What a game. The Los Angeles Rams needed every bit of their defense to prevail in an NFC West clash against the Seattle Seahawks. Chris Shula’s defense forced four Sam Darnold interceptions and limited Seattle to field goals in key spots to grab the No. 1 seed in the NFC Conference going into Sunday Night Football. After the first quarter, LA looked poised to pour it on but Seattle’s defense kept them in the game. What allowed the Rams to win? Here are the 5 game changing plays in LA’s Week 11 win.
1a. Kam Kinchens first interception, (Rams 0 – Seahawks 0), 10:59 left in 1st Quarter
After taking the opening kickoff and driving all the way down to the SEA 8 yard line, the Rams offense stalled out. Seattle’s defense forced the turnover on downs after a Matthew Stafford incomplete pass. But three plays later, on 1st & 10 from the SEA 21, Sam Darnold threw off his back foot while fading to his left. Kam Kinchens came crashing down from his safety spot to snare the errant throw.
1b. Kyren Williams touchdown on 4th & Goal, (Rams 7 – Seahawks 0), 1:41 left in 1st Quarter
After Kinchens ran the ball back to the 3 yard line, the Rams were in prime position to score. However, Seattle’s defense proved stout against the run when the Rams lined up in 13 personnel at the goal line. Sean McVay elected to keep his foot on the gas; electing to go for it on 4th & 1. This time he lined up in 11 personnel in shotgun formation only to handoff one more time to Kyren Williams. Williams was able to hit paydirt behind his center and guards for the first touchdown of the game.
2. Kyren Williams breaks huge run on 4th & 1, (Rams 7 – Seahawks 0), 1:41 left in the 1st Quarter
After a Jason Myers field goal chipped into the Rams lead. LA marched down field again. After failing to convert on 3rd & 1 to Davante Adams, McVay dialed up another 4th down play call. Not only did Kyren Williams pick up the first down but he put the Rams offense inside the Seattle 5 yard line.
3. Kam Kinchens grabs 2nd interception, (Rams 14 – Seahawks 12), 1:15 left in the 3rd Quarter
The Rams offense began to sputter after the first quarter and they couldn’t find their footing in the 2nd half. The LA defense came up clutch yet again intercepting Sam Darnold on 1st & 20 while targeting Arroyo over the middle.
4. Colby Parkinson scores against former team, (Rams 21 – Seahawks 12), 14:15 left in 4th Quarter
On the play before, Kyren Williams converted a crucial 3rd & 1 to keep the drive alive. Then, on play action, Stafford found Parkinson to give Los Angeles its third touchdown in four red zone trips.
5. Ethan Evans booms 50 yard punt down to the SEA 1, (Rams 21 – Seahawks 19), 1:50 left in 4th Quarter
Ethan Evans punt might have been the play of the game despite the Rams four interceptions on defense. Matthew Stafford and the offense could not run out the clock and were forced to punt the ball back to Sam Darnold and the Seahawks offense. Evans delivered the biggest punt of his career; dropping a beauty at the 1 yard line. The special teams play was significant in helping the defense preserve field position and run out the game clock. Had the Seahawks been able to start the drive at the 20 yard line, SEA could have been able to have an easier field goal opportunity had it been a touchback.
What other plays were crucial in helping the Rams seal their win against the Seahawks? And oh yeah, how about those Midnight Blue uniforms?!?
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