The call was weird but correct—get over it
Sean McVay stood at the podium after his Rams blew a 16-point fourth-quarter lead and lost 38-37 in overtime to Seattle, and the first thing he wanted to talk about was the controversial two-point conversion. With 6:23 left in the fourth quarter, Sam Darnold attempted a pass that Jared Verse tipped. The ball fell incomplete—or so everyone thought. The officials initially ruled it no good, the Seahawks lined up to kick off, and then replay review stepped in.
After review, the call was reversed: Darnold's pass was backward, making it a fumble, and Zach Charbonnet recovered it in the end zone for two points. The score tied at 30-30, eventually sending the game to overtime where Seattle completed their improbable comeback. McVay said afterward: "I've never seen anything or never been a part of anything like that. I've grown up around this game." That's fine, but growing up around the game doesn't change the rulebook. A backward pass is a live ball. Charbonnet recovered it in the end zone. That's two points. The timing was unusual—reviewing it after the kickoff team lined up—but the call was correct.
Matthew Stafford doesn't know the fumble advancement rule
Stafford threw for 457 yards and three touchdowns in the loss, but after the game he admitted confusion about the rule: "I didn't think you were allowed to advance a fumble" in that situation. That's incorrect. You can't advance a fumble on fourth down or in the final two minutes of a half—but this was a two-point conversion attempt, which operates under different rules. On a conversion try, a fumble is live and can be advanced by either team. The Seahawks recovered in the end zone, so it's good for two points.
This isn't obscure rule trivia. It's basic NFL officiating that Stafford, a 16-year veteran, should understand. Puka Nacua tweeted "Appreciate you stripes for your contribution. Lol" minutes after the game, implying the officials cost them the win. Nacua had 12 catches for 225 yards and two touchdowns—a monster performance—but blaming the refs for a correct call doesn't change what actually happened: the Rams collapsed.
The Rams had three separate chances to ice this game
Let's talk about why the Rams lost, because it wasn't the officials. Los Angeles led by 16 points with just over eight minutes left in regulation. At that point, Seattle had a 3% chance to win according to Next Gen Stats. The Rams then proceeded to fall apart in three distinct phases: special teams, offense, and defense.
Special teams allowed Rashid Shaheed's punt return touchdown, which cut the lead to nine. Then Harrison Mevis, who hadn't missed a kick all season, shanked a 48-yarder with 2:07 left that would've extended the lead. The Rams also muffed a kickoff and punted for just 32 yards late. That's a complete special teams meltdown when you need to close out a game.
Offensively, the Rams went ice cold in the fourth quarter. Stafford and the offense controlled the game for three quarters, racking up 581 total yards—a season high—but couldn't sustain drives when it mattered. They punted quickly multiple times in the fourth, giving Seattle short fields to work with. When you dominate yardage 581 to 415 and still lose, it's because you stopped executing in crunch time.
Three two-point conversions is historically wild
The Seahawks converted three two-point attempts in this game—all in the final 8:03 of regulation and overtime. That's one fewer than the NFL record of four, set by the 2000 Rams. After Shaheed's punt return touchdown, Cooper Kupp caught the first conversion to make it 30-23. Then Darnold found AJ Barner for a touchdown, followed by the controversial backward pass recovery by Charbonnet to tie it 30-30.
In overtime, after the Rams took a 37-30 lead, Darnold hit Jaxon Smith-Njigba for a touchdown and then found Eric Saubert—who had two catches all season and had never caught a two-point conversion in his career—for the game-winner. Teams usually prepare two two-point plays for a typical game. The Seahawks used three successfully in one night. That's creative play-calling and flawless execution under maximum pressure.
Sean McVay's red zone decisions haunt him
McVay came out aggressive, going for it on fourth down five times early. That's good coaching when you're trying to bury an opponent. But the Rams were only 3-of-6 in the red zone, leaving points on the board throughout. They turned it over on downs on the opening drive, had a touchdown called back by penalty, and McVay chose to kick a field goal on fourth-and-2 from the Seattle 5-yard line despite going for it on fourth-and-1 from his own 38 earlier.
Those decisions matter. When you outgain your opponent by 166 yards, win the turnover battle 3-0, and still lose, it's because you didn't maximize scoring opportunities. The Rams scored 37 points but left more on the field. Against a team that won't die, you can't afford that.
Sam Darnold turned his worst night into his best
Darnold threw four interceptions against the Rams earlier this season. He threw two more in the second half Thursday night, putting Seattle in a 16-point hole. At that point, most quarterbacks are cooked. Darnold responded by throwing for 144 yards, two touchdowns, and three two-point conversions in the fourth quarter and overtime to complete the comeback. That's one of his signature victories as an NFL quarterback, not just as a Seahawk.
Kenneth Walker III ran for 100 yards on just 14 touches, including a 55-yard touchdown that gave Seattle an early third-quarter lead they frankly didn't deserve. He also chased down Josh Wallace after an interception to stop him at Seattle's 1-yard line—the Rams scored next play, but the hustle was inspirational. Why Walker only got 14 touches is a coaching mystery, but he maximized every opportunity.
The Rams controlled this game and lost anyway
This loss will haunt McVay because his team did everything right for 50 minutes. They dominated offensively with Stafford and Nacua torching Seattle's secondary. They forced three turnovers. They built a 16-point lead late. Then special teams collapsed, the offense stalled, and the defense allowed three two-point conversions in eight minutes. That's not bad luck—that's a team-wide failure to close.
McVay can ask for "clarity and understanding" about the backward pass rule, but the officials got it right. The Rams lost because they stopped playing winning football when it mattered most. Seattle's comeback was improbable, creative, and gutsy. The Rams' collapse was inexcusable. You don't blow 16-point leads in the fourth quarter when you're fighting for playoff seeding. Now instead of controlling the NFC, they're staring at a potential road playoff opener. That's on execution, not officiating.