Seahawks outlast Rams, reassert hold on NFC West
LOS ANGELES – There was something vintage about the way the Seattle Seahawks re-established their control of the NFC West Sunday in a 16-10 win against the Los Angeles Rams.
It was safety Earl Thomas, punching the ball out of Todd Gurley’s hands at the goal line, forcing a fumble and a touchback. It was middle linebacker Bobby Wagner leading a stifling run defense that held Gurley to just 43 rushing yards. It was quarterback Russell Wilson dodging and scrambling and throwing on the run.
“It felt right,” cornerback Richard Sherman said. “It was the most complete game we’ve played all year.”
Seattle’s win pulled the Seahawks even with the upstart Rams at 3-2 atop the NFC West. But the game was also a reminder that despite the Rams’ impressive offensive resurgence under new head coach Sean McVay and second-year quarterback Jared Goff, the Seahawks still have many of the characteristics that have made them the division’s best team in recent years.
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September road losses to the Green Bay Packers and Tennessee Titans, in which the offense struggled behind a shaky offensive line and the defense experienced uncharacteristic lapses, led to questions about the Seahawks’ sustainability as a premiere team. Injuries were taking a toll, from the loss of left tackle George Fant during the preseason to the broken ankle starting back running back Chris Carson suffered last week. The Seahawks played Sunday without two starters, defensive end Cliff Avril and cornerback Jeremy Lane.
And yet the Seahawks looked more like the past editions of old than they have at any point this year.
“I think people look for reasons to write us off,” Sherman said. “Our demise was greatly overstated.”
Seattle forced five turnovers Sunday at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, including two interceptions off the former No. 1 overall pick Goff, who had thrown just one pick in the first four games. Goff also lost a fumble on a strip sack late in the fourth quarter.
The Rams scored just three points on five trips to the red zone and were shut out in the second half, the type of problems Los Angeles didn’t have during their 3-1 start. The Rams scored 35.5 points per game during the first month of the season, but Goff made several critical mistakes on Sunday. His interceptions came on bad passes, one a screen to Gurley that was too high and tipped up and off the running back’s hands. The other came as Goff was under pressure, and he sailed an off-target pass down the middle of the field for an easy interception by Thomas.
“I think there were a couple uncharacteristic decisions that he did make,” McVay said of Goff. “When you play an excellent front like that, they cause some disruption, got to him and they forced some of those errant throws and got some turnovers. But that’s what great defenses do.”
The Seahawks’ offense was hardly explosive, but one perfectly placed fade pass from Wilson to tight end Jimmy Graham and three Blair Walsh field goals was enough scoring given the work Seattle’s defense was doing against Goff and Gurley.
After Walsh’s third field goal extended Seattle’s lead to 16-10, Goff led one frantic final drive. But his final two throws to the end zone, both intended for rookie slot receiver Cooper Kupp, fell incomplete, and the Seahawks were able to celebrate.
“These guys have been playing great football for a long time and I think it’s just another statement that they will not relent,” Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll said.
Follow Lindsay H. Jones on Twitter @bylindsayhjones.
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