Thursday’s game between the Los Angeles Rams and Seattle Seahawks might go down as the NFL’s game of the year, and the moment we really lost the game was in the fourth quarter.
With seven minutes left in the game, the Seahawks trailed 30-22, which could determine the NFC’s top seed. The Seahawks scored a rushing touchdown on a 31-yard run by Rashid Shaheed and a 26-yard pass to AJ Barner. Then their two-point attempt appeared to fail as a screen pass at the line of scrimmage was hit.
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The game seemed settled as both teams began preparing for the Seahawks’ kickoff, but then officials announced they were taking a closer look at the game. Replays then showed Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold throwing the ball back, making it a lateral play and keeping the ball alive.
Seahawks running back Zach Charbonnet made a casual catch in the end zone. Seattle eventually saved the game, converting the two points to tie the game at 30-30.
You can check out more replays here:
Neither team scored in regulation after that, and the game entered overtime, where the Seahawks once again won 38-37 with a two-point conversion.
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The decision to replay appears to be the right one, but it’s of little consolation to the Rams, who may now finish with a 13-4 record and miss out on a playoff matchup with the Seahawks, who control the NFC West. Rams head coach Sean McVay became emotional after the game and asked the league for a clearer explanation of the development:
“I’ve never seen anything like what happened on the 2-point conversion, you line up for the kickoff and then they say it was a fumble to clear the obvious recovery and now you move on and you turn it into a 30-30 game. It’s very interesting. Not getting a clear explanation of what happened just because of some of the timing. They were trying to be able to do it, but that’s what I’m saying. I’ve never seen anything or I’ve never been a part of anything like this and I grew up around this game.
“I’m not making excuses. We’re not going to do that. I don’t believe that. It’s not going to move us forward, but we do want to be clear and understand what we can do to minimize that when we deny 2-point conversions.”
Rams wide receiver Puka Nakua also wasn’t happy with the officiating after the game — and we mean immediately After that – but he could have said more broadly.
As Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III said, the view from the Seattle sideline is even more pleasant:
“I didn’t know what was going on until I read the commentary and Zach picked up the ball and s***, they gave us two points. We’re going to take them.”
The game ended up being part of a complete collapse for the Rams, who led 30-14 in the fourth quarter. They outgained the Seahawks 581-415 and allowed zero three-pointers against Seattle, but sometimes football just comes down to timing. Then pick up the ball in front of you.