-
Lindsey ThiryESPN
Less than two weeks after Jared Goff broke his thumb at Lumen Field, the Los Angeles Rams quarterback returned to Seattle, stepped off the bench and led the Rams to a blatant 30-20 victory over the Lumen Field champion. Seahawks division in Saturday’s wildcard game.
The win avenges a Week 16 loss to the Seahawks that prevented the Rams from playing for the NFC West title and advancing Los Angeles to the next round of the playoffs.
The Rams will play the Green Bay Packers in the front row next weekend if the New Orleans Saints beat the Chicago Bears on Sunday. If the Bears prevail, the Rams will play the winner of Saturday’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers-Washington Football Team game.
The Rams ’win breaks the Seahawks’ 10-game winning streak at home, which was the third-longest streak in NFL postseason history. Fan attendance at Saturday’s game was not allowed due to the coronavirus pandemic.
With Goff continuing to recover from a throwing thumb surgery on Dec. 28, John Wolford began his second career on Saturday. Still, he abruptly finished with 5:40 to play in the first quarter.
Wolford was quick to make a 2-yard gain in a designed run, but suffered a neck injury when he was attacked and transported to a local hospital for precautionary measures. Wolford was later released and celebrated with the team in the locker room after the game, according to Rams coach Sean McVay.
With a small bandage on his thumb surgically repaired, Goff came into the game and completed 9 of 19 passes for 155 yards and a touchdown as the Rams broke a two-game streak with no offensive scoring.
Runner Cam Akers ran 131 yards, the most for a Rams rookie in playoff history, and a touchdown in 28 runs and also grabbed two passes for 45 yards.
Under freshman coordinator Brandon Staley, the Rams ’top defense once again suffocated Seahawks quarterback Russell and frustrated DK main receiver Metcalf.
Rams corner Darious Williams read a screen from Wilson, intercepted his pass and returned it 42 yards for a touchdown to give the Rams a 13-3 lead in the second quarter. Across the league, there were 784 wide-screen passes to regular receivers this season and zero interceptions, according to ESPN Stats and Information research.
Williams’ pick was his third against Wilson and his fifth this season.
In the second half, the Rams were able to limit Wilson to a touchdown pass despite NFL double player of the year Aaron Donald leaving the game early in the third quarter due to an injury to the ribs. Donald returned to the side but did not re-enter the game.
Wilson was fired five times and finished 11 of 27 for 174 yards and two touchdowns, both at Metcalf.