In a game that swung back and forth, ended with a chaotic two‑point try and was settled in overtime, Darnold delivered the decisive plays when it mattered most, finding Jaxon Smith‑Njigba for the game‑winning touchdown in the extra period and helping Seattle clinch a dramatic divisional win over their NFC West rival.

How the game unfolded

The game featured momentum shifts and big plays from both sides before drama consumed the final minutes of regulation and spilled into overtime. Los Angeles and Seattle traded big offensive possessions throughout the evening, with the Rams (11–4) initially taking the lead and the Seahawks answering with timely drives that kept the contest tight throughout the fourth quarter[3].

Late in regulation the Seahawks scored to take the lead but the Rams responded to tie the game and force extra time. Regulation ended at 31–31, sending the contest to overtime where a short, high‑stakes sequence would decide the outcome.

Darnold’s redemption

Sam Darnold — who had moments of inconsistency during the night, including turnovers — delivered when Seattle needed him most, engineering the overtime drive and connecting with Jaxon Smith‑Njigba on a 4‑yard touchdown pass to put the Seahawks ahead in sudden death[4].

After the touchdown, Seattle opted for a two‑point conversion to ice the game. What followed became one of the wildest plays of the season: what initially looked like an incomplete pass was ruled a backward pass, which Seahawks players recovered and converted, ultimately securing the win without giving the Rams a chance to respond in regulation[1][2].

Key plays and contributors

• Sam Darnold: Threw the overtime touchdown and made several clutch throws on the final drive despite earlier miscues[4].
• Jaxon Smith‑Njigba: Came down with the decisive 4‑yard touchdown in overtime to finish the game for Seattle[4].
• Special teams / heads‑up recovery: The controversial two‑point play hinged on recognizing a backward pass and recovering it, a heads‑up play that changed the game’s final sequence and drew widespread attention[2].
• Rams’ efforts: Los Angeles mounted a furious comeback and kept pressure on Seattle until the final play; the defeat drops the Rams to 11–4 and complicates their divisional positioning late in the season[3].

Postgame reaction

Darnold praised his teammates in the locker room for their resilience after the win and acknowledged there is still room for improvement, particularly in avoiding turnovers[1]. Seahawks coaches and players celebrated the emotional victory while also noting they must clean up mistakes as they push toward the postseason push[1].

What this means for both teams

The victory provides a significant boost for Seattle’s playoff positioning and morale, handing the Rams a rare divisional setback late in the regular season[3]. For Los Angeles, the loss is a setback in the NFC West race and raises questions about closing out tight games on the road.

Looking ahead

Both teams will turn their attention to remaining regular‑season matchups; Seattle will look to build on the momentum from the dramatic win while the Rams will regroup and attempt to fix the late‑game lapses that cost them this one[3].