Observations & Analysis From Rams’ Week 16 Loss To Seahawks

In their biggest game of the season, the Los Angeles Rams laid their biggest egg, failing to score a touchdown for the first time all year in a 20-9 loss to the Seattle Seahawks in Week 16.

The loss marked the first time the Rams have dropped back-to-back games this season and at 9-6, now puts them in danger of missing the postseason altogether if they lose their final game.

Even though the score looked a bit lopsided, this is actually a game the Rams should have won. They had more total yards than the Seahawks, outrushed them and finished with more time of possession, although the inability to punch the ball into the end zone wound up being their downfall.

Here are some of my observations from the game…

Goff’s poor play and injury

As has normally been the case this season, the main reason the Rams lost this game was because of the poor play of Jared Goff. I know I’m sounding like a broken record here, but anyone who watched the Rams play would agree that this is a roster that’s good enough to get to the Super Bowl if they just had better quarterback play.

And honestly, the worst part is that Goff has shown he is capable of playing well, even at times in the loss to the Seahawks, but it’s ultimately a few stupid mistakes that always cost him and the Rams.

This time, it was an interception in the red zone in the second quarter that wasted a 10-play, 57-yard drive. Goff had no one open on the play but tried to force it to Robert Woods, resulting in a bad overthrow and an easy interception. Just throw the ball away and live to see another day, Jared. This has happened way too many times.

Not only did the Rams struggle to get the ball in the red zone, but they simply didn’t throw it downfield as Goff did not attempt a single pass of more than 20 yards. I’m not sure if that’s a playcalling issue or a Goff issue, but it makes it awfully tough to come back when trailing late in a game when you can’t move the ball down the field.

Now, I will cut Goff some slack here as it was clear he was playing injured in the fourth quarter after hitting his hand on the helmet of Seahawks defensive lineman Benson Mayowa. It was revealed after the game that Goff suffered both a dislocated and broken thumb on the play and was able to tough it out, so I will give him credit there.

Goff’s status moving forward is uncertain though so we may get to see what John Wolford’s got in the regular-season finale next week. I don’t know if that’s good or bad since no one has really ever seen Wolford play, but only time will tell. If he can take care of the ball then he already is a step up from Goff.

Defense can’t carry this team forever

This game was another solid performance for the Rams defense, sacking Russell Wilson five times and limiting Seattle to 292 yards of total offense. The Rams have arguably the best defense in football, but one thing that has become clear the last two weeks is that they can’t carry the offense forever.

They did a great job of containing Wilson for most of the day, but he put two great drives together in the second half when he needed to, finishing with touchdowns both times to secure the victory.

Even with those two touchdown drives, the Rams limited Wilson and the Seahawks to 20 points on the day, which anyone would absolutely take if it was offered to them before the game.

For the second week in a row though, L.A. couldn’t get a stop when they needed to with the game on the line. Instead of putting that on the Rams defense, I’m going to say the offense needs to be better so it doesn’t even come down to that in the first place.

Update postseason picture

Alright, as frustrating as that loss to the Seahawks was, the Rams’ playoff hopes are nowhere near dead, so I’m going to break down what it will take for them to make it.

It’s pretty simple, to be honest. If the Rams beat the Arizona Cardinals next week, they’re in. They also can get in if they lose, but that would require the Green Bay Packers beating the Chicago Bears.

Depending on how Week 17 goes, the Rams could either be the fifth, sixth or seventh seed in the NFC, or they could miss out on the playoffs altogether. Here are the different scenarios for each to happen:

If the Rams lose next week and miss out on the playoffs, the Rams will have no one to blame but themselves after losing to the winless New York Jets last week.

Up next…

As previously mentioned, the Rams will be hosting the Cardinals next Sunday at 1:25 p.m. PT in the biggest game of the season. Both quarterbacks are coming in banged up so that will be something to monitor throughout the week, although there is no doubt Goff and Kyler Murray will both do everything they can to play.