The Seattle Seahawks came out on the right side of a barely-believable Thursday Night Football matchup against the LA Rams that fans are convinced will be the best game all season.
The 38-37 victory at Lumen Field seals Sam Darnold and Co a playoff spot, and gives them control of the NFC after they overcame their biggest rival.
Seattle trailed by 16 points midway through the fourth quarter but somehow forced overtime and then survived a Rams touchdown to drive down the field and win it with a touchdown and two-point conversion of their own.
The OT moment that ultimately sealed the win came when Darnold connected with Jaxon Smith-Njigba for a touchdown then hit a wide-open Eric Saubert for the winning 2-point conversion.
The Seahawks went 3 for 3 on 2-point conversions, none more improbable than the one that tied the game at 30-all in the fourth quarter.
Darnold’s deflected pass intended for Zach Charbonnet was initially ruled incomplete, but after a replay review was determined to be a backward pass. Charbonnet, who had casually picked up the loose ball in the end zone, was credited with the 2 points.
Seattle Seahawks tight end Eric Saubert celebrates after making the two-point conversion
Sam Darnold celebrates after one of the biggest wins of his career on Thursday night
The Rams got the ball first in overtime and Matthew Stafford connected with Puka Nacua, who cruised untouched into the end zone for a 41-yard touchdown to make it 37-30.
Nacua finished with 12 catches for 225 yards and two TDs, and Stafford had 457 yards passing – the third-most of his career – and three scores as the Rams’ offense totaled 581 yards without a turnover.
Nonetheless, the Seahawks came up with some big stops in the fourth quarter that were crucial to Seattle’s rally. The Rams had four punts and a missed field goal on their final five possessions of regulation.
Seattle (12-3) clinched a playoff spot and moved into position for the top seed in the NFC, while LA (11-4) faces a road playoff opener if it can’t overtake the Seahawks in the final two weeks of the season.
The Rams fall a game back in the NFC, with the Seahawks moving ahead of them in the West
Seattle fans were treated to a thrilling game that many think won’t be beaten all season
The Seahawks somehow came from 16 points down midway through the fourth quarter to win
The Seahawks trailed 30-14 when Rashid Shaheed returned a punt 58 yards for a touchdown and Darnold connected with Cooper Kupp for the 2-point conversion. After a three-and-out by the Rams, Darnold found tight end AJ Barner for a 26-yard TD, and Charbonnet tied it on the quirky 2-point play.
Darnold, who threw four interceptions against the Rams in a 21-19 loss in November, was picked off twice in this one, including by 297-pound defensive end Kobie Turner.
But he made clutch throws in the fourth quarter and OT, finishing with 270 yards passing and two TDs.