Defense holds once more
You may want to believe that the Rams were set on losing this one, and for much of the game, I could not shake that feeling. And the fact that the Seattle Seahawks won the toss, and elected to receive the football all but set the wheels in motion for the Rams fourth road loss of the season, and fifth overall loss.
SPOILER ALERT
Ah, but that's where this story gets good, right? In any Hollywood blockbuster, the heroes always find themselves at the brink of annihilation, and then miraculously find a way to save the day. Well, why can't the NFL do the same thing, with a few customized wrinkles, to create their own blockbuster NFL game?
Okay, back to the action
The Rams defense appeared to be gassed in overtime. The Seahawks rushed Kenneth Walker relentlessly at the middle of the defense, softening the secondary up for some passes. After a long completion, the offense went back to the ground. At third down and just one yard to go, the Seahawks tried running Kenneth Walker once more. He was stopped for no gain by rookie OLB Jared Verse.
The Seahawks could have kicked the field goal then and there. The Rams would have just one offensive possession to score, or lose the game. And now, after the game, I'm certain that there will be plenty of second-guessing over that decision.
Instead, they chose to go for it. The defense had not put up much resistance, and it was just one yard to go for a new set of downs. But the Rams knew what was coming, and had run-stuffing rookie linebacker Omar Speights on the football field.
As Kenneth Walker hit the hole, Speights hit him and stopped him cold. The defense stopped the Seahawks on downs. Yes, the offense had the football. But they took over on the 16-yard line. And the Rams had not done much on offense all day.
But this was Matthew Stafford, the king of NFL comebacks. And this was one more opportunity to show the entire NFL why he is so dangerous with the football as time is running out.