In a match to close the 2022 regular season, the Seattle Seahawks received the Los Angeles Rams needing a victory to still dream of the playoffs. With uninspired attacks, the home team needed overtime to beat the NFC West rival 19-16.
QB Geno Smith closed out the game with 19/31 completions for 213 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions. RB Kenneth Walker III was the most productive player on Seattle’s offense with 29 carries for 114 yards and one reception for ten yards.
On the Rams side, Baker Mayfield scored 13/26 passes for 147 yards and an interception. The highlight of the team was CB Jalen Ramsey with two interceptions.
With the victory, the Seahawks (9-8) were looking forward to a defeat or tie by the Green Bay Packers against the Detroit Lions to qualify for the playoffs. And the Lions helped, vencendo o Sunday Night Football.
The Rams, meanwhile, finished the season with a record of 5-11 – the worst since Sean McVay took over as head coach of the team.
(Photo: Playback/Twitter Seattle Seahawks)
THE GAME
On the first snap of the game, QB Geno Smith was intercepted by CB Jalen Ramsey. With the ball already on the 11-yard line of the attacking field, the Rams did not manage more than seven yards and had to settle for only a field goal converted by Matt Gay: 3 to 0 Los Angeles.
STOP PLAYING WITH @jalenramsey! A pick to start Week 18!
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— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) January 8, 2023
With both attacks failing to convert their campaigns into touchdowns, the kickers stand out. The Hawks turned the score around with two field goals by Jason Myers. The Rams, however, tied it up with another Matt Gay field goal.
The first TD of the match only came out in the final seconds of the second period. Wide receiver Tutu Atwell ran 11 yards into Seattle’s end zone and led Los Angeles into halftime ahead 13-6.
SECOND TIME
Back in the locker rooms, it was the Seahawks who first changed the lineup. Geno Smith found a beautiful 36-yard pass to Tyler Lockett who scored his new TD of the season and tied the match again: 13 to 13.
Great throw by @GenoSmith3 and a perfect grab by @TDLockett12! ????
???? FOX pic.twitter.com/BSDGI5ZWDz
— Seattle Seahawks (@Seahawks) January 8, 2023
The Rams reclaimed the lead with another Matt Gay field goal. On the next drive, Jalen Ramsey showed well once again and intercepted Geno Smith for the second time in the game. The LA team, however, did not take advantage of the turnover, and the score was only changed again with the Hawks’ tie in another field goal by Jason Myers: 16 to 16.
With less than a minute left in the game, Seattle had the ball on the 25-yard line of the defense field to try another drive. Taking advantage of a foul by Ramsey, Geno Smith took the Hawks’ attack to the 28 line of the attacking field, leaving the victory in the feet of Jason Myers. The kicker, however, kicked the ball into the post, and the match went into overtime.
EXTENSION
On the first possession of overtime, the Seahawks couldn’t get more than three plays and a punt. However, Baker Mayfield returned the ball to the Seattle team when it was intercepted by safety Quadre Diggs.
Needing just a field goal to win the match, Jason Myers had one more chance to put final numbers on the scoreboard. This time, in a 32-yard kick, the kicker secured the home team’s victory. Final score: 19 to 16 for the Seahawks.
