Seattle 38, Los Angeles 37 (OT) | December 18, 2025 | Lumen Field
Matthew Stafford: 29/49, 457 yards, 3 TD, 0 INT
Puka Nacua: 12 catches, 225 yards, 2 TD
Sam Darnold: 22/34, 270 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT
Kenneth Walker III: 164 total yards, 1 TD
Eric Saubert caught the game-winning two-point conversion with 3:13 left in overtime. The Seahawks erased a 16-point fourth quarter deficit to beat the Rams and clinch the NFC’s top seed at 12-3. Los Angeles fell to 11-4.
Table of Contents
Stats That Decided It
581 to 415 total yards favored the Rams, but Seattle made plays when it mattered
3 to 0 turnover margin went to Los Angeles, they lost anyway
58 yards on Shaheed’s punt return sparked 24 unanswered points
0 sacks allowed by the Rams couldn’t save them in crunch time
3-for-3 on two-point conversions, including the first OT game-winner in NFL history
40:33 to 26:14 time of possession meant nothing without fourth quarter execution
Game Leaders
Passing
Matthew Stafford (LAR): 457 yards, 3 TD
Sam Darnold (SEA): 270 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT
Rushing
Kenneth Walker III (SEA): 100 yards, 1 TD
Kyren Williams (LAR): 70 yards
Receiving
Puka Nacua (LAR): 225 yards, 2 TD
Jaxon Smith-Njigba (SEA): 96 yards, 1 TD
Defense
Drake Thomas (SEA): 13 tackles
Kobie Turner (LAR): 1 INT, 1.5 sacks
Stafford Outplayed Darnold Until It Mattered
The quarterback battle wasn’t close for three quarters. Stafford carved up Seattle’s secondary without throwing an interception. Darnold threw two picks that set up 10 Rams points.
Everything changed in the final period.
| Stat | Stafford | Darnold |
|---|---|---|
| Completions/Attempts | 29/49 | 22/34 |
| Yards | 457 | 270 |
| Yards per Attempt | 9.3 | 7.9 |
| Touchdowns | 3 | 2 |
| Interceptions | 0 | 2 |
| Times Sacked | 0 | 4 |
| Passer Rating | 110.7 | 84.2 |
Stafford threw for the third-most yards of his career. The Rams gave him clean pockets on all 49 dropbacks. He completed passes to nine different receivers and found open targets against every coverage Seattle showed him.
Four days earlier, Stafford threw for 368 yards against Detroit. His 825 passing yards in less than a week puts him among the league’s most productive quarterbacks.
After Darnold’s second interception early in the fourth quarter, he went 8-for-12 for 101 yards and two touchdowns to close the game. The two-point conversions to Kupp and Charbonnet tied it. The conversion to Saubert won it.
“I’ve had games like this in the past where I haven’t played my best football and turned the ball over, but at the end of the game you see yourself on the other side,” Darnold said. “All you can do is fight back.”
Complete Passing Stats
| Quarterback | Comp/Att | Yards | TD | INT | Sacks | Rating | QBR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Matthew Stafford | 29/49 | 457 | 3 | 0 | 0-0 | 110.7 | 88.7 |
| Sam Darnold | 22/34 | 270 | 2 | 2 | 4-26 | 84.2 | 41.3 |
Los Angeles brought 11 pressures on Darnold compared to just five on Stafford. Seattle managed four sacks but couldn’t generate consistent pressure when the Rams needed stops most.
Stafford went cold in the final period, completing just 4-of-13 passes for 97 yards in the fourth quarter and overtime combined. Seattle’s defense adjusted and made him uncomfortable for the first time all night.
Rushing Stats
| Runner | Team | Carries | Yards | Avg | TD | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kenneth Walker III | SEA | 11 | 100 | 9.1 | 1 | 55 |
| Kyren Williams | LAR | 23 | 70 | 3.0 | 0 | 8 |
| Blake Corum | LAR | 14 | 48 | 3.4 | 1 | 9 |
| Zach Charbonnet | SEA | 9 | 32 | 3.6 | 1 | 9 |
Walker’s 55-yard touchdown run opened the third quarter and gave Seattle a brief 14-13 lead. He averaged 9.1 yards per carry on 11 attempts. Next Gen Stats clocked him at 21.07 mph on the scoring burst.
Williams and Corum combined for 37 carries but managed just 118 yards. Seattle’s front seven held the Rams to 3.2 yards per attempt, forcing Los Angeles into obvious passing situations.
Charbonnet punched in a four-yard touchdown in the first quarter. His recovery of a deflected backward pass in the end zone for a two-point conversion tied the game at 30-30.
Seattle rushed for 171 yards on 25 carries (6.8 average). Los Angeles managed 124 yards on 39 attempts (3.2 average). The nearly four-yard disparity per carry mattered in short-yardage situations.
