Loss to Seattle drops Rams to No. 4 seed, setting up a MNF playoff game vs. Minnesota
Rams players and coaches left SoFi Stadium on Sunday not knowing who they would play in an NFC wild-card game.
The Rams ensured their waiting game by losing to the Seattle Seahawks 30-25 in front of 72,610.
But whether it would be the Detroit Lions or the Minnesota Vikings next Monday night at SoFi Stadium did not matter to the Rams after they fell from the No. 3 to the No. 4 seed in the NFC.
“We respect all,” coach Sean McVay said, “but we fear none.”
Rams lose to Seahawks, will face either Vikings or Lions in playoffs
🏈 Seahawks 30, Rams 25 — FINAL
The Rams lost out on their bid to take the No. 3 seed in the NFC and will face the Vikings or the Lions in the playoffs.
In the final minute on fourth-and-three, Jimmy Garoppolo failed to connect on a pass to Jordan Whittington, ending the Rams’ last chance for a win.
The Rams will play the loser of the Vikings-Lions regular-season finale on Sunday night.
After the game, Rams coach Sean McVay said rookie running back Blake Corum fractured his forearm during the loss and will miss the playoffs.
Garoppolo completed 27 of 41 passes for 334 yards, with a touchdown and an interception. Whittington made three catches for 86 yards and Ronnie Rivers rushed for 48 yards in 12 carries.
Seattle quarterback Geno Smith completed 20 of 27 passes for 223 yards, with four touchdowns.
Check out the game summary from the Rams’ loss Sunday.
Seahawks take lead on Noah Fant touchdown catch
🏈 Seahawks 30, Rams 25 — 3:19 left in the fourth quarter
Seattle tight end Noah Fant made a spectacular, 16-yard touchdown catch, going head-over-heels across the goal line after hauling in a rocket from Geno Smith to put the Seahawks back into the lead.
Seattle failed to convert on a two-point try after Rams safety Jaylen McCollough broke up a pass attempt after an eight-play, 70-yard drive.
Rams take their first lead on field goal in fourth quarter
🏈 Rams 25, Seahawks 24 — 7:34 left in the fourth quarter
Joshua Karty kicked a 38-yard field goal to give the Rams the lead for the first time.
The field goal came at the end of a seven-play, 58-yard drive that included Garoppolo finding Jordan Whittington wide open for a 50-yard reception. It was Whittington’s longest catch of the season.
Rams make it a two-point game on Tyler Johnson touchdown catch
🏈 Seahawks 24, Rams 22 — 12:43 left in the fourth quarter
Jimmy Garoppolo found Tyler Johnson in the end zone for a perfectly placed four-yard score, but the Rams failed to convert on the two-point conversion.
Demarcus Robinson couldn’t haul in the two-point conversion pass, keeping it a two-point game.
The nine-play, 70-yard drive included Garoppolo connecting on a 24-yard pass to Jordan Whittington.
Seahawks extend their lead on another Geno Smith TD pass
🏈 Seahawks 24, Rams 16 — 3:00 left in the third quarter
Geno Smith’s four-yard touchdown pass to tight end AJ Barner extended the Seahawks’ lead.
The Seahawks drove 70 yards in 10 plays.
On the key play, Smith completed a pass to receiver Jaxon Smith-Njiba, who lateraled the ball to running back Zach Charbonnet. The play covered 32 yards.
Smith has completed 15 of 21 passes for 177 yards and three touchdowns.
Joshua Karty field goal makes it a one-point game in third quarter
🏈 Seahawks 17, Rams 16 — 7:54 left in the third quarter
Joshua Karty kicked a 57-yard field goal to pull the Rams to within a point.
Karty also has kicked field goals of 37 and 58 yards.
Jimmy Garoppolo has completed 12 of 21 passes for 163 yards and a touchdown, with an interception.
Garoppolo’s 18-yard pass to Demarcus Robinson keyed the nine-play drive.
Joshua Karty field goal makes it a four-point game at halftime
🏈 Seahawks 17, Rams 13 — HALFTIME
Rookie Joshua Karty kicked a career-best 58-yard field goal as time expired to cut the Seahawks’ lead to four points.
Karty also kicked a 37-yard field goal.
Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith has completed 11 of 14 passes for 130 yards and two touchdowns.
DK Metcalf has three catches for 53 yards and a touchdown.
Rams quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo has completed nine of 18 passes for 133 yards and a touchdown, with an interception.
Desjuan Johnson sacked Smith, and Braden Fiske and Byron Young combined for another.
Seahawks extend their lead in the second quarter
🏈 Seahawks 17, Rams 10 — 3:21 left in the second quarter
Jason Myers’ 56-yard field goal extended the Seahawks’ lead.
Geno Smith connected with Tyler Lockett for a 16-yard gain during the nine-play, 35-yard drive.
