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Rapid Reactions: Seahawks Take Over First Place In The NFC West With A Stunning Comeback Win Over the Rams

After Falling Behind By 16 Points In The Fourth Quarter, The Seahawks Rallied For One Of The Most Thrilling Regular-Season Wins In Their History, Beating The Rams 38-37 In Overtime

Dec 18, 2025 at 09:22 PM

John Boyle

Seahawks.com Senior Reporter

This one lived up to the hype.

The Seahawks and Rams came into Thursday night's game with matching 11-3 records and looking very much like two of the best, if not the best, teams in the NFL, and in front of a prime-time audience, the two teams lived up to the billing trading big plays and big stops in a game that, somehow, ended with the Seahawks celebrating a 38-37 overtime win after trailing by 16 points in the fourth quarter.

With the win, the Seahawks clinch a playoff berth and also moved into first place in the division and into the NFC's top spot with two games remaining.

Here are six rapid reactions to Thursday night's win:

1. The Seahawks showed a ton of grit in a comeback for the ages.

For much of Thursday's game, it looked like it just wasn't the Seahawks' day. The Rams were making too many big plays in the passing game, and Seattle's offense was inconsistent, using explosive plays to score touchdowns, but also committing three turnovers and having multiple three-and-outs.

And after falling behind 30-14 early in the fourth quarter, then turning the ball over in the red zone on the ensuing possession, the Seahawks appeared destined for their fourth loss of the season.

But instead of a crushing defeat, the Seahawks rallied for one of the most memorable regular-season wins in their history.

First, there was a Rashid Shaheed punt return touchdown and ensuing 2-point conversion to make it an 8-point game, then after another stop by the defense, which had a tough day for three quarters, but stood up strong late in the game, the Seahawks scored again on a 26-yard touchdown from Sam Darnold to AJ Barner. They then tied the game at 30-30 on one of the most bizarre 2-point conversion you'll ever see, with a pass, initially ruled incomplete, being ruled a lateral on review, with Zach Charbonnet picking up the loose ball in the end zone for the tie.

In overtime, the Rams scored first, on one of many long completions to Puka Nacua, but the Seahawks rallied again, driving the field with Sam Darnold finding Jaxon Smith-Njigba for a touchdown. Rather than tie the game with an extra point, which with 3:13 left might have led to a tie, which would hurt the Seahawks' chances in the division, they went for two, and Darnold hit Eric Saubert for the winning score.

2. Turnovers, once again, were a big issue against the Rams, but Sam Darnold and company overcame them.

In a Week 11 loss that went right down to the wire, the Seahawks committed four turnovers, all of them Sam Darnold interceptions, that were the biggest deciding factor in the game.

On Thursday night, turnovers, three of them this time, once again proved very costly for the Seahawks in another loss to the Rams. But despite two interceptions and a Cooper Kupp fumble, the Seahawks were able to rally, with Darnold playing his best football in the fourth quarter and overtime to lead two touchdown drives.

It was a gutty but flawed performance for Seattle's offense, and one that should help give Darnold and company some momentum going forward.

3. Matthew Stafford and Puka Nacua had huge games, but the defense stood up late.

The Seahawks have had one of the league's best pass rushes this season, but for the most part they were unable to get to Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford on Sunday. And with time to operate—the Seahawks had no sacks and four quarterback hits—Stafford showed why he is one of the leading candidates for MVP honors this season.

Stafford, who the Seahawks held to 130 passing yards and a 4.6 yards-per-attempt average in Week 11, both season lows, was far more effective in his second meeting with the Seahawks, completing 29 of 49 attempts for 459 yards and three touchdowns, giving him a 110.7 passer rating. Darnold did the most damage throwing to Nacua, who finished the game with 12 catches for 225 yards and a pair of touchdowns.

But despite a tough first three quarters, the defense responded in a big way late, forcing three straight three-and-outs to give the offense and special teams a chance to get back into the game, then got a stop to force a long field goal attempt that missed before forcing one more punt late in the fourth quarter.

4. Kenneth Walker III was ready for prime time.

Splitting playing time and touches with Zach Charbonnet this year, Kenneth Walker III hasn't always put up numbers that align with how well he is playing this season, but on Thursday night, Walker reminded a nation audience that he is still one of the league's most explosive running backs.

Walker's big day started with a screen pass on Seattle's opening possession, with Walker taking the short pass for a 46-yard gain to the Rams' 5-yard line. Two plays later, Charbonnet punched it in for a touchdown to give Seattle an early lead.

Walker's biggest play came on the opening possession of the third quarter, with the fourth-year back taking a handoff and bouncing through a hole on the right side of the line before sprinting 55 yards for his longest touchdown run since he had a 74-yarder against the Chargers as a rookie in 2022.

Walker had two other impressive plays that didn't end up impacting the game, but were noteworthy nonetheless. Late in the first half with the Seahawks facing third-and-16, they called a handoff that normally would just be a preface to a punt, but Walker broke multiple tackles to gain 17 yards and extend the drive. If not for a Kupp fumble later in the drive, that effort by Walker likely would have led to points. In the second half, after a Darnold interception, he chased down cornerback Josh Wallace to tackle him at the goal line to avoid a pick-six. The Rams punched it in one play later, but it was still an impressive hustle play for Walker.

Walker finished with 11 carries for 100 yards and also added 64 yards on three catches.

4. Rashid Shaheed provided a spark yet again.

While Rashid Shaheed played in the previous meeting between these teams, he was new to the Seahawks, having just arrived in a midseason trade with the Saints, and as a result, his impact was limited. Shaheed has been heating up of late, however, contributing 141 receiving yards in Seattle's previous two games, including two catches on the game-winning drive last week, and he also had a 100-yard kick return touchdown against the Falcons.

On Thursday, he helped spark an impressive comeback effort, returning a punt 58-yard to make it a one-score game, then later he also added a 31-yard run on an end-around to help jumpstart a drive that ended with a Sam Darnold 26-yard touchdown pass to AJ Barner that, with a bonkers 2-point conversion, allowed the Seahawks to tie the game.

6. Jaxon Smith-Njigba made a little more history with a big second half.

After being held without a catch in the first half, Seahawks receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba got going in the second half, finishing the game with eight catches for 96 yards and a touchdown. While not a big game by the league's leading receiver's standard this year, it did allow him to break another record.

With eight catches, Smith-Njigba is up to 104 this season, breaking the single-season franchise record of 100 that he previously shared with Tyler Lockett.