Receiving Stats
| Receiver | Team | Targets | Catches | Yards | Avg | TD | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Puka Nacua | LAR | 16 | 12 | 225 | 18.8 | 2 | 58 |
| Jaxon Smith-Njigba | SEA | 13 | 8 | 96 | 12.0 | 1 | 27 |
| Kenneth Walker III | SEA | 3 | 3 | 64 | 21.3 | 0 | 46 |
| Xavier Smith | LAR | 2 | 2 | 57 | 28.5 | 0 | 48 |
| AJ Barner | SEA | 6 | 4 | 49 | 12.3 | 1 | 26 |
| Terrance Ferguson | LAR | 4 | 3 | 33 | 11.0 | 1 | 27 |
Nacua’s 225 receiving yards rank second-most by an opponent in Seahawks franchise history. He racked up 124 yards after the catch, breaking tackles on intermediate routes and turning 10-yard gains into 20-yard chunks.
The 58-yard grab in the third quarter came on a deep pass. Nacua hauled it in and outraced the secondary to the four-yard line. Three plays later, the Rams led 23-14.
His 41-yard overtime touchdown put Los Angeles up 37-30. Stafford hit him on a deep pass and Nacua glided into the end zone with no defender within five yards. Seattle still had time.
“Puka is a great player,” Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald said. “He made some great contested catches that you got to kind of chalk up to him being a great player.”
Nacua caught nine passes for 181 yards against Detroit just four days earlier. Back-to-back games of 180-plus yards on short rest demonstrates his durability and production.
Smith-Njigba didn’t catch a pass in the first half. The Rams bracketed him with safety help and took away his underneath routes. Zero targets through two quarters.
He finished with eight catches for 96 yards. The overtime touchdown came on a short pass with 3:13 remaining. The reception was his 104th of the season, breaking Tyler Lockett’s franchise single-season record of 100.
Walker’s receiving ability gets overlooked. His 46-yard screen pass on Seattle’s opening drive set up the first touchdown. He grabbed the ball at the line and rumbled to the five-yard line for 42 yards after the catch.
Five Plays That Flipped Everything
Walker’s Chase-Down (3rd Quarter)
Josh Wallace picks off Darnold. Open field ahead. Walker runs him down from behind at the one-yard line. No pick-six. Pure hustle.
Turner’s Pick (4th Quarter, 9:48)
Rams up 30-14. Darnold forces a pass to Smith-Njigba. Turner jumps the route. First career interception for the defensive tackle. The Rams looked ready to close it out.
Shaheed’s Return (4th Quarter, 8:03)
Down 30-14. Shaheed catches the punt at the 42. He finds the left sideline. Untouched to the end zone. Darnold hits Kupp for two. Now 30-22. Game on.
Charbonnet’s Recovery (4th Quarter, 6:23)
Darnold’s screen hits Jared Verse’s helmet. Ball bounces into the end zone. Charbonnet picks it up. Replay confirms backward pass, live ball. Two points. Tied 30-30.
Saubert Wins It (OT, 3:13)
Smith-Njigba scores. 37-36. Macdonald goes for two. Darnold finds Saubert all alone. First overtime two-point conversion winner in NFL history.
Shaheed’s Return Started the Comeback
Down 30-14 with 8:03 left, the Seahawks needed a spark. Shaheed fielded Ethan Evans’ punt at the 42, found the left edge, and raced untouched to the end zone.
Darnold hit Kupp on the two-point conversion. Score: 30-22. The crowd went from silent to deafening.
“Rashid Shaheed gave us some life in this game,” safety Julian Love said. “It gave us life. When we got Rashid this year, it gave us a whole new sense of focus and energy on special teams.”
Two weeks earlier against Atlanta, Shaheed returned a kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown. He’s the only player in the league with both a kick return and punt return touchdown this season.
Harrison Mevis connected on field goals of 23, 28, and 41 yards before missing a 48-yarder with 2:07 remaining. The miss gave Seattle the ball back. It was his first missed kick of the season.
Returns and Kicking
| Player | Type | Returns | Yards | TD | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rashid Shaheed | Punt | 1 | 58 | 1 | 58 |
| Xavier Smith | Punt | 1 | 31 | 0 | 31 |
| Kicker | Team | FG Made/Att | Long | XP | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harrison Mevis | LAR | 3/4 | 41 | 4/4 | 13 |
| Jason Myers | SEA | 0/0 | 0 | 2/2 | 2 |
The Rams Went Ice Cold
Los Angeles scored 30 points through three quarters and seven minutes. Then production stopped completely.
