Live In-Game Updates: Rams Beat Seahawks 30-13
The Los Angeles Rams (0-0) will open their season on Sunday against the Seattle Seahawks (0-0). The 1:25 p.m. PT kickoff represents a fresh start for a team that fell short last season. However, Los Angeles will have to wait to be fully healthy.
The Rams will be without superstar receiver Cooper Kupp, who was placed on injured reserve on Saturday. A lingering hamstring injury has delayed his 2023 season and hampered expectations for the offense.
The second-youngest team in the NFL, Los Angeles is enduring significant roster turnover. That inexperience and lack of continuity could flare up against a high-powered Seahawks offense. Quarterback Geno Smith aims to prove his worth after a breakout 2022 campaign, and they’ve added first-round receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba. The rookie is working his way back from a hand injury, but will be active on Sunday.
Rams head coach Sean McVay has engineered upset divisional wins before. Los Angeles will be leaning on his expertise to overcome Kupp’s absence in Week 1.
WHAT: Los Angeles Rams (0-0) vs Seattle Seahawks (0-0)
WHERE: Lumen Field, Seattle, WA (68,740)
WHEN: Sunday, Sept. 10, 2023, 1:25 p.m. (PT)
TELEVISION: FOX
RADIO: ESPNLA 710 AM, Ty Liga Radio 1330 AM
ODDS: Rams +4.5 (-110), +175 moneyline, Total: 45.5 (o -118/u -110)
Live updates will appear below at kickoff.
FIRST QUARTER
Seahawks First Drive: The Rams won the toss but deferred.
Smith completed a five-yard pass to Tyler Lockett to move the chains on third-and-1. After two Kenneth Walker rushes, he completed a 28-yard pass to receiver DK Metcalf.
With 11:17 remaining, a defensive pass interference on cornerback Cobie Durant gave Seattle first-and-10 from the Rams' 12.
After a completion for -6 yards and a third-down incompletion, kicker Jason Myers hit a 36-yard field goal.
Seahawks lead 3-0 with 9:56 remaining in the first quarter.
Rams First Drive: Running back Cam Akers took Los Angeles' first play, but could not get past the line of scrimmage.
Quarterback Matthew Stafford's first completion went to tight end Tyler Higbee for seven yards and a new set of downs.
Akers then broke off a 12-yard run to get the Rams to midfield.
After two more runs for six yards, Los Angeles called its first timeout.
Stafford misfired on rookie receiver Puka Nacua's first target, but hit receiver Van Jefferson over the middle to move the chains on third-and-10.
Following an Akers rush for -4 yards, Stafford completed passes to Nacua and Higbee to get to Seattle's 7-yard line. An illegal block in the back pulled them back to the 17.
Nacua broke a tackle on the Rams' next pass to bring them back to the 1-yard line. On the next play, running back Kyren Williams scored on an inside run.
Rams lead 7-3 with 0:39 remaining in the first quarter.
Seahawks Second Drive: Smith connected with Smith-Njibba for his first career reception, a one-yard catch.
SECOND QUARTER
Tight end Will Dissly caught a 10-yard screen pass, and Metcalf hauled in Smith's next pass for nine yards.
Running back Kenneth Walker ran for 13 yards on second-and-1 to bring Seattle to the Rams' 42-yard line.
Walker is continuing to make an impact, hauling in two consecutive passes and running for five yards. The Seahawks are in the red zone.
On second-and-9, Metcalf was left wide open in the end zone for an easy touchdown pass. He easily beat cornerback Derion Kendrick on a sluggo route.
Seahawks lead 10-7 with 9:11 remaining in the second quarter.
Rams Second Drive: Left tackle Alaric Jackson committed a facemask penalty to start the drive. Los Angeles couldn't get the next play off in time. The delay of game made it first-and-30.
After two Williams rushes for two yards, Stafford completed a 12-yard pass, forcing the Rams to punt. There is 7:04 remaining in the first half.
Seahawks Third Drive: Seattle started their third drive from their own 49-yard line thanks to last drive's miscues.
Walker has continued to show off his explosiveness, rushing for 15 yards. It was an impressive display of patience, too.
An Aaron Donald pressure disrupted Smith and forced a third-down miss.
On fourth-and-4, Myers hit his second field goal of the game, a 42-yard attempt.
Seahawks lead 13-7 with 4:18 remaining in the second quarter.
Rams Third Drive: Los Angeles began this drive from their own 25 and targeted Nacua twice for 13 yards. Stafford would then find tight end Brycen Hopkins for a 22-yard gain.
His next pass, targeting Tutu Atwell, would narrowly avoid being intercepted. At the two-minute warning, the Rams are at the Seahawks' 38-yard line.
Stafford overthrew Atwell again on third down to bring out the field goal unit.
Disaster struck! The 57-yard attempt was blocked by Seattle. The Seahawks will take over in Rams territory.
Seahawks Fourth Drive: Seattle quickly wasted an opportunity after a Rams' defensive pass interference. Myers missed a 39-yard attempt with 31 seconds left in the half.
