Seattle flipped the script in stunning fashion tonight. Down 16 late, the Seahawks roared back, forced overtime, then won it on a walk off two point conversion. The Seahawks score that sealed it will echo through the NFC West. This was guts, poise, and a fearless call on the final snap.
A Comeback That Changed the Division
The Rams had control for three quarters. Matthew Stafford fired strikes. Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp kept chains moving. Seattle looked flat. Missed tackles piled up. The Seahawks trailed by 16 and the stadium felt settled.
Then everything turned. Geno Smith rediscovered rhythm with tempo and trust. DK Metcalf bullied corners on slants and digs. Tyler Lockett found soft spots in zone. Kenneth Walker III and Zach Charbonnet chipped away on the ground. Seattle’s defense tightened, cut off the middle, and forced field goals instead of touchdowns.
You could feel belief grow on the Seattle sideline. The huddle got louder. The pace picked up. The Rams blinked, and the door cracked open.
Turning points, distilled
- A third and long rope from Geno to Metcalf sparked the first touchdown drive.
- A red zone stand held the Rams to three, not seven, with five minutes left.
- A sideline toe tap by Lockett kept the final drive alive in regulation.
- A fourth quarter strip by the Seattle front set up the tying field goal.
The Seahawks score tied it at the horn. The momentum was real. Overtime was a reset, but Seattle now owned the script.
Overtime, Nerves, and the Call That Defines a Season
The Rams opened overtime tight. A penalty stalled their march. The punt gave Seattle a chance to win it with any score. The Seahawks did not flinch. Geno ran the two minute package in slow motion calm. Quick outs. A screen to Walker. Then a seam to the tight end inside the ten.
On the next snap, Seattle punched in the touchdown. Here came the pivot. Kick the extra point and play on. Or go for two, take the game, and take first place.
They chose the latter. That is a statement.
Seattle spread the field. The look was man coverage. Geno checked the safety, then fired to the front pylon. Metcalf beat the jam, shielded the corner, and cradled the ball. Two points. Ballgame.
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Seattle now sits alone atop the NFC West, with the head to head tiebreak in hand.
That decision tells you how this staff sees its team. Trust the quarterback. Trust the wideouts in space. Trust a design they have repped since camp. The risk was real. The reward was bigger.
What It Means for January
This win is more than a headline. It changes math and mood. In a tight NFC West, one game swings seeding and home field paths. Seattle owns a comeback that travels. It shows they can take a punch, and still deliver the last one.
The Seahawks have been building an identity under a new voice on the sideline. Tough on defense. Fast on offense. Multiple in personnel. Tonight, that identity held under stress. The front closed gaps late. The corners contested without grabbing. The offense adjusted protections and trusted first reads.
For Geno Smith, this is a signature victory. He was patient early, then aggressive when the window opened. He used his legs to extend plays, not to flee. He let his stars, Metcalf and Lockett, decide it at the catch point. That is veteran quarterbacking.
For the receivers, it was physical, professional work. Routes were sharp. Hands were strong. Details mattered at the boundary and at the sticks. Walker’s inside runs kept the Rams honest. The line found enough in pass pro when it mattered most.
The best teams win on third down and in the red zone. Seattle did both down the stretch.
The Rams’ View and the Rivalry Beat
The Rams will replay this one for weeks. They had balance, then lost it. A late penalty. A missed tackle in space. One more first down might have iced it. Stafford was sharp for most of the night, but the pass rush finally bothered him. Nacua and Kupp got theirs, yet the explosive shot never landed in overtime.
This rivalry has modern teeth. It is technical, fast, and decided on edges. Tonight, Seattle took those edges late. That matters in a division where margins are thin and memories are long.
Final Word
The Seahawks score that ended this game was not luck. It was preparation, courage, and execution on the final read. A 16 point hole did not scare them. Overtime did not slow them. The two point call told the truth. Seattle wanted the win, not the wait. With first place now theirs, the NFC West runs through a team that just proved it can finish.
