Matthew Stafford delivers his own knockout punch in Rams’ comeback over Seahawks
It looked like a knockout hit, a play that would send Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford to the sideline and out of the game.
Instead, it ignited a comeback.
Stafford rallied the Rams from a nine-point deficit in the fourth quarter and defeated the Seattle Seahawks, 17-16, on Sunday in front of 72,704 at SoFi Stadium.
Lucas Havrisik kicked a 22-yard field goal with 1 minute 31 seconds left and the Rams survived Jason Myers’ failed 55-yard field-goal attempt to end a three-game losing streak and improve their record to 4-6.
Rams hold on for 17-16 win after Jason Myers misses field-goal attempt
🏈 Rams 17, Seahawks 16 — FINAL
Seattle’s Jason Myers missed a 55-yard field-goal attempt in the final seconds to help the Rams preserve a thrilling comeback victory over the Seahawks — the Rams’ second comeback win over their NFC West rivals this season.
The win ends the Rams’ three-game losing streak.
Geno Smith, who sat out most of the fourth quarter after sustaining an elbow injury at the end of the third quarter, connected on a 21-yard pass to DK Metcalf to put the Seahawks in field-goal range before Myers kick went wide right.
The Rams struggled on offense in third quarter before Matthew Stafford orchestrated a nine-play, 68-yard drive early in the fourth quarter to make it a two-point game.
Stafford completed 17 of 31 passes for 190 yards and a touchdown, with an interception. Royce Freeman had 73 yards in 17 carries and Puka Nacua caught five passes for 70 yards.
Cooper Kupp made one catch for 11 yards before leaving the game because of an ankle injury in the first half.
Smith connected on 22 of 34 passes for 233 yards and a touchdown. Metcalf had five catches for 94 yards. Seattle lost 130 yards on 12 penalties.
Rams take a one-point lead late on a Lucas Havrisik field goal
🏈 Rams 17, Seahawks 16 — 1:31 left in the fourth quarter
Lucas Havrisik kicked a 22-yard field goal late in the fourth quarter to give the Rams their first lead of the game after a promising drive sputtered in the red zone.
Stafford opened the 14-play, 75-yard drive with a 32-yard pass to Puka Nacua, and a huge effort by the offensive line on third and two to push Royce Freeman to a four-yard pickup extended the drive.
Geno Smith, who has sat out most of the fourth quarter because of an elbow injury will be back in the game as the Seahawks try to go for the win. Seattle is out of timeouts.
Rams’ Derion Kendrick picks off Drew Lock
🏈 Seahawks 16, Rams 14 — 6:43 left in the fourth quarter
Rams cornerback Derion Kendrick picked off a deep pass from Seattle quarterback Drew Lock to give the Rams a chance to take the lead late in the fourth quarter. The Rams will start at their 21-yard line.
Darrell Henderson Jr. touchdown makes it a two-point game
🏈 Seahawks 16, Rams 14 — 7:38 left in the fourth quarter
Darrell Henderson Jr. scored on a one-yard run as the Rams finally showed life on offense with an impressive, nine-play, 68-yard drive to make it a two-point game.
Matthew Stafford connected on a 17-yard pass to Tyler Higbee to set up the touchdown, making a throw on the run after being flushed out of the pocket. A pass interference penalty on Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon also helped the Rams’ scoring effort.
Drew Lock will remain under center for the Seahawks as they try to build some breathing room on the scoreboard.
Matthew Stafford throws an interception — and takes a big hit
🏈 Seahawks 16, Rams 7 — 13:57 left in the fourth quarter
Matthew Stafford threw deep and was picked off by Seahawks cornerback Riq Woolen. In the process, Stafford took a huge hit to his midsection from defensive end Mario Edwards Jr.
Stafford was slow to get up, but eventually walked off the field under his own power. The hit appeared to make contact with his right hand.
Seattle took over at the Rams’ 20-yard line.
Amid the Rams’ continued struggles on offense, they ruled out Cooper Kupp for the remainder of the game after the standout wide receiver sustained an ankle injury in the first half.
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith exited briefly in the third quarter and headed straight for the sideline medical tent with an elbow injury. He is questionable to return. Drew Lock took over at quarterback for the Seahawks.
Seahawks extend their lead on another field goal
🏈 Seahawks 16, Rams 7 — 8:04 left in the third quarter
Jason Myers kicked a 52-yard field goal to extend the Seahawks’ lead after the Rams went three-and-out on their first possession of the second half.
The Seahawks got into field-goal range when Geno Smith connected on a nine-yard pass to Zach Charbonnet on fourth and one.
If the Rams are going to piece together a second-half comeback like their did against Seattle in their season opener, they’ll need to start clicking on offense.
Cooper Kupp injured before Rams cut into Seahawks’ lead
🏈 Seahawks 13, Rams 7 — HALFTIME
Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford fired a four-yard touchdown pass to rookie receiver Puka Nacua with nine seconds left in the first half.
The Rams’ 13-7 halftime deficit mirrors the season opener, when they rallied for a 30-13 victory at Seattle.
But the Rams suffered a loss during the drive when star receiver Cooper Kupp left the sideline and went to the locker room because of an ankle injury. Kupp is questionable to return.
