2020 Rams Recall: A Week 10 win over the Seahawks

The Rams took a tough loss to the Dolphins in Week 8, but at least they had a bye week to follow, then a home date against a division rival that could re-lift their spirits with a win. Thankfully, the Seahawks have often been willing to lift the spirits of Sean McVay and Aaron Donald since the two were paired together in 2017.

LA has beaten Seattle in six of their last eight meetings, and now Darious Williams has entered the chat. Or at least, Russell Wilson’s passing lanes.

Week 1 - Win over the Cowboys

Week 2 - Win over the Eagles

Week 3 - Loss to the Bills

Week 4 - Win over the Giants

Week 5 - Win over a Football Team

Week 6 - Loss to the 49ers

Week 7 - Win over the Bears

Week 8 - Loss to the Dolphins

Week 9 - BYE

Week 10 - (5-3) Los Angeles Rams vs (6-2) Seattle Seahawks

(Unfortunately blocked by NFL, so you’ll have to click through for full highlights)

Important Personnel Notes:

• Andrew Whitworth left midgame with a torn MCL and was replaced by Joseph Noteboom
• Cooper Kupp suffered an oblique injury the previous week and would only play in 53% of the snaps
• Malcolm Brown led backs with 29 snaps, followed by 23 for Darrell Henderson, 18 for Cam Akers
• Jordan Fuller returned at safety
• Nick Scott turned in 29 snaps, his playing time on defense increased as the year went on
• Terrell Lewis played a season-high 28 snaps
• Sebastian Joseph-Day tied a season-low with 18 snaps

The Rams once again got off to a good start and could have blown Seattle out, had they managed to finish as strong as they opened. Or if they had finished when they had opened.

Jared Goff opened by completing his first four passes, gaining 31 yards to Kupp on the last of those throws, but first-and-10 from the Seattle 11 ended with a 23-yard Kai Forbath field goal. Instead of being up 7-0, the Rams were trailing 7-3 after a surprisingly poor start by LA’s defense.

Russell Wilson also completed his first four attempts, gaining over 20 yards on two of those throws, and the Seahawks’ first drive ended in an Alex Collins touchdown run.

But the Rams came right back and re-took the lead when Goff completed a deep 39-yard pass to Tyler Higbee, then gained 30 yards on his next two attempts to Higbee and Gerald Everett. Henderson ended the drive with a one-yard touchdown run, putting LA up 10-7.

The Rams defense then got under Wilson’s skin, as they tend to do, and Seattle was forced to punt midfield. LA then had one of their best drives of the season, going 93 yards down the field on 13 plays, eating 6:57 of clock, and scoring on a seven-yard run by Brown.

Not only do the Rams lead 17-7 at this point, but their first three drives have gone for 70, 77, and 93 yards, respectively. It was easy money for Goff and Sean McVay, but if only they could have done that more consistently.

But it wasn’t an issue in Week 10 against the Seahawks, as these drives would be plenty enough to get the win.

A Seattle field goal cut it to 17-10, then Goff fumbled the ball away after a sack by Jamal Adams. It could have been an easy disaster, but said implosion was averted when Darious Williams picked off Wilson on the very next play. Williams had a great season in general, but especially so when facing off against the Seahawks and Wilson.

More later.

On the final play of the half, Seattle kicker Jason Myers hit a long one from 61 yards out, making it 17-13. When things returned, Sebastian Joseph stuffed Wilson on third-and-4, forcing another punt. The Rams came back with their fourth strong drive of the game, going 88 yards on 14 plays, including runs by all three backs.

The final of which was another one-yard score for Brown, making it 23-13.

Key Play:

The Seahawks turned the ball over on the fourth play of the fourth quarter, an aborted snap recovered by Leonard Floyd, but LA gave it right back on a three-and-Out. Wilson is adept at fourth quarter comebacks, but it wouldn’t come to be this time because of three of his arch nemeses: Sean McVay, Aaron Donald, and now, Darious Williams.

Williams picked off Wilson for the second time and the 10-point lead with under 8:00 minutes remaining was good enough for the Rams to get another win over the Seahawks.

Final Score: Rams 23, Seahawks 16

Up next: at Tampa Bay Buccaneers