Seahawks vs Los Angeles Rams Match Player Stats: Breaking Down a Thursday Night Classic
Finding a clean read on NFL player stats after a wild Thursday night shootout is never easy, and the Seahawks vs Los Angeles Rams Match Player Stats sheet from December 18 is loaded with turning points. Two offenses that topped 400 combined passing yards, a 16-point fourth-quarter collapse, and an overtime two-point conversion left fans drowning in numbers. Here’s every key stat broken down cleanly, position by position.
Key Takeaways
- Matthew Stafford threw for 457 yards and 3 touchdowns on 29-of-49 passing, the best single-game output either quarterback produced all season.
- Puka Nacua caught 12 passes for 225 yards and 2 touchdowns, including the go-ahead 41-yard strike in overtime.
- Seattle’s defense allowed 30 points through three quarters but forced the extra period, while its offensive line surrendered 4 sacks that nearly buried Sam Darnold’s comeback bid.
Game Box Score at a Glance
| Category | Los Angeles Rams | Seattle Seahawks |
|---|---|---|
| Quarterback | Matthew Stafford | Sam Darnold |
| Passing Yards | 457 | 270 |
| Completions/Attempts | 29/49 | 22/34 |
| Passing Touchdowns | 3 | 2 |
| Interceptions Thrown | 0 | 2 |
| Sacks Allowed | 0 | 4 (-26 yards) |
| Rushing Leader | Kyren Williams — 70 yds on 23 carries | Kenneth Walker III — 100 yds, 1 TD on 11 carries |
| Receiving Leader | Puka Nacua — 12 rec, 225 yds, 2 TD | Jaxon Smith-Njigba — 8 rec, 96 yds, 1 TD |
| Final Score | 37 | 38 (OT) |
Quarterback Battle and Passing Yards
Stafford was the story of the night before Seattle’s comeback stole the headline. He completed 29 of 49 throws for 457 yards, tossing scores to Terrance Ferguson, Puka Nacua, and again to Nacua in overtime for the eventual go-ahead score.
Darnold’s counterpunch mattered more than his raw line suggests. He finished 22-of-34 for 270 yards and 2 touchdowns, but he also threw 2 interceptions and absorbed 4 sacks — including one taken by 297-pound defensive end Kobie Turner.
- Stafford posted a 110.7 passer rating with zero sacks taken.
- Darnold’s rating landed at 84.2, dragged down by the two picks.
- Both quarterbacks delivered clutch throws in the fourth quarter and overtime, trading blows almost possession for possession.
Rushing Leaders and Ground Efficiency
Kenneth Walker III’s Explosive Burst
Walker was the most efficient runner on the field. His 11 carries produced 100 yards and a touchdown, anchored by a 55-yard breakaway run in the third quarter that flipped momentum after a slow start.
Rams Committee Approach with Kyren Williams and Blake Corum
Los Angeles leaned on volume over explosiveness. Kyren Williams carried 23 times for 70 yards, and Blake Corum added 14 carries for 48 yards and a short touchdown, giving the Rams a ground game that chewed clock even as their passing attack carried the scoreboard.
Touchdown Highlights That Defined the Night
This game turned into one of the more dramatic finishes of the season, and the touchdown highlights tell the story better than any single stat line.
- Kenneth Walker III — 55-yard rushing touchdown, third quarter, that erased a Rams lead.
- Puka Nacua — 1-yard touchdown catch in the fourth quarter, then a 41-yard overtime touchdown that briefly put Los Angeles ahead.
- Rashid Shaheed — 58-yard punt return touchdown that ignited Seattle’s comeback in the fourth quarter.
- AJ Barner — 26-yard touchdown catch that tied the game at 30 with under seven minutes left.
- Jaxon Smith-Njigba — 4-yard touchdown reception in overtime, followed by a Darnold-to-Eric Saubert two-point conversion pass to end it.
Seattle’s Fourth-Quarter and Overtime Surge
Down 30-14 entering the fourth quarter, the Seahawks scored 24 unanswered points across the final period and overtime. It marked the first time in franchise history Seattle rallied from a deficit that large to win, and it happened on the road against a division rival with the NFC West lead on the line.
Defensive Impact and Sacks
Kobie Turner’s Havoc Off the Edge
Los Angeles Rams defensive end Kobie Turner was the single most disruptive defender on the field. He finished with 3 tackles, 1.5 sacks, an interception, and two pass deflections, repeatedly forcing Darnold off his spot in the pocket.
