
“Sometimes it gets to you,” he says tearfully. “The guilt.”
Last spring, Skura texted his father, Doug, with the news that he would be driving up from Charlotte, N.C., to Columbus, Ohio, to spend some time with his biggest fan.
“I wrote something like, ‘Hey Dad, I’m coming to Columbus, nothing going on, I just want to see you,’ ” Skura says.
Bobby Wagner aims to remind Seattle what it’s missing and end Seahawks’ season
Bobby Wagner is ready for another homecoming.
The veteran linebacker and Ontario native experienced one last March when he signed with the Rams after he was unceremoniously released by the Seattle Seahawks.
Wagner returns to Seattle on Sunday when the Rams play the Seahawks at Lumen Field in the regular-season finale.
Wagner has strong emotions about the team that shaped him as a player and a city that shaped him as man.
“It will be fun to go back there,” Wagner said, “be back in front of those fans.”
Rams vs. Seattle Seahawks matchups, how to watch and prediction
Breaking down how the Rams (5-11) and the Seattle Seahawks (8-8) match up heading into their game at 1:25 p.m. PST on Sunday at Lumen Field in Seattle. The game will be shown on Fox (Ch. 11) and streamed on NFL+.
When Rams have the ball
Running back Cam Akers has rushed for more than 100 yards in consecutive games, the first time the third-year pro has achieved the feat. Akers appears to have a great opportunity to continue his surge because the Seahawks rank as NFL’s third-worst rushing defense.
Quarterback Baker Mayfield has been up and down in four games since the Rams claimed him off waivers from the Carolina Panthers. He has passed for four touchdowns, with one interception.
In last Sunday’s 31-10 loss to the Chargers, Mayfield completed 11 of 19 passes for 132 yards. Tight end Tyler Higbee and receivers Van Jefferson, Tutu Atwell and Brandon Powell will be Mayfield’s main targets.
Rams vs. Seattle Seahawks: Betting odds, lines and picks against the spread
The Rams will look to end the season on a high note and potentially play spoiler against the Seattle Seahawks. Here’s a look at Sunday’s game from a betting perspective:
Rams at Seattle Seahawks (-6, 41.5)
The Seahawks need a win (or a tie) from the Detroit Lions over the Green Bay Packers and a win of their own over the Rams to sneak into the playoffs. The win over the Rams looks to be the easy part based on the spread, as Seattle is almost a touchdown favorite at home.
Seattle was victorious 27-23 in the first meeting at SoFi Stadium in Week 13 when John Wolford got the start for the Rams. The Seahawks had 6.7 yards per play on offense to 5.3 for the Rams and probably should have won by more than they did. Wolford had only 14 completions, as the Rams had one of their most successful games of the season on the ground. That was an anomaly, to say the least.