SEATTLE — The Los Angeles Rams battled through injuries to end the Seattle Seahawks’ 10-game home winning streak in the playoffs with a 30-20 NFL Wild Card win on Saturday.
Seattle last lost a home playoff game in 2004 when they were beaten 27-20 by the then-St. Louis Rams. Prior to Saturday’s defeat, the Seahawks had won 10 consecutive home playoff games.
“I told these guys I have no place in my brain for this outcome,” Seattle coach Pete Carroll said. “We were planning on winning and moving on.”
Los Angeles took a commanding 30-13 lead with less than five minutes remaining in the game when Jared Goff, who was forced to enter the game when John Wolford left with an injury, connected with Robert Woods with a 15-yard touchdown pass.
Los Angeles Rams vs Seattle Seahawks Highlights
The third-seeded Seahawks trimmed the deficit to 30-20 with 2:28 remaining on DK Metcalf’s second touchdown catch of the game.
However, the Rams recovered the ensuing onside kick.
Jared Goff finished 9 of 19 for 155 yards, while Cam Akers rushed 28 times for 131 yards and a score Cooper Kupp caught four passes for 78 yards for the Rams.
Russell Wilson was 11 of 27 for 174 yards and two touchdowns. He was also sacked five times and threw a pick-6 in the defeat for Seattle. Metcalf had five catches for 96 yards to go with his two scores.
Meanwhile, Saturday’s win may have been costly though for Los Angeles after some key players picked up injuries before full-time. Backup quarterback Wolford, who started the game, defensive star Aaron Donald, and receiver Kupp all left the game injured.
“A lot of guys stepped up and answered the bell in a big way,” Rams coach Sean McVay said. “Darious Williams showing up, I thought that was a huge momentum shift for us.”
Williams picked off Wilson for a third time this season.
Wolford started but injured his neck in the first quarter, which meant Goff was forced into duty less than two weeks since he had three pins surgically inserted into his broken right thumb.
Donald suffered a rib injury on a tackle of Wilson after collecting two sacks and Kupp limped into the locker room after injuring his right knee in the closing minutes.