Seahawks clinch playoff berth with dramatic OT win over Rams

Seattle staged a dramatic comeback to beat the Los Angeles Rams in overtime, sealing a return to the NFL playoffs. The Seahawks erased a late deficit to win 38-37 on their home field in Seattle. This victory also reshapes the conference standings as the season moves toward January.

The Seahawks trailed 30-14 in the fourth quarter before rallying behind a strong rushing effort and clutch passes. Kenneth Walker III burst through for a 55-yard touchdown to spark the turnaround.

Seattle quarterback Sam Darnold threw two interceptions in the first half, but he rebounded to throw two touchdown passes. The second touchdown, completed to wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba in overtime, was followed by a successful two-point conversion to clinch the win.

Los Angeles led 13-7 at halftime after a sequence that included a 56-yard interception return by Rams cornerback Josh Wallace and a one-yard scoring run by Blake Corum.

Stafford connected with Puka Nacua for a fourth-quarter TD to extend the lead to 30-14, but Seattle answered on a 58-yard punt return touchdown by Rashid Shaheed, jolting the crowd with new hope.

Darnold then found AJ Barner for a late score, and Seattle added a two-point conversion to force overtime.

In overtime, Nacua added a second touchdown for the Rams, but Smith-Njigba answered with a 96-yard receiving performance that helped set up the decisive moment. Darnold threw his second TD of the night to Smith-Njigba, then connected on the two-point try to seal the victory.

Smith-Njigba finished with 96 receiving yards after a pivotal overtime catch that helped set up Seattle's final scoring sequence. The 23-year-old leads the NFL with 1,541 receiving yards this season, while Nacua sits second with 1,367 after a career-best 225 yards on 12 receptions on Thursday night.

The win moves Seattle to 12-3 and atop the conference standings, while the Rams drop to 11-4 and slide to the fifth seed in the NFC.

Expert analysis

Analysts praised Seattle's resilience and the late-game poise shown by Jaxon Smith-Njigba. They also noted the Seahawks' depth on offense gives them a strong look as the postseason approaches.

What this means going forward

Seattle clinches a playoff berth and gains momentum heading into January. Smith-Njigba's big night and Darnold's late touchdown drive highlight the Seahawks' potential in the playoff race.

Seattle's ability to finish games under pressure underscores the value of depth and resilience in a playoff run. Source

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