6 takeaways from Rams’ playoff win over Seahawks on Saturday
It wasn’t pretty, it wasn’t easy, and it certainly wasn’t their best game of the season. But it was the Rams’ biggest win yet.
They went up to Seattle and knocked off the Seahawks with a 30-20 victory at Lumen Field, advancing to the divisional round of the NFC playoffs. It was Sean McVay’s third career win as a head coach, moving the Rams one step closer to a conference title game and possibly a Super Bowl.
With so many injuries occurring throughout the afternoon, the Rams showed grit and toughness to overcome a number of hurdles en route to the win. They lost their starting quarterback, defensive tackle, left guard, outside linebacker and wide receiver at various points, but still went on to win by 10 points.
Here are six key takeaways from the Rams’ road win on Saturday.
Jared Goff showed guts
(AP Photo/Scott Eklund)
Goff didn’t have the best season. In fact, it was barely better than his unimpressive 2019 campaign. But he came through in the clutch for the Rams on Saturday afternoon with 155 yards and a touchdown against the Seahawks – all in relief of John Wolford, who got the start at quarterback. Goff only completed nine passes on 19 attempts, but he didn’t turn it over, he didn’t try to do too much, and his 15-yard touchdown pass to Robert Woods was the icing on the cake in the fourth quarter. He showed remarkable toughness to battle through a thumb injury, admitting after the game that he wasn’t 100%.
Cam Akers is exactly what the Rams hoped he’d be
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The Rams drafted Akers to be their workhorse back eventually. They didn’t know when he would become that, considering they also have Darrell Henderson and Malcolm Brown, but Akers has officially arrived as the bell cow in L.A. He carried the ball 28 times for 131 yards and a touchdown against a strong Seahawks defense, picking up hard-fought yards in all directions. He also added 48 yards receiving, including a 44-yard reception where he kept his balance and picked up big yardage after the catch. He was an absolute stud, just as Sean McVay said after the game. Without him, the Rams would probably be home watching the playoffs next week.
Rams can beat anyone with this defense
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In today’s NFL, the phrase “defense wins championships” doesn’t ring as true as it used to. But for the Rams, it might still apply. They held one of the NFL’s best quarterbacks to 174 yards on 11-for-27 passing, bottling up Russell Wilson for 60 minutes. Wilson completed only 8 of 18 passes against standard pass rushes, which was his lowest completion rate against four pass rushers in a game since 2017 – also against the Rams. https://twitter.com/ESPNStatsInfo/status/1348077610618789891 With a star pass rusher like Aaron Donald, a lockdown cornerback in Jalen Ramsey, a quality edge rusher in Leonard Floyd and a supporting cast that rivals any in the NFL, the Rams are capable of beating anyone, anywhere. What it comes down to is the offense doing its job and simply not turning the ball over too much. But with the NFL’s best defense, it’s foolish to count the Rams out.
Andrew Whitworth is a game-changer for running game
(AP Photo/Kyusung Gong)
Yes, Akers was brilliant on Saturday. But don’t underestimate the importance of Whitworth’s return. A good chunk of Akers’ yards came on runs to the left side, where Whitworth was either a lead blocker or crashing down the defensive line with powerful blocks and sealed off defenders. Whitworth was great in pass protection, too, but he made a huge difference in the running game, and it showed in the box score. The Rams are fortunate to have him back in the mix moving forward.
Rams have found their long-term solution at kicker
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After starting the season with a desperate search for a kicker, the Rams have undoubtedly found one. Matt Gay has done nothing but succeed since taking over as the Rams’ primary kicker, turning in a perfect performance against the Seahawks. He made field goals from 40, 39 and 36 yards, and also made all three of his extra point attempts. Most importantly, all of his kicks look like they’re going through. There are no low-driving kicks in danger of being blocked. Or shanks going way right of the uprights. He hits the ball well and it’s hard not to feel confident in his leg as the Rams progress through the playoffs – and eventually, into next season. He should be back for another year in Los Angeles.
Third-down and red zone struggles continue
(AP Photo/Scott Eklund)
While there was a lot to like about the Rams’ performance Saturday, there were a few issues. On third down, the Rams were only 3-for-15 – a paltry conversion rate of only 20%. Fortunately, the Seahawks were even worse, going 2-for-14, but that’s not an excuse for Los Angeles’ offense struggling on that critical down. In the red zone, the Rams also had some issues. They scored touchdowns on two of their four trips, which is below their season average of 57.9%. If the Rams have to face the Packers in the next round and can't score touchdowns instead of field goals, Green Bay is going to win the game.
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