The Rams have only 94 yards of offense — with 75 produced on their nine-play scoring drive.
Stafford has completed seven of 12 passes for 67 yards.
Austin Trammell is the Rams’ top receiver, with two catches for 26 yards.
Seahawks tack on another field goal to take 13-0 lead
🏈 Seahawks 13, Rams 0 — 4:48 left in the second quarter
The Rams gave up a field goal, but that might be considered a victory since the defense barely had a chance to breathe.
The Rams offense went three and out on the previous drive, and the Seahawks struck quickly, with Geno Smith connecting with DK Metcalf for a 53-yard gain to the Rams’ seven-yard line.
But the Rams pressured Smith on third down, and he was called for intentional grounding.
Jason Myers came on for a 43-yard field goal to extend the lead to 13 points.
Jason Myers field goal gives Seahawks a 10-0 lead
🏈 Seahawks 10, Rams 0 — 8:26 left in the second quarter
Jason Myers extended the lead with a 54-yard field goal.
The Seahawks consumed 8 minutes, 34 seconds during a 15-play, 62-yard drive.
The drive included a 32-yard pass from Geno Smith to receiver Jaxson Smith-Njigba and Zach Charbonnet’s six-yard gain on a fourth-and-one play.
Smith has completed 11 of 15 passes for 89 yards.
Rams fail to convert on fourth and goal
🏈 Seahawks 7, Rams 0 — End of the first quarter
The Rams blew a golden opportunity to tie the score with a little more than two minutes left in the quarter.
The Seahawks were called for four penalties — including a pass interference penalty that netted the Rams 45 yards — but the Rams could not score from the five-yard line.
Running back Royce Freeman was stopped short on three carries, and Matthew Stafford’s fourth-down pass for Tutu Atwell fell incomplete.
Seahawks strike first on DK Metcalf touchdown catch
🏈 Seahawks 7, Rams 0 — 5:20 left in the first quarter
Geno Smith connected with receiver DK Metcalf for an eight-yard touchdown to give the Seahawks the early lead.
The Rams went three and out, and Ethan Evans’ 58-yard punt forced the Seahawks to start their drive at their 12-yard line.
But Smith engineered a 14-play drive that consumed 7 minutes, 46 seconds.
Smith completed seven of eight passes for 50 yards.
Running back Kenneth Walker III rushed for 18 yards in four carries, but he left the game late in the drive and was examined in the sideline medical tent.
Since Rams’ slump coincides with Cooper Kupp’s, strategy is clear versus Seahawks
Refreshed. Recharged. Rejuvenated.
Those are words Rams coach Sean McVay used to describe his team after its off week.
Now McVay and his staff must find ways to help star receiver Cooper Kupp regain his usual productive form — or the Rams almost certainly will continue to regress.
In the last three games, Kupp was mired in a minislump that, from a statistical perspective, ranked as perhaps the least productive stretch of his seven-season career. Not coincidentally, the Rams are in the midst of a three-game losing streak heading into Sunday’s NFC West game against the Seattle Seahawks at SoFi Stadium.
Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford gives thumbs up on injury, new backup Carson Wentz
Light rain fell as Rams quarterbacks Matthew Stafford and Carson Wentz went through practice Wednesday.
For Stafford, it was the first major test since suffering a right thumb sprain that sidelined him for the Rams’ defeat to the Green Bay Packers on Nov. 5. The 15th-year pro wore a soft brace on his right hand but otherwise appeared unencumbered as he zipped passes in preparation for Sunday’s home game against the Seattle Seahawks.
“It was kind of nice to just get back out there and get my feet wet again, literally and figuratively,” Stafford said.
For Wentz, it was the first full workout since signing last week. The eighth-year pro joined the Rams after playing five seasons for the Philadelphia Eagles and one each with the Indianapolis Colts and Washington Commanders.
C.J. Stroud isn’t the only rookie chasing records. Don’t sleep on the Rams’ Puka Nacua
Might as well engrave the nameplate on the NFL offensive rookie of the year award now. After passing for 826 yards and six touchdowns in his last two games, Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud is lapping the field.
Stroud, the second overall pick in this year’s draft out of Ohio State, is on pace to pass for nearly 5,000 yards, which would smash the rookie record of 4,374 yards set by the Indianapolis Colts’ Andrew Luck in 2012.
Another rookie is also on pace to shatter an NFL record, yet he was the 177th pick in the draft.
Puka Nacua, the Rams receiver with the catchy name and irrepressible personality, has 64 catches through nine games, putting him on pace for 121 over 17 games.
Rams vs. Seahawks matchups: How to watch, start time and prediction
Breaking down how the Rams (3-6) and Seattle Seahawks (6-3) match up heading into their game Sunday at 1:25 p.m. PST at SoFi Stadium. The game will be televised on CBS and Paramount+.
When Rams have the ball
Quarterback Matthew Stafford returns to the lineup after sitting out a defeat to the Green Bay Packers because of a right-thumb sprain. Stafford, who led the Rams to a 30-13 victory over the Seahawks in the season opener, has passed for eight touchdowns, with seven interceptions. Carson Wentz is the new backup quarterback.