Rams overcome Puka Nacua ejection to rally to a thrilling overtime win over Seahawks

SEATTLE â€”  Sluggishly streaking in Seattle.

That’s what the Rams did Sunday.

They won their third game in a row, and accomplished it with a less-than-inspiring but wholly effective 26-20 overtime victory over the Seahawks before 68,632 at Lumen Field.

Rams wide receiver Demarcus Robinson, center, celebrates with tight end Hunter Long after catching a walk-off touchdown pass in the Rams’ 26-20 overtime win over Seattle.

(Lindsey Wasson / Associated Press)

� Rams 26, Seahawks 20 — FINAL/OVERTIME

Matthew Stafford connected with Demarcus Robinson on a 39-yard touchdown catch to give the Rams a thrilling overtime victory over the Seahawks in front of a stunned crowd at Lumen Field.

Robinson managed to corral the touchdown pass with one hand under tight coverage from Seattle cornerback Riq Woolen.

Tyler Johnson caught an 18-yard pass from Stafford that was nearly picked off and Stafford followed with a 16-yard pass to Tutu Atwell before the touchdown pass.

Earlier in overtime, the Rams stopped Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III behind the line on fourth and one from the Rams’ 16-yard line.

� Rams 20, Seahawks 20 — END OF REGULATION

Seattle won the coin toss at the end of regulation and received the ball first.

The Rams couldn’t do much on their final possession of regulation, with their drive sputtering at midfield after a deep pass to Demarcus Robinson in the closing seconds fell incomplete.

Seahawks cornerback Coby Bryant delivered a big hit on Robinson when the ball reached him, making the catch virtually impossible.

� Rams 20, Seahawks 20 — 51 seconds left in fourth quarter

Geno Smith connected on a 14-yard touchdown pass to Jaxon Smith-Njigba late in the fourth quarter to help tie the score.

One play earlier, Smith-Njigba caught a beautiful pass from Smith on fourth and five for 29 yards to set up the touchdown.

� Rams 20, Seahawks 13 — 6:07 left in the fourth quarter

Rams rookie safety Kamren Kinchens, who scored on a 103-yard interception return earlier in the fourth quarter, intercepted Geno Smith again, thwarting another Seattle scoring chance.

Kinchens intercepted Smith on second and goal.

The Rams went three and out on the ensuing possession, but did chew a couple minutes off the clock.

� Rams 20, Seahawks 13 — 8:44 left in the fourth quarter

Seattle’s Cody White blocked a punt attempt by Ty Zentner to set up the Seahawks on the Rams’ 31-yard line. White managed to break through the Rams line and get a hand on the punt, which was recovered by Hunter Long.

After scoring on a 103-yard interception return, the Rams went three and out on offense.

� Rams 20, Seahawks 13 — 10:59 left in the fourth quarter

Rams safety Kamren Kinchens intercepted a pass from Geno Smith in the end zone and returned it 103 yards for a touchdown to give the Rams the lead. It was the longest interception return in Rams franchise history.

Byron Young put pressure on Smith and the Seahawks quarterback threw it right to Kinchens, who had a relatively easy trek to the end zone for the fourth-longest interception return in NFL history.

The Seahawks looked like they were on their way to retaking the lead when Rams cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon was called for pass interference for a 23-yard penalty even though it looked like he just got his feet tangled up with Cody White’s feet.

Seattle was at the Rams’ 6-yard line when Kinchens picked off Smith to end the eight-play, 63-yard drive. Smith has two interceptions today.

� Rams 13, Seahawks 13 — End of the third quarter

Joshua Karty’s 21-yard field goal tied the score after the Rams could not capitalize on a first-and-goal situation from the seven-yard line.

The Rams drove 62 yards in 12 plays, with Kyren Williams’ 26-yard catch and run and two penalties against the Seahawks keying the drive.

Williams has rushed for 51 yards in 16 carries.

Matthew Stafford has completed 20 of 34 passes for 205 yards and a touchdown, with an interception.

Rams offensive tackle Rob Havenstein left the field because of an ankle injury and is questionable to return.

� Seahawks 13, Rams 10 — 8:28 left in the third quarter

The Rams began the second half with an 11-play, 75-yard drive that Matthew Stafford capped with a one-yard touchdown pass to Demarcus Robinson.

The Rams got a break when running back Kyren Williams’ fumble early in the drive was recovered by receiver Cooper Kupp.

Robinson had a 21-yard catch early in the drive.

Kupp has nine catches for 89 yards, Robinson five for 53.

� Seahawks 13, Rams 3 — HALFTIME

Talk about an eventful final 30 seconds.

Geno Smith connected with Jaxon Smith-Njigba for a 24-yard touchdown pass in the final seconds of the first half to extend the Seahawks’ lead.

Seahawks cornerback Riq Woolen set up the touchdown when he intercepted a pass by Matthew Stafford. After the play, Rams receiver Puka Nacua was ejected for throwing a punch at Seahawks linebacker Tyrel Dodson.

The Seahawks were penalized for holding on their first play, but when Jared Verse and Braden Fiske jumped offsides, Smith took advantage and found Smith-Njiba for a 46-yard gain. Two plays later they connected for the touchdown.

The Rams offense, so impressive in its last game against the Minnesota Vikings, could not do much of anything right.

Stafford has completed 12 of 22 passes for 133 yards, with an interception.

Cooper Kupp has seven catches for 81 yards. Nacua had one catch for 11 yards.

Kyren Williams has rushed for only 15 yards in six carries.

Verse and Ty Davis each have a sack.

Geno Smith has completed 10 of 17 passes for 190 yards and two touchdowns, with an interception.

