Seahawks Show ‘We’re A Very Resilient, Relentless Group’ In Comeback Win Over Rams

First, a defense that was struggling to stop Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford and receiver Puka Nacua, got a three-and-out after Darnold’s fourth-quarter interception. Rashid Shaheed then returned the ensuing punt 58-yards for a touchdown. Darnold hit Cooper Kupp for a 2-point conversion to make it an 8-point game, giving the Seahawks some life, but there was still a lot of work to do.

The defense got a three-and-out, and the offense responded with another touchdown, this one a 26-yard pass from Darnold to tight end AJ Barner. The Seahawks went for two again, and appeared to come up empty when Darnold’s pass was tipped and landed incomplete, but upon review, it was determined that the pass was backwards, making it a fumble, and since running back Zach Charbonnet casually picked the loose ball up in the end zone, the Seahawks got the two points to tie the game.

Neither team could score again in regulation, and in overtime, the Rams got the ball first and put together another scoring drive, with Stafford hitting Nakua for a 41-yard touchdown to make it 37-30. That made it do-or-die time for the Seahawks, and Darnold and the offense stepped up again, driving 65-yards on nine plays, the last of them a four-yard touchdown pass to Jaxon Smith-Njigba.

Rather than kick the extra point, setting up the possibility of a tie with only 3:13 left in overtime, the Seahawks went for two, and Darnold hit tight end Eric Saubert for the winning conversion, setting off a big celebration on the field and in the stands.

“It’s those guys in there,” Macdonald said of his team’s comeback. “They decided that they were going to play a certain way and be the team that they talk about, and they back it up every day, every day. No matter the circumstance, they do it. Defensively, we were down guys. You know, they’re moving the ball up and down the field. We’re coming up with red zone stops and making adjustments and fighting our tails off, and then punt return team makes a huge play, offense starts — I mean, that’s who they are; it’s the players.

“It’s who we are. It’s what we do. You know, you believe in who you are and then you keep doing it and keep proving it really to yourself, to our guys. They understand who they are, and then when it’s time to put it on the line they’re ready to go.”

It could have been a natural reaction if the Seahawks had been deflated by that last turnover, their third of the game, and never recovered. And it would have been understandable if the defense, which was on the field for so much of the game, and which finished the game down three staring defensive backs, Coby Bryant, Riq Woolen and Nick Emmanwori, couldn’t find the energy to finish strong.