The receiver drafted in the fifth round shone in a game won quietly against a disappointing Seattle team.
Seattle Seahawks (0-1) – Los Angeles Rams (1-0): 30-13
10 minutes left in the last quarter, 4&1 for the Rams, on the Seahawks goal line. Instead of hitting the field goal, Sean McVay leaves his attack on the field, and opts, after two failures, for a risky outside play with Cam Akers. The audacity pays off, and the Rams make the break (24-13). Behind, the locals sank, conceding two new field goals, without obtaining the slightest first down in the second period.
If the result is a surprise given pre-season expectations, it crowns the impressive performance of Matthew Stafford (24/38, 334 yards), who dissected the opposing defense, helped by the major performance of his rookie Puka Nacua (6/8 receiving for 119 yards), and by perfect defense in the second half. With 426 yards to 180, it was a correction that McVay’s men inflicted on their division rivals.
3 yards for the Seahawks in the second period
With only one punt in the game, the Rams offensive squad made a fool of the locals’ defense all day. If the Seahawks remained in front at halftime (13-7) thanks to DK Metcalf’s first touchdown, they owed it in particular to two missed field goals from their opponents – including one blocked by the returning Jarran Reed. The gap widened irremediably during a one-sided second period.
It’s simple, the Seahawks only recorded 3 yards of offense in the second half. Geno Smith (16/26, 112 yards, 1 TD), decided and decisive at the start of the match (12/16 during the first half) fell apart at the same time as a strange play call, which did not help him is true by the exit due to injury of the two tackles Charles Cross and Abraham Lucas, of which the Rams took advantage to inflict 2 sacks at the end of the match.
This breakdown was reinforced by the defensive inability to get off the field, with a disconcerting ease for the Rams to convert third attempts (11-17 in the match), and a total absence of pressure on Matthew Stafford (0 sack): result, a massive 23-0 imposed by visitors, who had the ball almost 2/3 of the match, using and abusing passes in the central intermediate zone, for the pleasure of a Puka Nacua impressive in his routes.
Aaron Donald is here too
For the Rams, it’s banana time. The 2021 champions obviously want to play spoilsport. Kyren Williams (2 TDs) and Cam Akers (1 TD) were able to make the Californians’ long possessions a reality, Aaron Donald scored a sack: things couldn’t have gone better.
For the Seahawks, falling back to earth is hard. The two injuries to their tackles could affect their season in the long term. If it managed the run better, the defense was inept against the pass and the offensive aerial game disappointing. We will have to get back on track quickly given the busy schedule.
