Seahawks top Rams in OT: Winners and losers from huge NFC West battle
SEATTLE – The Seattle Seahawks won one of their biggest home games in recent memory, taking a 38-37 overtime win over the Los Angeles Rams in a game that staked its claim as one of the best games of the 2025 NFL season.
Seattle trailed 13-7 at halftime after the Rams dominated time off possession in the first half of their Dec. 18 ‘Thursday Night Football’ tilt.
Things were looking bleak for the Seahawks in the fourth quarter. Sam Darnold had just thrown his second interception, and the Rams held a 30-14 lead. The situation changed quickly when Rashid Shaheed fielded a punt and raced down the field for a 58-yard touchdown. The Seahawks had a successful two-point try on the ensuing play to cut their deficit to 30-22. Seattle then scored on its next drive and converted a wild two-point conversion upon official review to tie the ball game at 30-30 with 6:23 remaining in the fourth period.
Both defenses traded stops the rest of the fourth quarter, sending the game to OT.
In overtime, the Rams struck first on a 41-yard touchdown reception by Puka Nacua.
The Seahawks answered when wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba caught a four-yard touchdown pass from Darnold in the back of the end zone. Seattle ended the game on a successful two-point conversion to end the game on a catch by tight end Eric Saubert.
After Los Angeles topped the Seahawks at SoFi Stadium in Week 11, the Seahawks extracted a measure of revenge this week. Seattle’s win game them sole possession of first place in the NFC West.
USA TODAY Sports was at the NFC West primetime battle. Here are the winners and losers from the Week 16 contest:
Winners
Rashid Shaheed
Things were looking bad for the Seahawks. Darnold had just thrown his second interception, and the Rams had a two-score lead. The situation changed quickly when Shaheed fielded a punt.
Shaheed caught the ball and raced down the field for a 58-yard punt return touchdown. The Seahawks had a successful two-point try on the ensuing play to cut their deficit to 30-22.
Shaheed had a 31-yard run on Seattle’s next possession. Seattle scored a touchdown and tied the game on a two-point conversion on the following two plays.
Puka Nacua’s performance on field
Nacua made negative headlines off the field this week. He apologized hours before the game for an antisemitic dance performed during a video livestream. He also criticized NFL referees during the same livestream with Adin Ross and N3on, two internet streamers.
It’s probably a good idea for Nacua to not go on that livestream with those two streamers again.
But on the field, Nacua had an exceptional night.
The Rams wideout had a 58-yard catch and run over the middle of the field at the end of the third quarter that silenced the Seattle crowd.
Nacua capped off the drive when he caught a one-yard touchdown on a quick slant.
In overtime, Nacua caught a 41-yard touchdown.
Nacua finished with a career-high 225 receiving yards on 12 catches. He reached the end zone twice.
Kenneth Walker III
The Seahawks running back compiled 164 yards from scrimmage and a touchdown. Walker’s 55-yard touchdown scamper was his longest run of the season.
Rams CB Josh Wallace
Wallace record his first career interception. The Rams cornerback stepped in front of a Sam Darnold pass intended for wideout Rashid Shaheed. Wallace took the interception and returned it to Seattle’s one-yard line.
The Rams entered the end zone one play later on a run by running back Blake Corum.
Seahawks fourth-quarter defense
The Seahawks defense forced the Rams to three consecutive three-and-outs in the fourth quarter as Seattle climbed back to tie the game. It was the largest fourth-quarter comeback in franchise history.
NFC West
Best division in football? The NFC West entered the week as the only division is football with three teams (Rams, Seahawks and 49ers) with double-digit wins. The Seahawks and Rams have both clinched playoff spots.
Losers
Rams special teams, fourth-quarter defense
The Rams punt return unit gave up a 58-yard punt return touchdown to Rashid Shaheed.
The defense gave up a couple two-point conversions in the fourth quarter, although one was a bizarre backwards pass that was recovered in the end zone.
Rams defense on two-point conversions
The Rams defense gave up three total two-point conversions. The worst was when Seahawks tight end Eric Saubert caught a pass in the middle of the end zone for the game-winning score in overtime.
Rams’ travel plans
The Rams’ team flight was significantly delayed due to an equipment issue with the plane. The Rams landed in Seattle just before 9 p.m. PT on Dec. 17, a person close to the situation told USA TODAY Sports. They spoke on condition of anonymity because they weren’t authorized to discuss the team’s travel.
Follow USA TODAY Sports’ Tyler Dragon on X @TheTylerDragon.
