Sam Darnold connected with Jaxon Smith-Njigba for a touchdown in overtime, then hit a wide-open Eric Sobert for the winning two-point conversion, and the Seattle Seahawks rallied from a 16-point fourth-quarter deficit to stun the Los Angeles Rams 38-37 on Thursday night and take a one-game lead in the NFC West.
The Seahawks went 3-for-3 on two-point conversions, none more improbable than the one that tied the game at 30 points in the fourth quarter. Darnold’s deflected pass intended for Zach Charbonnet was initially deemed incomplete, but after reviewing replays it was determined to be a pass back. Charbonnet, who casually picked up the loose ball in the end zone, got the two points.
The Rams got the ball first in overtime and Matthew Stafford connected with Pukka Nakoa, who raced 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 — the third-most of his career — and three scores as the Rams offense totaled 581 yards without a turnover.
However, the Seahawks came up with some big stops in the fourth quarter that were crucial to Seattle’s lead. The Rams had four punts and a missed field goal on their final five possessions of regulation.
Seattle (12-3) clinches a playoff spot and moves into first place in the NFC, while Los Angeles (11-4) faces a playoff berth on the road if it can’t get past the Seahawks in the final two weeks of the season.
The Seahawks trailed 30-14 when Rashid Shahid returned a punt 58 yards for a touchdown and Darnold connected with Cooper Kupp for the two-point conversion. After a three-and-out by the Rams, Darnold found tight end AJ Barner for a 26-yard touchdown, and Charbonnet tied it on a wraparound two-point play.
Darnold, who threw four interceptions against the Rams in a 21-19 loss in November, had two picks this time around, including 297-pound defensive end Coby Turner. But he made clutch throws in the fourth quarter and in overtime, finishing with 270 yards passing and two TDs.