The Seattle Seahawks escaped with a 30-25 win over the Los Angeles Rams, snapping their three-game losing streak to their hated division rivals. Seattle ended the 2024 campaign on a high note, or as high a note as they can for a team not making the playoffs. Still, a narrow win is always considerably better than the alternative, and the Seahawks did manage to go out on top in the only way they could.
There are plenty of positives, especially from an individual performance perspective, and we happily highlighted those with our Studs and Duds list. But there are some less than stellar aspects of this game we need to talk about as well, and this is the place to do so.
INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA – JANUARY 05: Head coach Mike Macdonald of the Seattle Seahawks reacts to a play against the Los Angeles Rams during the third quarter at SoFi Stadium on January 05, 2025 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
We really need to spend some time truly appreciating the fact Mike Macdonald became the first head coach in Seahawks history to win 10 games in his debut season. For all the bumps and bruises Seattle suffered along the way this year, the end result was still double-digit wins for the first time since 2020. Despite all the flaws and inexperience of a team in transition (more than they are willing to admit) the end result was still 10-7, which is incredible. It’s hard to win in this league, and Macdonald had the unenviable task of following Pete Carroll in Seattle. But he proved he is absolutely the right man to lead this franchise into its next era.
INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA – JANUARY 05: Jordan Whittington #88 of the Los Angeles Rams runs after a catch against the Seattle Seahawks during the fourth quarter at SoFi Stadium on January 05, 2025 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
The Seahawks were facing a Rams team playing mainly backups and third stringers, as any starter of value was on the sidelines… and LA faced little resistance against Seattle’s defense. After starting the game with two punts, the Rams went on to score on 6-of-their-next-8 possessions. The only times they did not score was one drive that ended in an interception, and one was turnover on downs to end the game… but at Seattle’s nine-yard line, threatening to win the game. Los Angeles had 403 yards of offense, 20 first downs, 31:10 time of possession and ran 65 plays. The Rams are always a tough matchup for the Seahawks, but this was ridiculous.
Jan 5, 2025; Inglewood, California, USA; Los Angeles Rams quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo (11) sets to pass in the first half against the Seattle Seahawks at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
The Rams are Seattle’s kryptonite, man. There’s no other way of putting it. Going into this game, LA head coach Sean McVay was 11-5 against the Seahawks and has remained undefeated against them since 2021 with starting quarterback Matthew Stafford in the lineup. In the three games without Stafford or other significant starters, Seattle has gone 3-0 but they have all been one-score games that required late heroics from Geno Smith. In 2022, the Seahawks won 27-23 and 19-16 in overtime against the depleted Rams. On Sunday, they needed a game-winning drive and dang-near a goal line stand to beat a team of backups.
No matter what the situation is, the Rams have Seattle’s number at all phases of the game and all over their depth chart. There remains a talent and coaching gap between these teams.
INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA – JANUARY 05: Zach Charbonnet #26 of the Seattle Seahawks runs the ball against Brennan Jackson #44 of the Los Angeles Rams during the first quarter at SoFi Stadium on January 05, 2025 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
Offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb has taken a lot of heat this year for his deeply unbalanced offense. At times, the Seahawks have abandoned the run for no reason this year. But against the Rams, they did commit to the ground attack and it paid off. Seattle rushed for 126 yards as a team on 24 total carries, with Zach Charbonnet leading the way with 59 of those yards. The Seahawks averaged 5.3 yards per carry, and it ate up the Rams’ defense. Overall this year, Seattle’s offense was No. 6 in passing, but No. 30 in rushing. Going forward, this will have to be corrected.
Dec 15, 2024; Seattle, Washington, USA; Seattle Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald, left, walks to the locker room following a loss against the Green Bay Packers at Lumen Field. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-Imagn Images
For a second-straight season, the Seahawks will not be in the playoffs. For the third time in the last four seasons, the Seahawks will not be in the playoffs. For the fifth time in as many seasons, the Seahawks will end the year without a single playoff victory. Yes, you read that right, it has been five years since Seattle last won a postseason game. For a team that has fairly regularly found their way into the tournament and won at least one contest (especially during the Pete Carroll years), the Seahawks are in the midst of a shocking drought. A lot of work will have to be put into this offseason to help reverse this trend and get the team back to the standards they have set for themselves.
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON – OCTOBER 06: Darius Slayton #86 of the New York Giants scores a third quarter touchdown against the Seattle Seahawks at Lumen Field on October 06, 2024 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
Yes, I am going to harp on this one again… and will likely continue to do so in the coming days and weeks ahead! Losing to the New York Giants in Week 5 proved to the cement weights on the Seahawks’ feet they simply could not shake. I know there’s a lot that goes into a season, and there are many pitfalls along the way. Blowing winnable games to the Rams and Vikings hurt, as well as being blown out by the Bills and Packers. But all four of those teams are in the playoffs, so losing to any of those teams is far more understandable than losing to a squad that finished 3-14. Sure, flip any one of Seattle’s seven losses into a win, and the Hawks are playing to win the NFC West in Week 18. But dropping a home game by two scores to that Giants team was inexcusable. Maybe they still lose to a Rams team actually playing for something. Or maybe they find a way to win and get in. The point is we’ll never know.
The Seahawks learned a lot of lessons this year, but the most painful was the fact there are no “gimmies” in the NFL, and games in Week 5 matter just as much as games in Week 17.
