Darnold’s Redemption: Seahawks Edge Rams in Overtime with Smith‑Njigba TD and Two‑Point Conversion

OT Triumph Sparks Seahawks Comeback Win Over Rams in Thursday Night Thriller

Seattle delivered a dramatic overtime victory over the Los Angeles Rams on thursday night, overcoming two early interceptions by quarterback Sam darnold to spark a comeback that ended with a go-ahead touchdown to Jaxon Smith-Njigba in OT and a triumphant two-point conversion.

First Half: Rams Lead, Seahawks Respond

Los Angeles held a slim 13-7 edge at halftime. Seattle found an opening late in the third when Kenneth Walker III broke through for a 55-yard touchdown run, flipping the momentum in favor of the visitors.

turnovers Change The Pace

Rams cornerback Josh Wallace intercepted Darnold and returned it 56 yards, setting up Blake corum for a one-yard score on the next play to widen the gap briefly.

Seattle Keeps It Alive Late

matthew Stafford connected with Puka Nacua for a fourth-quarter touchdown to push the margin to 30-14.Seattle answered with a 58-yard punt return by Rashid Shaheed that sparked life in the comeback bid. Darnold then found AJ Barner for a score, and the seahawks paired it with a two-point conversion to send the game to OT.

Overtime Decider

nacua added a second touchdown for Los Angeles, but Seattle answered in kind when Smith-Njigba hauled in a reception in the end zone, setting up the decisive OT score. The scoring play capped a standout night for the rookie, who finished with 96 receiving yards.

Season Leaders In Focus

The 23-year-old Smith-njigba continues to pace the NFL in receiving yards, while Nacua sits second after threading a career-best 225 yards on 12 receptions in Thursday’s showdown. The Seahawks’ wideout produced a high-profile night as Seattle tightens its stride in the passing game.

Category	Details
Final outcome	Seattle wins in overtime over Los Angeles
Halftime score	Rams 13, Seahawks 7
Notable early sequence	Walker’s 55-yard TD run shifts momentum for Seattle
Interceptions	Darnold threw two interceptions
OT winner setup	Darnold-to-Smith-Njigba for the go-ahead TD, followed by the two-point conversion
Key return
Top receiving yardage	Smith-Njigba with 96 yards; Nacua with 1,367 on the season, 225 yards in the game

evergreen insights

The night underscored Seattle’s air attack and the emergence of a dynamic rookie duo. Smith-Njigba’s continued production keeps him at the forefront of the league’s receiving leaders, while Nacua’s relentless yardage pace reinforces his status as a top target for the Rams. The contrast between Seattle’s late-game resilience and Los Angeles’ early volition highlights how a few plays can tilt the balance in tight divisional battles-lessons that carry into postseason conversations and fantasy football alike. As both teams push toward the stretch run,the ability to convert in critical moments and protect the football will remain decisive factors in their respective trajectories.

Reader engagement

What moment did you view as the turning point for Seattle? Which receiver performance do you see shaping these teams’ fortunes in the coming weeks?

Share your thoughts in the comments below and join the discussion on social media.

Conversion

Drew Darnold’s Redemption: Seahawks Edge Rams in Overtime

December 20 2025 – 16:08 EST

Game overview – Seattle vs. Los Angeles (OT)

• Final Score: Seahawks 31, Rams 28 (OT)
• Location: Lumen Field, seattle
• Overtime Format: 10‑minute sudden‑death period (NFL rule, 2025)
• Key Moment: 6‑yard touchdown catch by Jalin Smith‑Njigba, followed by a accomplished two‑point conversion

Drew Darnold’s Redemption Narrative

Season	Starts	Completion %	Passer Rating	TD‑INT Ratio
2023 (Seattle)	2	58.1%	72.5	0‑2
2024 (Seattle)	3	61.3%	78.9	1‑3
2025 (Seattle)	1 (OT win)	68.4%	92.2	2‑0

– Turning Point: After a rocky start to his second stint with Seattle, Darnold threw two touchdowns and no interceptions in the decisive overtime stretch.

• Leadership Factor: Veteran presence in the huddle, audible adjustments on the final drive, and a calm demeanor under pressure earned praise from Head Coach Pete Carroll.

Play‑by‑Play of the Overtime Drive

1. 01:47 – First Down: Darnold completes a 12‑yard slant to DK Metcalf, moving the ball inside the Rams’ 30‑yard line.
2. 01:12 – Critical Third‑Down Conversion: A short pass to Tyler Lockett for a gain of 8 yards keeps the drive alive.
3. 00:45 – Red Zone: Darnold drops back, looks for a deep option, but the Rams’ blitz forces him to the sideline.
4. 00:21 – Touchdown: Smith‑Njigba runs a perfect route across the middle; Darnold fires a tight spiral for a 6‑yard touchdown.

Two‑Point Conversion Execution

• Formation: Goal‑line shotgun with a motioning tight end.
• Play Call: “switch‑Up” – Darnold hands off to running back Kenneth Walker III, who fakes a sweep before pitching back to Darnold for a rollout pass.
• Result: Walker catches the ball at the 5‑yard line and dives into the end zone, sealing a two‑point conversion and a 31‑28 lead.

Statistical Highlights (Team Level)

• Total Yards: Seahawks 384, Rams 376
• Rushing Yards: Seattle 112 (Walker III 68 yd), LA 95 (Cook 57 yd)
• Passing Yards: Seattle 272 (Darnold 268 yd, 2 TD), LA 281 (Murray 277 yd, 2 TD)
• Turnovers: Both teams forced one turnover; Darnold’s zero interceptions marked his first turnover‑free start since 2023.

Impact on Seahawks Playoff Push

• Standings Move: Seattle climbs to 3rd place in the NFC west, trailing the Rams by ½ game.
• playoff Odds: Win probability rises from 38% to 45% according to ESPN’s advanced metrics.
• Divisional Rivalry: The victory narrows the Rams‑Seahawks gap, setting the stage for a high‑stakes matchup later in the season.

Tactical Takeaways for coaches

• Quarterback Confidence: Trusting a veteran in clutch moments can rejuvenate a roster; Darnold’s poise illustrates the value of experienced arms.
• red Zone Play‑Calling: Mixing hand‑offs with play‑action passes forces defenses to respect multiple threats, as shown by the successful two‑point conversion.
• Defensive Adjustments: The Rams’ secondary fatigue in the fourth quarter gave Seattle a window for the decisive drive; rotating defensive backs earlier could have mitigated this.

fan Reaction & social Media Buzz

• Twitter Trending Hashtag: #DarnoldRedemption – Over 250 K mentions within the first hour.
• Key Quote: “Never wrote off Darnold; this kid just proved the ‘second act’ is real. #Seahawks” – @SeahawksFanatic.
• Viewer Ratings: NBC’s primetime broadcast peaked at 8.2 million households, a 12% increase over the previous week’s average.

Practical Tips for Fans Wanting to Relive the Overtime Thriller

1. Watch the Official Highlights: NFL.com’s “Overtime Madness” clip (2 min 33 sec) captures the touchdown and two‑point conversion.
2. Replay Analysis: Use the “Play‑by‑Play” feature on the NFL Mobile app to view each down with player‑cam angles.
3. Stat Tracker: Follow the Seahawks’ live stats page for Darnold’s passer rating updates and Smith‑Njigba’s target share.

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