Smith-Njigba has three catches for 92 yards and a touchdown.

� Seahawks 6, Rams 3 — 25 seconds left in the second quarter

Puka Nacua was ejected from the game for throwing a punch after a Seattle Seahawks interception by cornerback Riq Woolen.

After Woolen intercepted a pass from Matthew Stafford intended for Nacua, the Rams wide receiver drew a 15-yard personal foul and was ejected for throwing a punch at Seahawks linebacker Tyrel Dodson. After Dodson shoved him, Nacua threw a punch at Bryant’s helmet.

� Seahawks 6, Rams 3 — 51 seconds left in second quarter

Geno Smith connected with receiver Tyler Lockett for a 30-yard touchdown pass. Th extra-point attempt failed.

The Seahawks got the ball with 3:31 left in the first half and drove 70 yards in nine plays.

Smith has completed eight of 14 passes for 120 yards, with a touchdown and an interception.

� Rams 3, Seahawks 0 — 3:31 left in the second quarter

Joshua Karty kicked a 38-yard field goal to give the Rams the lead.

Karty’s field goal has been the lone bright spot for an offense that was forced to punt on its first four possessions.

Quarterback Matthew Stafford has completed 10 of 14 passes for 114 yards. The Rams have rushed for only 14 yards.

� Rams 0, Seahawks 0 — 12:01 left in the second quarter

Both team have struggled to find rhythm on offense, with the Rams punting on their first four possessions.

The highlight of the game so far for the Rams has been an interception by safety Jaylen McCollough.

The lack of scoring and any tangible offense might help the Rams a bit — the crowd at the notoriously loud Lumen Field has gotten a bit quieter since the start of the game.

Geno Smith and the Seahawks haven’t had much luck against the Rams, with a botched snap in the shotgun leading to a 19-yard loss.

Rams star receiver Puka Nacua, who sat out most of two practices because of a knee injury, is active for Sunday’s game against the Seattle Seahawks at Lumen Field.

Nacua left practice on Thursday after aggravating a right knee injury he suffered during training camp and aggravated in the season opener against the Detroit Lions.

Nacua sat out five games before returning on Oct. 24 against the Minnesota Vikings. He caught seven passes for 106 yards.

With Nacua active, quarterback Matthew Stafford will have a full complement of weapons, including receivers Cooper Kupp and Demarcus Robinson and running back Kyren Williams.

Rams inactives: QB Stetson Bennett, CB Tre’Davious White, RB Cody Schrader, P Ethan Evans, OLB Brennan Jackson, WR Jordan Whittington, DL Neville Gallimore

Here’s who will not be suiting up for the Seahawks:

Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford will see a familiar face when he stares across the line of scrimmage Sunday against the Seattle Seahawks.

Linebacker Ernest Jones IV was a Rams mainstay for three seasons. The 2021 third-round draft pick became a starter midway through his rookie season, helped the Rams win Super Bowl LVI, became the defensive signal-caller in 2022 and was a team captain in 2023.

But last spring and summer, the Rams made it clear they wanted Jones to play the final year of his rookie contract before offering him a new deal.

Cooper Kupp grew up in Washington, so he always welcomes the opportunity to return to the Pacific Northwest to play the Seattle Seahawks.

“It’s nice, the air up there is different,� Kupp said. “You get off the plane and feel it…. I love being back up in the northwest.�

This will be Kupp’s second game since returning from an ankle injury that sidelined him for four games.

On Oct. 24, Kupp caught five passes for 51 yards in a 30-20 victory over the Minnesota Vikings in a “Thursday Night Football� game.

The abbreviated schedule leading up to the game against the Vikings prevented Kupp from getting a full week of practice. But he has had that going into Sunday’s game at Lumen Field.

“It’s more time being able to compete and play,� he said, “The confidence goes a long way.�

For the first time in his eight seasons as coach of the Rams, Sean McVay will look across the sideline at Lumen Field and not see Pete Carroll coaching the Seahawks.

Mike Macdonald replaced Carroll, who led the Seahawks to two Super Bowl appearances and one Super Bowl title in his 14 seasons.

McVay has led the Rams to two Super Bowl appearances and one title.

“In a lot of ways,� McVay said, “we tried to mimic and emulate a lot of the things that they believed in terms of his culture, his consistent, authentic enthusiasm, the energy that he brought and the competitive spirit, being at your best when your best is required.

“He’s a legend and he’s a guy that I’ve looked up to for a long time.�

Macdonald led the Seahawks to three consecutive victories to start the season. The Seahawks then lost three in a row before defeating the Atlanta Falcons.

The Seahawks are coming off a 31-10 defeat by the Buffalo Bills.

“It’ll be different,� McVay said of not seeing Carroll, “just because that’s all you knew for the seven years that I was here before this year going against Seattle and what they’ve been.

“They’re a damn good football team and Mike Macdonald is a really good coach.�

Rams star receiver Puka Nacua is questionable and punter Ethan Evans is out for Sunday’s road game against the Seattle Seahawks, coach Sean McVay said Friday.

Nacua left practice Thursday after aggravating a right knee injury he originally suffered during training camp and aggravated in the season opener against the Detroit Lions.

The Rams answered a lot of questions last weekend with a big road win over the Arizona Cardinals. Unfortunately, the happiness was short-lived, as the COVID chaos wreaking havoc across the NFL also made its way to L.A. and has impacted the Rams for this Week 15 matchup against the Seahawks.

The Rams are still favored, and there is more clarity about the list of who’s in and who’s out — along with some additions to Seattle’s list — all of which has pulled the line back up a bit, but the theme of this week in the NFL is uncertainty, and this game falls within those parameters.