Rams Fourth Drive: With two timeouts at their disposal, the Rams continued to attack the middle of the field. On Stafford's third attempt of the drive, he found Atwell for 11 yards.
Stafford's next pass was completed to Nacua. Los Angeles is down to the Seattle 40-yard line with 10 seconds remaining
Sean McVay drew up an unsuccessful lateral play, prompting another Brett Maher field goal attempt, which was wide right.
The Seahawks lead 13-7 at halftime.
At the half, Seattle's offensive talent is apparent. They've moved the ball with ease and aside from some red zone hiccups, have maintained control of the game.
Missing two field goals is the last thing this Rams' special teams unit needed. Down by six, leaving those points on the board could very well come back to bite them.
THIRD QUARTER
Rams Fifth Drive: Los Angeles received the second-half kickoff. After a quick first down, Van Jefferson dropped a wide-open deep pass that would have put the Rams inside the Seahawks' 30-yard line.
They would move the chains on the next play, but their first-and-10 run was swarmed behind the line of scrimmage.
Stafford found Atwell soon after for 44 yards. The downfield completion set up a first-and-goal situation. Williams then scored his second touchdown of the game, rushing for a seven-yard score.
The Rams lead 14-13 with 8:56 remaining in the third quarter.
Seahawks Fifth Drive: Seattle's first drive of the half wasn't as fruitful as their first few. After a five-yard Walker rush, Smith misfired on second down, and Smith-Njigba couldn't haul in the third-down pass. Michael Dickson's punt resulted in a touchback.
Rams Sixth Drive: Starting from the 20, Stafford threw on the run to hit Atwell for 14 yards.
With 4:55 remaining in the third, Stafford hit Higbee for a 30-yard gain. Higbee, however, appeared to be hurt after the play.
Williams rushed for four yards and then zero. On third-and-6, Stafford overthrew him on what looked like a wheel route.
Maher's 38-yard attempt was good.
The Rams lead 17-13 with 2:39 remaining in the third quarter.
Seahawks Sixth Drive: Seattle has continued to struggle in the second half. A defensive pass interference on Kendrick gave them a new set of downs, but they failed to convert any further.
On fourth-and-4, Dickson punted from Seattle's 35-yard line.
Rams Seventh Drive: Stafford's on the move!
Stafford scrambled for nine yards on second down, then snuck up the middle for two yards and a first down.
FOURTH QUARTER
Stafford began the fourth quarter with a first-down pass to Nacua. He followed that with back-to-back completions to Atwell for a combined 36 yards. He's passed the century mark on yards today.
After a five-yard Williams rush, Stafford returned to Atwell for another 14 yards. They're back in the red zone.
On third-and-11 from Seattle's 13-yard line, Stafford's pass was incomplete, but a hands to the face penalty from Seahawks defensive back Tre Brown gave the Rams another chance.
A third-and-goal pass was batted down by safety Julian Love. With a yard to go, Akers found his way into the end zone.
The Rams lead 24-13 with 9:45 remaining.
Seahawks Seventh Drive: Smith-Njigba caught Smith's first pass of the drive for two yards. However, his next two passes, to Metcalf and Walker, respectively, fell incomplete.
Dickson punted for 73 yards and a touchback.
Rams Eighth Drive: Los Angeles' drive started with a setback in the form of a -4-yard Akers rush. He's been inconsistent today.
After a quick completion, Stafford impressed with a dazzling pitch and catch to Nacua along the sideline. The 22-yard catch brought them to their own 48-yard line.
Stafford's next throw was incomplete, but it took a circus act to avoid the sack. Just as they began to lean on the run, Stafford attempted to hit Nacua downfield. It, too, fell incomplete, leading to fourth down.
Maher drilled a 54-yard attempt to extend the lead.
The Rams lead 27-13 with 5:02 remaining.
Seahawks Eighth Drive: Seattle's lack of production is boiling over.
After an eight-yard completion, Metcalf received an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty for a late, dirty hit away from the play.
On second-and-17 and then third-and-26, Smith was sacked. Kobie Turner and Byron Young shared credit for the first one, Donald clinched the second.
Seattle was forced to punt with 3:28 remaining.
Rams Ninth Drive: Trying to close out the game, Los Angeles has turned to the run game.
Akers failed to manage more than a yard, but an unnecessary roughness call on the Seahawks moved the chains.
Seattle has begun to burn their timeouts.
An encroachment penalty made it first-and-5, but the Rams aren't too concerned about yardage right now. Akers lost two yards on first down, but the clock continues to run. Seattle has managed just three yards of offense in the second half to this point.
Akers ran again on third-and-7 to further milk the clock.
Maher's kick from 45 yards made it a 30-13 game.
The Rams lead 30-13 with 0:15 remaining.
One last play will end it. Rams win!
FINAL: The Rams beat the Seahawks 30-13 to advance to 1-0 and share first place in the NFC West.
