Sam Darnold connected with Jackson Smith-Njigba for a touchdown in overtime, then hit a wide-open Eric Sobert for the 2-point conversion as the Seattle Seahawks rallied from a 16-point fourth-quarter deficit to stun the team. Los Angeles Rams 38-37 on Thursday night to take a one-game lead in the NFC West.
The Seahawks went 3-for-3 on two-point conversions, which is more incredible than the one that tied the game at 30 all in the fourth quarter. Darnold's deflected pass to Zach Charbonnet was initially ruled incomplete but was determined to be a back pass after reviewing the replay. Charbonnet, who accidentally picked up the ball in the end zone, was awarded two points.
The Rams got the ball first in overtime, and Matthew Stafford connected with Puka Nacua, who floated 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 touchdowns, and Stafford passed for 457 yards — the third-most of his career — and three scores as the Rams totaled 581 yards of offense without a loss.
However, the Seahawks made several big stops in the fourth quarter that were critical to Seattle's victory. The Rams had four punts and a missed field goal in their final five possessions.
Seattle (12-3) has clinched the playoffs as the No. 1 seed in the NFC, while Los Angeles (11-4) faces its first playoff road trip unless they can get past the Seahawks in the final two weeks of the season.
The Seahawks trailed 30-14 when Rashid Shahid returned the ball 58 yards for a touchdown and Darnold connected with Cooper Kupp for the two-point conversion. After the Rams went three-and-out, Darnold found tight end AJ Barner for a 26-yard touchdown and Charbonnet tied the game on a freak two-point play.
Darnold, who threw four interceptions against the Rams in a 21-19 loss in November, was ejected twice in that game, including by 297-pound cornerback Kobe Turner. But he made clutch throws in the fourth quarter and overtime, finishing with 270 yards passing and two touchdowns.
