Before the decisive meeting between the Packers and the Lions, the Seahawks suffered until the end to overcome the Rams and continue to believe in the playoffs.
Seattle Seahawks (9-8) – Los Angeles Rams (5-12): 19 – 16
Seahawks, Lions or Packers? Who has the seventh and final place in the NFC playoffs? For Seattle, the mission was simple: win at home against the Rams and hope Detroit wins against Green Bay. No calculations to be made therefore for the men of Pete Carroll, facing the Rams in search of a last stand, with uncertainty surrounding the future of their coach Sean McVay.
kicker duel
With the stakes perhaps taking precedence over the game, Geno Smith’s very first pass ends up in the arms of a Jalen Ramsey reading the action perfectly, and which certainly did not ask for so much. Despite a start on 11 yards from the Seahawks, the Rams are content with a field goal to open the scoring (0-3). Response from the shepherd to the shepherdess with the equalization of Jason Myers, thanks in particular to a nice run from 27 yards from DeeJay Dallas (3-3).
Always relying on an effective ground game if not spectacular, the attack of the Seahawks then improves the solidity of the defensive squad. In turn, Geno Smith (19/31, 213 yards, 1 TD, 2 INTs, 4 runs, 51 yards), DeeJay Dallas (2 runs, 29 yards) and Kenneth Walker (29 runs, 114 yards, 1 reception, 10 yards) move the chains and once again allow Jason Myers to convert a field goal (6-3).
But if there is one glaring weakness in Seattle this season, it’s the ground defense, with only Houston and Chicago, the league’s two worst teams, having conceded more rushing yards. So, at the start of the 2nd quarter, three consecutive races by Cam Akers (21 races, 104 yards, 3 receptions, 24 yards) overcome the difficulty of the Rams in the air and put his people in a position to equalize. Matt Gay takes care of it (6-6).
Stretched to the end
And then, almost nothing until the very end of the 1st half, with first the fright caused by the injury of star rookie Tariq Woolen – who will continue the match -, stepping on Van Jefferson’s foot. Then, making perfect use of his time-outs, Sean McVay shows that he still has it under his belt, despite a season below expectations. Still on the ground, Cam Akers and Tutu Atwell (2 receptions, 27 yards, 1 run, 11 yards, 1 TD), whose second half of the season bodes well for 2023, advancing the Rams to the end area (6-13).
TD for TuTu #RamsHouse
📺: #LARvsSEA on FOX
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Defeated each time they were led at halftime this season, the Seahawks saw their hopes of qualifying for the finals disappear at this time. But now, Geno Smith, the second quarterback in history (Rich Gannon) to make his first Pro Bowl after 10 seasons, is on cloud nine. His 36-yard pass for Tyler Lockett’s touchdown (4 receptions, 54 yards, 1 TD) is that of a confident player, in tune with his football, sure of his strengths. The Seahawks still believe in it (13-13). Even after Los Angeles regained the lead, with screen passes and a new field goal from Matt Gay.
Even after Jalen Ramsey intercepts his second pass of the evening. Because behind, the Rams attack is unable to take advantage of it, Bruce Irvin remembering the good times of the Legion of Boom. After a series of punts, the Seahawks manage, at the end of the game, to put several positive plays end to end, Geno Smith breaking the franchise record for yards thrown in a season, but come up against a formidable effort of the Californian defense on their goal line. Jason Myers puts the two teams tied at 2 minutes and 19 seconds from the end of regulation time (16-16).
One miss, but not two
One minute and 23 seconds later, the Seattle offense is back on the field, the defense having served its purpose. Fifty-six seconds for a season. Geno Smith will push Jalen Ramsey to the fault to advance his troop and let Jason Myers make the decision, but… Doink. Only the third missed kick of the season for Myers, at the most inopportune moment. Post and direction the extension.
Seattle’s first sterile possession gives Baker Mayfield the opportunity to kill the last hopes of Lumen Field. But the former quarterback badly dose the match point towards Van Jefferson (3 receptions, 61 yards). Whenre Diggs intercepts him, his fourth of the year, and gives the Seahawks and Myers another chance. This time, no bad surprise, with victory at the tip of his foot. The Seahawks stay alive and knock the Lions out of playoff contention.