Rams’ pressure package sacked Darnold four times for a total loss of 26 yards, a number that directly limited Seattle’s early rhythm. Turner’s interception near the goal line — his first career pick — briefly looked like the play that would decide the outcome before Seattle’s fourth-quarter surge changed the script.
- Rams defensive front: 4 total sacks on Darnold.
- Turner alone accounted for 1.5 of those sacks plus a red-zone interception.
- Seattle’s defense, by contrast, kept Stafford completely clean — zero sacks allowed all night.
NFL Player Stats Breakdown: Receiving Leaders
Puka Nacua and Jaxon Smith-Njigba entered the night as the NFL’s top two receivers in total yardage, and both delivered.
| Player | Team | Targets | Receptions | Yards | TDs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Puka Nacua | LAR | 16 | 12 | 225 | 2 |
| Jaxon Smith-Njigba | SEA | 13 | 8 | 96 | 1 |
| Xavier Smith | LAR | 2 | 2 | 57 | 0 |
| Kenneth Walker III | SEA | 3 | 3 | 64 | 0 |
| AJ Barner | SEA | 6 | 4 | 49 | 1 |
| Cooper Kupp | SEA | 4 | 3 | 39 | 0 |
Nacua’s 225-yard, two-touchdown outing pushed him to the NFL’s outright receptions lead for the season, while Smith-Njigba’s eight catches gave him a new single-season franchise record for receptions.
Turning Point: The Fourth-Quarter Comeback
Every box score has a hinge moment, and this one turned on special teams. Rashid Shaheed’s 58-yard punt return touchdown, paired with a two-point conversion pass from Darnold to Cooper Kupp, cut a 16-point deficit down to single digits in a matter of minutes and shifted the game’s entire tone.
The Implications of This Match for the NFC West Race
The win moved Seattle to 12-3 and put them firmly atop the NFC West with control of the conference’s No. 1 seed. Los Angeles dropped to 11-4, facing a tougher road through the postseason without home-field advantage secured.
- Seattle clinched a playoff berth with the victory.
- The outcome led to a rematch in the NFC Championship Game later in the postseason, where the Seahawks defeated the Rams once more.
- This was the second time in as many meetings that the series was decided by one score or less.
Future Outlook: What to Expect From the Next Rams-Seahawks Meeting
Both franchises enter their next scheduled meeting on December 25, 2026, with real history behind it. Seattle now holds a two-game winning streak in the rivalry after taking both the regular-season finale and the NFC Championship Game rematch, and Los Angeles will be motivated to reverse that trend on its own terms.
Expect another shootout. Stafford and Nacua form one of the league’s most productive passing tandems when healthy, while Seattle’s identity as a team capable of erasing double-digit fourth-quarter deficits gives Mike Macdonald’s roster a psychological edge heading into the 2026 rematch. If the Rams want to flip the series, shoring up sack protection and limiting explosive completions to Smith-Njigba will matter more than any single offensive adjustment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won the Seahawks vs Rams game on December 18, 2025?
The Seattle Seahawks won 38-37 in overtime after trailing by 16 points in the fourth quarter. Seattle sealed it with a touchdown pass to Jaxon Smith-Njigba followed by a two-point conversion.
How many passing yards did Matthew Stafford throw for against the Seahawks?
Matthew Stafford passed for 457 yards and 3 touchdowns on 29-of-49 attempts. He was not sacked once during the game.
What was Sam Darnold’s stat line in the Seahawks-Rams game?
Sam Darnold finished 22-of-34 for 270 yards with 2 touchdowns and 2 interceptions. He was sacked 4 times for a total loss of 26 yards.
Who led all rushers in the Seahawks vs Rams matchup?
Kenneth Walker III led all rushers with 100 yards and a touchdown on just 11 carries, highlighted by a 55-yard run. Kyren Williams led the Rams with 70 yards on 23 attempts.
How many touchdowns did Puka Nacua score against Seattle?
Puka Nacua caught two touchdowns, including a 41-yard overtime score that briefly put the Rams ahead. He finished with 12 receptions for 225 yards on the night.
When do the Seahawks and Rams play next?
The two rivals are scheduled to meet again on December 25, 2026. Seattle enters that matchup on a two-game winning streak in the series after sweeping their 2025 meetings.
Who Was Your Game MVP?
Stafford’s 457-yard outburst, Nacua’s two-touchdown night, Walker’s breakaway score, or Seattle’s fourth-quarter defense that finally slammed the door — this game had a legitimate case for four different MVPs. Drop your pick in the comments and tell us which stat line swung it for you.
