Rams knock off Seahawks 23-16 in Week 10: Everything we know
The Los Angeles Rams were in desperate need of a win on Sunday, facing their division rivals, the Seattle Seahawks. They hosted Russell Wilson and Seattle’s high-flying offense, grounding them at SoFi Stadium.
The Rams knocked off the NFC West-leading Seahawks in what will turn out to be a huge victory, winning 23-16 at home.
Here’s everything we know from Sunday’s victory in Week 10, which moved the Rams to 6-3 and into a tie with both the Seahawks and Cardinals atop the division.
Final score: Rams 23, Seahawks 16
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Keys to the game
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The Rams were excellent on third down, keeping drives alive with conversion after conversion. They were 9-for-15 on Sunday – they started 9-for-11, too – which was a big factor in the game. Many of those conversions were passes by Goff, but Malcolm Brown also picked up the first a few times on third down. Josh Reynolds really came alive in this one. He set career-highs with eight catches and 94 yards, consistently getting open for Goff and making strong hands catches away from his body. Jalen Ramsey completely erased DK Metcalf in the first half, allowing zero catches on zero targets. He covered him so well that Wilson didn't even look his way for the first 44 minutes of the game, seeing his first target with one minute left in the third quarter. Leonard Floyd was all over the place for L.A., recording three more sacks and recovering a fumbled snap by Russell Wilson in the fourth quarter. He also had a few other rushes where he pressured Wilson but couldn't complete the sack. As good as Ramsey was, Darious Williams was even better. He picked off Wilson twice and broke up another pass in the end zone, stepping up in a big way opposite Ramsey. It was the best performance of his young career thus far. The Rams didn't dominate on the ground, but they did get everyone involved. Malcolm Brown, Cam Akers and Darrell Henderson all had at least six carries for 28 yards, scoring three total touchdowns. Brown found the end zone twice.
It was over when...
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The Rams recovered Seattle's last-ditch onside kick attempt with 24 seconds left in the game. The game was still within seven points, and with Russell Wilson, nothing is ever out of the question, so this one wasn't truly over until that point. But Darious Williams' second interception of the afternoon was almost a game-sealer, ending the Seahawks' threat with the Rams up 10 points. As everyone expected, this one was close and hard-fought to the end, but Los Angeles was the better team and held on for a big win.
3 stars of the game
(AP Photo/Jae C. Hong )
No. 1 star: Leonard Floyd – 5 tackles, 3 sacks, 1 fumble recovery No. 2 star: Jalen Ramsey – 3 targets, 1 reception for 9 yards allowed, 1 DPI penalty No. 1 star: Darious Williams – 2 interceptions, 3 passes defensed
Play of the game
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Darious Williams has come up huge for the Rams on numerous occasions this season, picking off passes against the Giants and Eagles in key situations. He did it again on Sunday against the Seahawks, intercepting Russell Wilson in the end zone during the first half of the game. It was an excellent read by the cornerback, coming off his receiver to make the play in the corner. https://twitter.com/NFL/status/1328104342604320769 We can't forget about his second interception, either. Take your pick on which interception was better, because they were both spectacular and deserving of the play of the game. https://twitter.com/NFL/status/1328127820153851904
What's next?
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The Rams will travel to Tampa Bay for a prime-time matchup against the 7-3 Buccaneers. This will once again be a huge test for the Rams, facing yet another legitimate Super Bowl contender that features Tom Brady, Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, Antonio Brown and Leonard Fournette on offense.
Injury notes
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Andrew Whitworth and Taylor Rapp both left the game with knee injuries, though the severities are not yet known. Whitworth's appeared worse, needing to be carted off the field. Neither player returned to the game, which is a bad sign for their statuses moving forward. Kai Forbath also injured his ankle and did not return to the game after missing a PAT.