Smith has completed 11 of 13 passes for 130 yards and two touchdowns.
Jimmy Garoppolo connects on TD pass to Tyler Higbee
🏈 Seahawks 14, Rams 10 — 8:47 left in the second quarter
Jimmy Garoppolo passed for his first touchdown as a Ram.
The 11th-year pro found veteran tight end Tyler Higbee for a six-yard touchdown.
The play capped an eight-play, 78 yard drive that included Garoppolo’s 22-yard pass to receiver Tyler Johnson, a 12-yard reception by Jordan Whittington and a facemask penalty against the Seahawks.
Garoppolo has completed eight of 13 passes for 102 yards.
Geno Smith connects with DK Metcalf on TD pass, extending Seahawks’ lead
🏈 Seahawks 14, Rams 3 — 12:48 left in second quarter
Geno Smith spun out of pressure and delivered a 20-yard touchdown pass to DK Metcalf.
Smith also had a 15-yard scramble on third down to keep alive the seven-play, 70-yard drive.
Smith has completed seven of nine passes for 101 yards and two touchdowns.
Metcalf has three catches for 53 yards.
Rams cut into Seahawks’ lead on field goal
🏈 Seahawks 7, Rams 3 — 37 seconds left in the first quarter
Joshua Karty kicked a 37-yard field goal, giving the Rams their first points after three possessions.
Receiver Jordan Whittington gained five yards on a fourth-down jet sweep to keep alive a nine-play, 44-yard drive.
Jimmy Garoppolo followed with a 22-yard pass to receiver Tutu Atwell.
Garoppolo has completed four of eight passes for 52 yards.
Geno Smith touchdown pass gives Seattle early lead
🏈 Seahawks 7, Rams 0 — 5:21 left in the first quarter
Geno Smith tossed a four-yard touchdown pass to receiver Jake Bobo to give the Seahawks the lead.
Bobo’s catch capped a five-play, 55-yard drive.
Smith’s 32-yard pass to tight end Noah Fant was the key play.
Smith has completed all five of his passes for 59 yards.
Stetson Bennett ready to play if his number is called
Matthew Stafford is being held out, and Jimmy Garoppolo is starting for the first time.
That means Stetson Bennett will be the Rams’ backup quarterback on Sunday against the Seattle Seahawks at SoFi Stadium.
Bennett, a fourth-round draft pick in 2023, was active for the opener against the Detroit Lions and the second game against the Arizona Cardinals because Garoppolo was serving a suspension for violating the NFL’s performance-enhancing substances policy.
But he has yet to take a regular-season snap.
Bennett has prepared each week as if he might play. His preparation for Sunday’s game has been more of the same.
“I’ve kind of viewed this year as even though I’m not the backup or getting reps, I’ve got to build those habits,” he said, “So I think I’ve developed a good routine.”
Now, should Garoppolo come out of the game for any reason, Bennett is again one snap away from making his NFL debut.
“If that happens, then I’m expected to go in and play well,” he said. “You don’t want to not be ready when your number is called.”
Jimmy Garoppolo looking forward to starting for Rams against Seahawks
Quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo last started an NFL game in October 2023.
On Sunday, the 11th-year pro will start in place of Matthew Stafford for the playoff-bound Rams in the season finale against the Seattle Seahawks at SoFi Stadium, coach Sean McVay said Wednesday.
The Rams last weekend clinched the NFC West title and the NFL’s strength-of-victory tiebreaker, so they will be either the No. 3 seed or No. 4 seed in the NFC playoffs. That was enough to convince McVay to rest Stafford against the Seahawks, and keep the 16th-year pro out of harm’s way.
Rams vs. Seattle Seahawks inactives for Sunday
Here are the players who will not be suiting up for the Rams and Seahawks on Sunday:
Rams inactives: QB Matthew Stafford, WR Cooper Kupp, WR Puka Nacua, RB Kyren Williams, OL Kevin Dotson, OL Alaric Jackson, OL Rob Havenstein
Seattle Seahawks: QB Jaren Hall, LB Patrick O’Connell, WR Cody White, WR John Rhys Plumlee, DT Brandon Pili, TE Tyler Mabry, DT Quinton Bohanna
Will Jimmy Garoppolo be the latest Rams backup to turn finale start into a new job?
This could play out differently.
What Rams quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo does on Sunday against the Seattle Seahawks — and what might happen during the offseason — might make it so.
In 2022, quarterback Baker Mayfield started the Rams’ regular-season finale, an overtime defeat by Seahawks that ended a historic Super Bowl-hangover season. In 2023, quarterback Carson Wentz started the finale against the San Francisco 49ers and led the Rams to a victory.
Tyler Johnson eager to make impact for Rams against Seahawks
Tyler Johnson showed this season that he can make big plays.
