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Final score: Seahawks 20, Rams 9

An instant review of the Week 16 loss to Seattle

NFL: Los Angeles Rams at Seattle Seahawks
Jared Goff
Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports

This was a defensive battle on Sunday afternoon but the Seattle Seahawks’ defense was just a little better than the Los Angeles Rams’ defense and they were rewarded handsomely for it.

Record:
The Rams are now 9-6 and have lost two games in a row for the first time this season.

What it means:
The Rams will have to wait to clinch a playoff berth and the Seahawks won the NFC West division title. The Rams will be a wild card team with a win next week, but if there is a three-way tie (according to Fox Sports’ Joe Buck) between the Rams, Chicago Bears and Arizona Cardinals, the Rams will then be eliminated,

Turning point:
The Seahawks went down the field on the first drive of the third quarter and scored to take a 13-6 lead. Then, Seattle stuffed the Rams at the goal line on four straight runs to keep big late in the third quarter. The Seahawks added an insurance touchdown in the fourth quarter.

NFL: Los Angeles Rams at Seattle Seahawks
Darrell Henderson (this is not the play he was hurt on)
Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports

Injury report:
Rams’ running back Darrell Henderson was hurt (left ankle) in the third quarter near the goal line, which is not ideal with Cam Akers out with an ankle injury. Malcolm Brown then took over for Henderson. At the end of the third quarter, Rams quarterback Jared Goff hit his throwing thumb on the helmet of a Seattle defender.

Goff had to pop his thumb back into place. Yeah, ouch.

NFL: Los Angeles Rams at Arizona Cardinals
Rams over the Cardinals
Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

What’s next:
The Rams host the Arizona Cardinals next Sunday at 1:25 p.m. PT in a game with playoff implications on the line. The Rams beat the Cardinals 38-28 in Arizona three weeks ago.