In a highly anticipated Week 11 showdown between two NFC West titans, the Seattle Seahawks fell to the Los Angeles Rams 21-19 in a defensive battle that saw quarterback Sam Darnold's old demons return with devastating consequences.
A Costly Regression
The matchup featured two 7-2 teams seemingly evenly matched on both sides of the ball, but Darnold's four interceptions proved the difference maker. The Seahawks quarterback, who had performed at a near-MVP level for most of the season, completed 29 of 44 passes for 279 yards with no touchdowns and a dismal passer rating of 45.5.
This performance echoed Darnold's last encounter with the Rams during last season's playoffs while with Minnesota, where he endured a 60-minute nightmare featuring nine sacks. This time, however, the Rams employed a different strategy that proved equally effective.
Defensive Dominance and Missed Opportunities
Los Angeles defensive coordinator Chris Shula devised a masterful game plan that involved dropping six and seven players into coverage, confusing Darnold's reads and forcing him to process information beyond his capability. Remarkably, Darnold wasn't sacked once, suggesting the psychological pressure proved more damaging than physical pressure.
The Seahawks defense performed admirably despite the offensive struggles, limiting Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford to just 130 passing yards and two touchdowns. Seattle remained competitive until the final moments, with kicker Jason Myers narrowly missing a 61-yard field goal attempt that would have secured an unlikely victory.
Historical Context and Future Implications
The four-interception performance marked Darnold's worst since October 2019, when he was famously recorded saying he was 'seeing ghosts' against the New England Patriots. The Seahawks and Rams will meet again in Seattle on 18 December, setting the stage for another potentially decisive NFC West confrontation.
While the loss drops Seattle to 7-3, the game demonstrated that even at their worst, both teams remain among the NFL's elite, capable of producing dramatic contests worthy of Game of the Year consideration.
