Highlights & Takeaways From Rams’ Week 9 Overtime Win Over Seahawks

The Los Angeles Rams’ Week 9 matchup with the Seattle Seahawks was their biggest game to date as they look to continue to work themselves back into the playoff mix.

After a 1-4 start, the Rams had won back-to-back games before going on the road for a tough division battle with the Seahawks.

The NFC West standings are currently bunched up so a win over Seattle would put L.A. right back in the mix while a loss would have them in last place. After a crazy, back-and-forth game, the Rams ultimately came out on top with a 26-20 victory in overtime to get back to .500 at 4-4.

The credit for this one mostly goes to the Rams’ young defense as they made life tough for Geno Smith all day, coming up with turnovers, sacks and big stops when the offense mostly struggled.

Jaxon Smith-Njigba was a thorn in the Rams’ side all day with seven receptions for 180 yards and two touchdowns, but other than that it was a stellar defensive performance for Chris Shula’s group.

In addition to a season-high seven sacks with everyone getting in on it, including Jared Verse, Braden Fiske, Kobie Turner and Byron Young, the Rams also had three interceptions on the day.

Undrafted rookie safety Jaylen McCollough had the first one, already giving him four on the season. The last two were also by another rookie in Kam Kinchens, and both came in big spots with the Seahawks driving and in the red zone.

Kinchens returned the first one 103 yards for a touchdown, marking the longest interception return in Rams history.

Then when the game was again on the line in overtime, the Rams defense held strong for a big fourth down stop, setting up the game-winning touchdown for the offense of the ensuing drive.

That touchdown was scored by Demarcus Robinson, who made a stellar one-handed catch on a beautiful deep ball from Matthew Stafford. Robinson finished with six receptions for 94 yards and two touchdowns, now scoring four times in the last two games.

Cooper Kupp also had an outstanding game with 11 receptions for 104 yards, which was needed after Puka Nacua got ejected in the second quarter for throwing a punch at a Seahawks defense back.

It wasn’t the best day for the Rams’ offense as they had plenty of chances to put the game away but were unable to do so. Kyren Williams notably didn’t find the end zone for the first time in 11 games.

But the offense came through when it needed to as Stafford led a four-play, 83-yard drive in overtime to seal the victory. The quarterback completed 25-of-44 passes for 298 yards, two touchdowns and an interception.

What’s next for the Rams

After winning their last three, the Rams are now firmly back in the postseason mix at 4-4. They will look to keep things going when they host the Miami Dolphins on Monday Night Football in Week 10, which will mark the returns of Jalen Ramsey and Odell Beckham Jr. to SoFi Stadium.