Seattle Seahawks clinch playoff spot, control path in NFC after rallying for thrilling overtime win over Los Angeles Rams on Thursday Night Football

In a wild Thursday Night Football rally, the Seattle Seahawks went from the verge of being swept by their NFC West rival Los Angeles Rams to clinching a playoff spot and controlling their own destiny for homefield advantage throughout the NFC postseason.

The Seahawks achieved that by overcoming a 16-point fourth quarter deficit in less than two minutes to help force overtime. In OT, Sam Darnold responded to a 41-yard touchdown connection from Matthew Stafford to Puka Nacua by authoring a nine-play, 65-yard drive ending in a 4-yard touchdown pass to Jaxon Smith-Njigba and game-winning two-point conversion pass to Eric Saubert as the Seahawks defeated the Rams, 38-37, at Lumen Field in Seattle.

The rallying victory was especially savoring to Darnold who tossed four interceptions when the Seahawks lost to the Rams in Week 11 and had to overcome two costly INTs in LA territory Thursday night.

The Seahawks quarterback finished with 270 yards passing and two touchdowns, steering past those two interceptions. After failing to record a reception in the first half, Smith-Njigba wound up with eight catches for 96 yards and a touchdown. The Seahawks' win negated monstrous performances from Stafford (457 yards passing and three touchdowns) and Nacua (12 receptions for 225 yards and two TDs).

After Stafford found Nacua for a 1-yard touchdown pass, the Rams took a commanding 30-14 lead with 13:34 remaining in the fourth quarter.

Although Darnold was painfully intercepted on the Rams’ 1-yard line after, Seattle held Los Angeles to a three-and-out possession. That’s when the Seahawks mounted a furious rally, beginning with Rashid Shaheed punching in a 58-yard punt return touchdown which was followed by a successful two-point conversion to pull within 30-22 with 8:03 remaining.

Following another Rams’ three-and-out drive, Darnold found AJ Barner on a brilliant play call and route for a 26-yard touchdown pass. Under official review, Darnold’s two-point conversion attempt was incredibly ruled a backward pass and since Zach Charbonnet picked it up on a heads-up play in the end zone, it was deemed a successful two-point conversion, knotting the game up at 30-30 with 6:23 left.

The Rams would have a chance to take the lead late but kicker Harrison Mevis missed his 48-yard field goal attempt with just over two minutes remaining and the game wound up in overtime.

There, Stafford guided the Rams on an eight-play, 80-yard drive finding Nacua for the 41-yard touchdown.

Though refusing to be outdone, Darnold and the Seahawks retorted with a nine-play, 65-yard drive, which included a sideline catch from Cooper Kupp, before Darnold found Smith-Njigba for the TD pass and Saubert for the game-winning two-point conversion.

With the victory, the Seahawks improve to 12-3 sitting atop the NFC West, while the Rams are now 11-4.