The nightmare continues for Sam Darnold against the Los Angeles Rams.
Last season with the Minnesota Vikings, Darnold had two losses to the Rams, including a nightmare performance in the playoffs that ended
his Vikings tenure. As quarterback of the Seattle Seahawks (7-3), he had a disaster of all disasters, throwing four mostly brutal interceptions in a 21-19 loss. The Rams (8-2) are now atop the division with the tiebreaker after jumping out to an early 14-3 lead and hanging on for dear life at the end.
Darnold not only made several back-breaking mistakes, the red zone offense was not clicking for the Seahawks. Five trips resulted in four field goals and Kenneth Walker’s fourth quarter touchdown. The defense played well; two of the three touchdowns allowed were on drives that went a combined 28 yards. It’s a game that is almost entirely on the failures of the offense, and more specifically Darnold. As brilliantly as Darnold has played all year, he was a mess against the Rams again, and the turnovers he’s committing are now high volume.
To top it all off, standout rookie left guard Grey Zabel and linebacker Tyrice Knight both left the game with injuries. Zabel’s knee injury might be serious, whereas Knight left early in the first quarter with a concussion on special teams.
Damn. This stings.
1st Half
The Rams started on offense and got a gift from the officials right away. Devon Witherspoon was flagged for a ridiculous personal foul penalty when tackling Rams receiver Xavier Smith, who made a catch and was deemed to have given himself up. He was clearly getting up to try and gain more yards, but the refs gave the Rams a free 15 yards.
A huge run by Kyren Williams set up LA in the red zone, and after a brilliant tackle by Nick Emmanwori to set up 4th and inches, the Seahawks defense denied Matthew Stafford on 4th down for a turnover on downs!
Sam Darnold gave it right back just three plays later, throwing off his backfoot with Poona Ford pressuring on the interior. Kamren Kinchens came up with the pick and ran it all the way inside Seattle’s 5.
Seattle’s run defense stymied the Rams on three straight plays, only to get spread out on 4th and goal for a Kyren Williams touchdown.
Darnold and Jaxon Smith-Njigba converted on a couple of first downs before the drive stalled. A misfire to Rashid Shaheed followed by a “touchdown” to Cooper Kupp that hit the ground and bounced into his arms. Kupp got up and scored but it was obviously incomplete. The end result was a Jason Myers 57-yard field goal to make it 7-3.
Like clockwork, the Rams gashed the Seahawks with screens and short passes, and worryingly the run defense was showing cracks. Kyren Williams burst through on 4th and 1 for 34 yards all the way toward the 1-yard line. Matthew Stafford found Davante Adams for his 1,000th career catch and 10th touchdown of the season. Riq Woolen had no chance on the slant. 14-3 Rams.
Seattle went on a long drive of 13 plays for 53 yards, taking seven minutes off the clock. An incomplete fade route to JSN followed by a throwaway on third down by Darnold meant a 30-yard field goal attempt for Jason Myers, which was right down the middle. 14-6 Rams.
A Rams three-and-out ensued after a tackle for loss by DeMarcus Lawrence and a pressure on third down that forced an off-target Stafford throw. Seattle was backed up deep in its own territory, but a 26-yard run by Kenneth Walker III and this sick one-handed grab by JSN for 28!
AJ Barner converted a 3rd and 5 catch over the middle and then a 4th and 1 tush push sneak, which he has excelled at all season. Goal-to-go with under a minute left until halftime, the Seahawks had a golden opportunity to cut into the deficit if not tie the game. On 3rd and goal at the 3, Darnold had no one opened and threw it away. Instead of a 4th down gamble, the Seahawks kicked the field goal to make it 14-9 Rams at the break.
2nd Half
The Seahawks began the half with the ball and Sam Darnold had a case of the deja vus. He threw a pick on the opening drive of the first series, and he threw a pick to Cobee Durant to start the third quarter.
Seattle got it right back on a Puka Nacua fumble, forced by Coby Bryant and recovered by Drake Thomas. It’s the first lost fumble of Nacua’s career.
Seattle drove deep into Rams territory and into the red zone yet again. A Kenneth Walker III touchdown was called back for a Nick Kallerup holding penalty. Darnold nearly made it moot with an end zone shot to Rashid Shaheed, but it was slightly underthrown and Emmanuel Forbes broke it up. Jason Myers came on for another field goal to make it 14-12 Rams.
The teams traded punts until the Seahawks got it back toward the end of the quarter, and Darnold AGAIN threw a terrible ball into tight coverage. Another interception for Kam Kinchens on a throw intended for Elijah Arroyo.
This time, the Rams capitalized and turned it into points. Former Seahawks tight end Colby Parkinson broke the tackle of Ty Okada, avoided another, and scored standing up to make it 21-12 Rams.
Oh dear.
The Seahawks defense tightened up and forced a three-and-out to get the offense the ball back with six minutes to go. Seattle had no choice but to go into an uptempo, hurry-up situation and they finally reached the end zone. Kenneth Walker III scored from a yard out for his first touchdown since Week 3. It came at a cost, however, as Grey Zabel was rolled up on by a falling Charles Cross and hurt his knee.
With all three timeouts on the plus side of the two-minute warning, the Seahawks kicked it deep knowing the defense had to make one more stop. They failed right away on first down on a Puka Nacua jet sweep. On the next series, the Seahawks got that stop and even with a stopped clock because of Stafford’s third down incomplete pass! But Ethan Evans had a perfect punt to pin Seattle at the 1.
Darnold to Barner for four yards for a few yards. Next pass is batted down. Barner converts on 3rd down to the 14. Sideline throw to Kupp is incomplete after sailing out of bounds. Checkdown to Charbonnet and then back-to-back completions to JSN to get to their own 38 with :17 left and the timeout still in hand. Throwaway after a scramble to :10. A throw to JSN is incomplete but a FLAG! DPI on the Rams at the 49 with :05. Darnold throws to Shaheed to the 43! TIMEOUT WITH :01 LEFT! Myers from 61 for the win… wide right and short. Seahawks lose.
Next week’s opponent
The Seahawks stay on the road to take on the woebegone Tennessee Titans (1-9) on Sunday, Nov. 23 at 10 am PT on FOX.