In the Rams’ season opener against the Detroit Lions, Johnson caught a pass and it turned it into a 63-yard gain. Six weeks later, he had a 37-yard reception against the Las Vegas Raiders.
With an NFC playoff berth in hand, coach Sean McVay will rest quarterback Matthew Stafford and star receivers Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua in Sunday’s game against the Seattle Seahawks at SoFi Stadium.
That opens the door for Johnson and other receivers such as Demarcus Robinson, Tutu Atwell and Jordan Whittington to team with veteran quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, who will start for the Rams for the first time after running the scout team during the season.
“Since training camp, I’ve been able to have some good reps with him,” Johnson said of Garoppolo. “He’s a smart guy, knows a lot about the game and he’s able to put receivers in the right spot to go out there and make plays.”
Johnson, a fifth-year pro, was inactive the last two games. He acknowledged that it can be frustrating at times to be caught in the game-day roster shuffle.
“There are days that are tougher than others,” he said, “but…you come back to reality and just always have that mindset of control what you can control and things that you can’t control don’t let it affect you.”
So his goal is always the same.
“Just go out there and continue to do the things I’ve been doing,” he said. “When opportunity presents itself, just go out there and make a play.”
Blake Corum should see plenty of carries against Seahawks
Rams running back Blake Corum took a handoff, ran to his left, and then cut back to the right and broke off a long run against the New York Jets.
The next week against the Arizona Cardinals, he made a similar cutback move and picked up positive yardage.
Unfortunately for Corum and the Rams, both plays were nullified by penalties.
No reason to get frustrated, Corum said.
“You just move on to the next play,” he said, “and do it again.”
Corum, a third-round draft pick, is expected to get significant opportunities on Sunday when the Rams play the Seattle Seahawks in the regular-season finale at SoFi Stadium.
With the Rams having clinched a playoff spot, coach Sean McVay will rest starting running back Kyren Williams in preparation for an NFC wild-card game the next week.
“My approach doesn’t change,” Corum said.
After getting minimal carries in the first part of the season, Corum’s role increased in the latter part. He has rushed for 197 yards in 56 carries.
“When you’re the No. 2 guy, and Kyren [Williams] has taken the bulk of the reps, compared to any team, sometimes you don’t get into the rhythm,” offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur said. “More touches for a back is usually better.
Rams’ could end up the No. 3 or No. 4 seed for the playoffs after Week 18, and four opponents are still a possibility. For sure, Rams will play at home.
“It’ll just be good if he does get those opportunities to see him work through a drive or two drives in a row and see what he can do.”
Corum, who helped lead Michigan to the College Football Playoff championship last season, is excited about the opportunity to play in the NFL playoffs.
But he is not looking too far ahead.
“Lots of learning this year from the team in general, but it’s been a great rookie year,” he said. “I’m super excited to go into the playoffs and make that run, but I’m focused on one game at a time.”
Rams playoff explainer: Here are the four teams they could face
Now that the Rams have clinched a playoff spot, coach Sean McVay has a decision to make.
Does he play starters to ensure the best chance of beating the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday at SoFi Stadium and retaining the No. 3 seed? Or does he rest quarterback Matthew Stafford and others and take his chances that the Rams might fall to No. 4?
Final seedings and playoff matchups will not be determined until after Sunday’s games, but the Rams are positioned to play a wild-card game against either the Washington Commanders, Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings or Detroit Lions.
Rams coach Sean McVay reveals who will be sitting out game against Seahawks
With the Rams having clinched a playoff spot, quarterback Matthew Stafford, receivers Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua, running back Kyren Williams, left tackle Alaric Jackson and right guard Kevin Dotson will be held out of Sunday’s game against the Seattle Seahawks at SoFi Stadium, coach Sean McVay said Friday.
Joe Noteboom will play left tackle, and Jonah Jackson right guard, McVay said. Warren McClendon Jr. is expected to start in place of right tackle Rob Havenstein, who is out for a second consecutive game because of a shoulder injury.
Rams vs. Seattle Seahawks: How to watch, prediction and betting odds
The NFC West title and a playoff berth are in hand, so Rams coach Sean McVay will rest several starters, including quarterback Matthew Stafford, running back Kyren Williams and receivers Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua, among others.
Veteran Jimmy Garoppolo will start in place of Stafford, with Stetson Bennett as the backup.
Garoppolo, 33, last started a game in October 2023 for the Las Vegas Raiders. The 11th-year pro has passed for 94 touchdowns, with 51 interceptions, during a career that also included stints with the New England Patriots, San Francisco 49ers and the Raiders.
With Williams sitting out, rookie Blake Corum will get increased opportunities. The third-round draft pick from Michigan has rushed for 197 yards in 56 carries. In each of the last two games, Corum made impressive cutback runs for significant gains, only to have each one nullified because of a penalty.