Jared Goff threw for 318 yards and two touchdowns as the Los Angeles Rams rebounded from their first loss of 2018 with a 36-31 victory over the Seattle Seahawks Sunday.
The Rams took the lead for good on Goff’s 10-yard touchdown pass to tight end Tyler Higbee on the first play of the fourth quarter, concluding a nine-play 75-yard drive.
Seattle cut the lead to 36-31 on Russell Wilson’s 3-yard pass running back Mike Davis with one minute, 56 seconds remaining in front of a crowd at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum announced at 72,755.
The Seahawks forced the Rams to punt after three plays. A 29-yard pass from Wilson to Tyler Lockett followed by an 11-yard scramble by Wilson advanced the ball from Seattle’s 25-yard line to the Rams’ 35-yard line with 39 seconds left.
Wilson then spiked the ball to stop the clock with 37 seconds left. His second-down pass intended for David Moore was incomplete in the end zone.
Wilson’s third-down short pass intended for Nick Vannett was incomplete. His fourth-down deep pass intended for Lockett also was incomplete.
The Rams took over on downs, Goff kneeled to kill the final 18 seconds and the Rams improved to 9-1, their best start since 1969 when they began the season 11-0, finished 11-3 and lost their first-round playoff game.
The Rams are 5-0 in games following a loss in the regular season in Sean McVay’s two seasons as coach.
“Great job by our guys finding a way to win. It’s been a tough week, where there’s a lot of things that are a lot bigger than football going on this week,” McVay said, referring to Woolsey Fire and Borderline bar mass shooting in Ventura County, where the Rams train.
“I think our players have done a great job representing why they’re special people with their ability to try to use this platform that they do have as a way of putting their arm around some people.”
Rams offensive tackle Andrew Whitworth said before the game he would donate his check from the game to the Ventura County Community Foundation’s Conejo Valley Victims Fund, to support relief and recovery efforts for the families of the victims of the mass shooting.
An online auction of game-worn jerseys of select players, including Goff, star running back Todd Gurley and Whitworth was held, with proceeds benefiting the Conejo Valley Victims Fund and American Red Cross Southern California Wildfire Relief.
All proceeds from Sunday’s 50/50 raffle were donated to the Conejo Valley Victims Fund (established by the Ventura County Community Foundation) and American Red Cross Southern California Wildfire Relief.
A moment of silence was held before the national anthem for those affected by Wednesday’s mass shooting at the Borderline bar in Thousand Oaks that left 13 dead, including Ventura County Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Ron Helus and the shooter.
Goff completed 28 of 39 passes. Gurley rushed for 120 yards and a touchdown on 16 carries, increasing his NFL-leading totals to 988 rushing yards, 17 touchdowns and 108 points.
Gurley’s 17-yard second-quarter run increased his team-record streak to 13 consecutive regular-season games with a touchdown.
The record was previously held by the late Pro Football Hall of Fame receiver Elroy Hirsch, who scored touchdowns in 11 consecutive games in the 1950 and 1951 regular seasons.
In a game with three lead changes and one tie, the Rams league-leading offense outgained the Seahawks, 456 yards to 414. Seattle (4-5) led 29-25 in first downs and 30:37-29:23 in time of possession.
“I know this may not seem like what you would think I would say, but I really loved that football game today,” Seahawks coach Pete Carroll said.
“It was hard, tough. You’re ahead, you’re behind, you’re catching up, you just keep fighting.”
The Rams needed only one play to convert the game’s only turnover into a touchdown.
Recently acquired outside linebacker Dante Fowler made a strip-sack of Wilson on Seattle’s 23-yard line and Fowler recovered the ball at the Seahawks 9-yard line.
Receiver Brandin Cooks ran nine yards into the end zone on a jet sweep on the next play, increasing the Rams lead to 36-24 with 5:49 to play.
“We made a big mistake to give up the ball and a great sack by their guy,” Carroll said. “They turned the game around right there with a turnover right after that and scored, but that just excited our guys even more.”
Seattle responded with a 12-play, 90-yard drive in 3:53, culminating with Wilson’s 3-yard touchdown pass to Davis.
Wilson completed 17 of 26 passes for 176 yards and three touchdowns, the fifth consecutive game he has thrown at least two touchdown passes. He also ran for 92 yards on nine carries.
Wilson’s 23-yard touchdown pass to Lockett with 4:20 left in the third quarter gave the Seahawks their final lead, 21-20.
Rams kicker Greg Zuerlein made all three of his field goal attempts — a 35-yarder 12 seconds before halftime, a 37-yarder in the third quarter and a 20-yarder with 7:34 to play that gave the Rams a 29-24 lead.
Seattle’s Sebastian Janikowski was successful on his only field goal attempt, a 33-yarder with 9:52 left.
The Seahawks led 14-7 at the end of the first quarter. They drove 75 yards on seven plays on the game’s opening possession, with Wilson throwing a 8-yard pass to Vannett for the score.
The Rams responded with a 10-play, 86-yard drive, with Goff throwing a 10-yard touchdown pass to tight end Gerald Everett.
Seattle rookie Rashaad Perry ran 18 yards for his first NFL touchdown on the next series, two plays after running for 38 yards to the Rams 26-yard line.
The former San Diego State and Norwalk High standout rushed for 108 yards on 12 carries, after rushing for 146 on 42 carries the first eight games of the season.
sh