The Los Angeles Rams entered their Week 18 matchup against the Seattle Seahawks without much to play for other than playoff seeding.
The Rams clinched the NFC West crown in Week 17 with a win over the Arizona Cardinals plus a series of matchups that helped them claim strength of victory over the Seahawks. Los Angeles is now guaranteed to host a playoff game during the Wild Card round of the 2025 playoffs, but what seed they’d finish with and who their opponent would be hinged on the result of their game against Seattle.
Unfortunately, the Rams’ backups were unable to pull off a victory and lost to the Seahawks 30-25. That dropped them to the fourth seed in the NFC going into the playoffs.
Head coach Sean McVay announced that several of the offensive starters would sit against Seattle, so this meant Jimmy Garoppolo would make his first start of the 2024 season. Garoppolo looked solid to begin the afternoon, connecting with Demarcus Robinson for a first down before the offense was forced off the field.
The two teams traded drives that ended in punts, before the Seahawks broke the tie with a touchdown from Geno Smith to Jake Bobo, making it 7-0. Los Angeles answered with a 37-yard field goal from Joshua Karty though Seattle responded with their second touchdown of the day, making it 14-3 in the second quarter.
On the next Rams’ drive, Garoppolo got into a rhythm completing a few easy throws before capping the possession off with a six-yard touchdown to Tyler Higbee. Later on, Karty drilled a career-long 58-yard field goal to make it 17-13 at halftime.
Jordan Whittington got next 👀
(via @NFL) pic.twitter.com/jSfzwBz6Hz
— Rams Newswire (@RamsNewswire) January 5, 2025
Second touchdown pass of the day for Jimmy Garoppolo, this time to Tyler Johnson.
(via @NFL) pic.twitter.com/3c2Yyy34Ff
— Rams Newswire (@RamsNewswire) January 5, 2025
Jimmy G dime to DRob to set up a field goal before half!
(via @RamsNFL) pic.twitter.com/ypCnL0PYtz
— Rams Newswire (@RamsNewswire) January 5, 2025
Jimmy G finds Big Rig Higs for the touchdown!
(via @RamsNFL) pic.twitter.com/cSf0forcRT
— Rams Newswire (@RamsNewswire) January 5, 2025
Like Garoppolo, Blake Corum also made his first start for the Rams but was pulled from the game due to a forearm injury. McVay later announced Corum broke his forearm and will not be available for the playoffs.
The second half featured much better offensive showings for both teams, with Garoppolo leading Los Angeles to three-consecutive scoring drives. Garoppolo rifled his second touchdown of the game when he found Tyler Johnson in the back of the end zone, though the ensuing 2-point conversion attempt was no good.
Garoppolo then had a chance to win the game for the Rams late in the fourth quarter, but he failed to convert on 4th-and-3. Los Angeles turned the ball over on downs and Seattle would go on to win the regular season finale.
What’s next for the Rams
The Rams will now play the Minnesota Vikings in the Wild Card round at SoFi Stadium on Monday, Jan. 13.
