In a heart-pounding Thursday Night Football matchup at Lumen Field, the Seattle Seahawks delivered one of the most memorable comebacks of the 2025 NFL season. Trailing by 16 points entering the fourth quarter, Seattle mounted a furious rally to force overtime and ultimately prevail 38-37 over the division-rival Los Angeles Rams. The win not only clinched a playoff berth for the Seahawks but also propelled them to a one-game lead in the NFC West and the conference’s top seed.
The game, played on December 18, showcased explosive offenses on both sides, with a combined 75 points and over 1,000 yards of total offense. Seattle improved to 12-3, while Los Angeles dropped to 11-4, slipping to the No. 5 seed in the NFC playoff picture. According to NFL standings updated on NFL.com, this result sets up a tense final two weeks, with the Rams needing wins and help to reclaim the division crown.
First Half: Defensive Battles and Early Scoring
The contest began with both teams trading blows in a relatively low-scoring opening half. The Seahawks struck first late in the first quarter when running back Zach Charbonnet powered in for a 4-yard touchdown run, capping a drive highlighted by Kenneth Walker’s 46-yard screen pass reception. Los Angeles responded with a field goal from kicker Harrison Mevis, narrowing the gap to 7-3.
In the second quarter, the Rams took control. After a defensive stop, they capitalized on good field position following a 31-yard punt return by Xavier Smith. Quarterback Matthew Stafford orchestrated a methodical drive, finishing with a 3-yard touchdown pass to tight end Terrance Ferguson. Mevis added another field goal earlier in the period, giving Los Angeles a 13-7 halftime lead. The Rams’ defense shone, forcing a fumble recovery and limiting Seattle’s potent rushing attack.
Third Quarter Explosion: Rams Pull Away
The third quarter turned into a scoring frenzy. Walker broke free for a 55-yard touchdown run, reclaiming the lead for Seattle at 14-13. But the Rams answered swiftly. Stafford connected on a 48-yard pass to Smith, setting up a 41-yard Mevis field goal to make it 16-14.
Momentum swung decisively toward Los Angeles when cornerback Josh Wallace intercepted Sam Darnold and returned it 56 yards to the Seahawks’ 1-yard line. Running back Blake Corum punched in the score from there, pushing the lead to 23-14. Stafford then unleashed a 54-yard touchdown bomb to wide receiver Puka Nacua, extending the advantage to 30-14 as the quarter wound down. Nacua’s performance was electric, finishing with 12 receptions for 225 yards and two touchdowns, marking his best outing of the season.
Fourth Quarter Rally: Seahawks’ Resilience Shines
Facing a daunting 16-point deficit, the Seahawks refused to fold. Special teams ignited the comeback when Rashid Shaheed exploded for a 58-yard punt return touchdown. Darnold followed with a successful two-point conversion pass to Cooper Kupp, cutting the deficit to 30-22.
The Seattle defense stepped up, forcing punts on four of the Rams’ final five possessions in regulation, including a crucial fourth-down stop on Kyren Williams. Darnold then delivered a 26-yard touchdown strike to tight end AJ Barner. The ensuing two-point attempt provided the game’s most bizarre moment: Darnold’s pass deflected off a defender and was ruled a backward pass. Charbonnet casually scooped the loose ball in the end zone for the tying points, knotting the score at 30-30 with 6:23 remaining.
Los Angeles had a chance to win in regulation but missed a 48-yard field goal attempt by Mevis, his first as a Ram. The teams headed to overtime deadlocked.
Overtime Drama: Clutch Plays Seal the Win
The Rams won the coin toss but started deep in their territory after a holding penalty on the kickoff return. Undeterred, Stafford marched the offense downfield, avoiding a potential interception on review and capping the drive with a 41-yard touchdown pass to Nacua, giving Los Angeles a 37-30 lead.
Seattle’s response was swift and decisive. Darnold led a methodical drive, finding Jaxon Smith-Njigba for a 4-yard touchdown to pull within one. On the game-winning two-point try, Darnold lofted a perfect pass to Eric Saubert in the end zone, securing the 38-37 victory. The Seahawks went a perfect 3-for-3 on two-point conversions, a testament to their aggressive play-calling.
Key Stats and Standouts
Category
Seahawks
Rams
Passing Yards
270 (Darnold: 22/34, 2 TD, 2 INT)
457 (Stafford: 29/49, 3 TD, 0 INT)
Rushing Yards
164 (Walker: 11 carries, 100+ yards, 1 TD)
70 (Williams: 23 carries)
Receiving Leaders
Smith-Njigba: 8 rec, 96 yds, 1 TD
Nacua: 12 rec, 225 yds, 2 TD
Total Yards
434
581
Turnovers
2
0
Darnold, despite two interceptions—including one by 297-pound defensive end Kobie Turner—made critical throws late, overcoming a prior four-interception performance against the Rams in November. Stafford’s 457 passing yards ranked as the third-highest of his career, per ESPN stats, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the comeback.
Playoff Implications and Looking Ahead
This thriller underscores the NFC West’s competitiveness, with Seattle now in pole position for a first-round bye. The Rams, despite the offensive fireworks, face a likely road playoff start unless they win out against upcoming opponents like the San Francisco 49ers.
As head coach Sean McVay noted in post-game comments on therams.com, “We had chances to close it out, but credit to Seattle—they executed when it mattered.” For the Seahawks, the win validates their resilience, setting the stage for a strong postseason push.