Possessions after taking a 30-14 lead:
• Punt (3 plays, 4 yards)
• Punt (3 plays, 3 yards)
• Punt (3 plays, 7 yards)
• Missed 48-yard FG
• Punt (7 plays, 37 yards)
• Touchdown in OT (8 plays, 80 yards)
Five straight possessions without a score. Three consecutive three-and-outs. The quick throws and easy completions that worked early disappeared as Seattle brought more pressure.
Stafford went cold in the final period, completing just 4-of-13 passes for 97 yards in the fourth quarter and overtime combined. Darnold went 8-for-12 for 101 yards and two touchdowns after his second interception. The two-point conversions to Kupp and Charbonnet tied it at 30.
Three Two-Point Conversions Made History
Seattle attempted three and converted all three, tying the franchise record.
First (8:03 remaining)
Darnold found Kupp for the two-point conversion after Shaheed’s punt return touchdown. Score: 30-22.
Second (6:23 remaining)
Darnold threw a quick screen to Charbonnet. Rams pass rusher Jared Verse got a hand on it. The ball deflected off his helmet into the air and landed in the end zone. Charbonnet picked it up.
Officials ruled it incomplete. After replay review, referee Brad Allen announced backward pass, live ball, recovered in the end zone. Two points. Game tied 30-30.
“I’m glad Charbs picked it up,” Darnold said. “That obviously was a game-changing play.”
Third (OT, 3:13 remaining)
Smith-Njigba’s touchdown made it 37-36. Macdonald didn’t hesitate. Going for the win.
Darnold took the snap. He looked right at Smith-Njigba covered in the end zone. Came back left to Kupp, also covered. The pocket stayed clean. He found Saubert leaking out late. Wide open.
Saubert had two catches all season before that play. He’d never scored a two-point conversion in his NFL career.
“Our offensive line, I mean, that’s a tough front to block and Sam being able to extend the play and trust his read and trust his progressions and just a phenomenal play, man,” Macdonald said.
The overtime conversion made Seattle the first team in NFL history to win on a two-point try in the extra period.
Defense and Final Numbers
Thomas finished with a game-high 13 tackles from his linebacker position. Ernest Jones added 12 stops and a tackle for loss that forced the Rams into third-and-long during a fourth quarter possession.
Kobie Turner made the biggest defensive play for Los Angeles. Early in the fourth quarter with the Rams up 30-14, Darnold tried forcing a pass to Smith-Njigba in the red zone. The defensive tackle jumped the route and hauled in his first career interception at the one-yard line.
Josh Wallace’s 56-yard interception return in the third quarter set up Corum’s one-yard touchdown plunge that put Los Angeles up 23-14.
The Rams pass rush dominated with 11 pressures and four sacks on Darnold. Seattle couldn’t touch Stafford once, giving him clean pockets all night.
| Category | Rams | Seahawks |
|---|---|---|
| Total Yards | 581 | 415 |
| First Downs | 26 | 22 |
| Third Down | 8/20 (40%) | 4/11 (36%) |
| Time of Possession | 40:33 | 26:14 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 3 |
Los Angeles outgained Seattle by 166 yards, won time of possession by 14 minutes, and forced three turnovers without committing any. They lost by one point.
Fourth quarter execution mattered more than yardage totals. The Rams went three-and-out three straight times while Seattle scored 16 unanswered points.
Playoff Picture
Seattle clinched a playoff berth and the NFC’s top seed at 12-3. Win the final two games at Carolina and at San Francisco, and they secure the division title and a first-round bye.
Los Angeles fell to 11-4 and the fifth seed, trailing by a full game in the NFC West. According to ESPN’s FPI projections, the Rams have just a 27% chance to win the division.
“We just went down swinging,” Turner said. “We beat them once, they beat us once. We’ll see them again.”
Both teams split the season series 1-1. The Rams won 21-19 in Week 11 when Darnold threw four interceptions. This time, Darnold threw two picks and Seattle still won.
Historical Context
Seattle became the first NFL team to win on an overtime two-point conversion. They’re also the first team to successfully convert three two-point tries in one game since Dallas in 2020.
The Seahawks were 0-172 when trailing by 15 or more points in the fourth quarter before this game. That historical futility made the 16-point comeback even more improbable.
The 581 total yards allowed marked a season high for Seattle’s defense. The Rams averaged 6.8 yards per play and didn’t commit a turnover. That level of offensive production usually guarantees a victory.
For complete statistics, check the official NFL box score and game summary.
The Seahawks proved they can win multiple ways. Down 16 in the fourth quarter, they found answers on special teams, defense, and offense. Darnold bounced back from two crushing interceptions.
The Rams had their chances. Stafford played nearly flawless football, Nacua made every catch, and the defense forced three turnovers. Fourth quarter execution failures cost them control of the NFC.
Statistics verified through Pro Football Reference and official sources. Player quotes from post-game press conferences.
