INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) — Geno Smith handed for 223 yards and threw his career-best fourth landing move to Noah Fant with 3:19 to play, and the Seattle Seahawks completed their twelfth successful season in 13 years with a 30-25 victory over the playoff-bound Los Angeles Rams on Sunday.
Jimmy Garoppolo handed for 334 yards and two TDs in his debut for the Rams (10-7), who had already clinched the NFC West title by means of power of schedule earlier than they hosted the Seahawks (10-7). The Rams rested Matthew Stafford and almost all of his offensive starters to remain wholesome for a house playoff sport subsequent weekend.
Coach Sean McVay didn’t care, however the Rams’ first loss since Nov. 24 dropped them to the fourth seed within the NFC playoff bracket behind Tampa Bay (10-7), which beat New Orleans. Los Angeles’ customer within the wild-card spherical would be the fifth-seeded loser of Minnesota’s showdown with Detroit on Sunday night time.
DK Metcalf, Jake Bobo and AJ Barner additionally caught TD passes for Seattle. Jaxon Smith-Njigba had 4 catches to tie Tyler Lockett’s single-season franchise report of 100 receptions.
The Seahawks gained six of eight to shut a strong — but finally irritating — first season below coach Mike Macdonald.
Tyler Higbee and Tyler Johnson caught TD passes for the Rams, who had gained 5 straight and 9 of 11 since their bye week.
In line with McVay’s career-long coverage of prioritizing relaxation and well being over meaningless outcomes, Los Angeles sat receivers Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp, operating again Kyren Williams and beginning offensive linemen Alaric Jackson, Kevin Dotson and Rob Havenstein. McVay additionally allowed offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur to name the Rams’ performs.
Seattle led 24-16 on Barner’s 4-yard TD catch late within the third quarter, however Johnson caught a 4-yard TD move from Garoppolo early within the fourth. Los Angeles’ 2-point conversion try failed, but it surely obtained the ball again 90 seconds later and drove for Joshua Karty’s 38-yard area purpose with 7:29 to play for its first lead at 25-24.
After a fumble restoration by the Rams was erased as a result of Keir Thomas lined up offside, Fant put the Seahawks forward by holding on to Smith’s 16-yard TD move regardless of touchdown almost headfirst ultimately zone after getting undercut.
Seattle’s 2-point conversion try failed. Garoppolo discovered Higbee for a 16-yard achieve on fourth-and-6 moments later at midfield, and Los Angeles drove to the Seattle 9 within the ultimate minute earlier than Garoppolo threw incomplete to Jordan Whittington on fourth down with 18 seconds left.
Seattle has missed the playoffs in two straight years for the primary time since 2009, however Macdonald led the Seahawks to 10 wins for the primary time in 4 years.
Lockett had two catches for 28 yards in maybe his final sport with Seattle after a productive decade with the membership.
Garoppolo signed with the Rams final spring as Stafford’s backup, however the 33-year-old quarterback who led San Francisco to Tremendous Bowl 54 hadn’t performed all season whereas Stafford took each snap within the first 16 video games.
Accidents
Seahawks: Rookie DT Byron Murphy left within the first half after apparently aggravating his again damage. … Backup CB Tre Brown was dominated out within the second half with a knee damage.
Rams: TE Hunter Lengthy injured his knee within the first half.
Up subsequent
Seahawks: An offseason of roster choices, together with the opportunity of extensions for Smith and Metcalf as they head into the ultimate 12 months of their present contracts.
Rams: Their first dwelling playoff sport in three years.