If you’re a Seahawks fan, you probably spent most of early November 2024 screaming at your television. That Week 9 matchup at Lumen Field was a masterclass in frustration. Honestly, the Seahawks vs LA Rams rivalry has always been a bit like that—unpredictable, occasionally ugly, and consistently high-stakes.
Seattle outgained the Rams by nearly 60 yards that day. Jaxon Smith-Njigba was basically a human highlight reel, racking up 180 yards and two scores. But then you have the mistakes. Two red-zone interceptions from Geno Smith, including that brutal 103-yard pick-six by rookie Kam Kinchens, turned what should have been a statement win into an overtime heartbreak. Matthew Stafford, being the savvy vet he is, just waited for his moment and hit Demarcus Robinson for a 39-yard walk-off touchdown. Game over. 26-20.
The Chaos of the 2024 Series
What most people get wrong about the Seahawks vs LA Rams dynamic is the idea that one team "owns" the other. Sure, Sean McVay had Pete Carroll's number for a long time, but 2024 felt different. It was the first year of the Mike Macdonald era in Seattle, and you could see the defensive chess match evolving.
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By the time Week 18 rolled around in January 2025, the narrative shifted. The Rams were resting some heavy hitters like Cooper Kupp and Kyren Williams to gear up for the playoffs, but they still threw Jimmy Garoppolo out there to keep things competitive. Seattle needed that win for momentum, and they got it, 30-25.
Key Moments from the 2024 Season:
- The Kinchens Pick-Six: A 103-yard momentum killer in Week 9 that stands as one of the longest in Rams history.
- JSN’s Arrival: Jaxon Smith-Njigba’s 180-yard performance proved he wasn't just a slot guy; he was a problem for the Rams' secondary.
- Leonard Williams’ Dominance: In the Week 18 finale, Williams logged two sacks on Garoppolo, hitting a 10-sack season milestone.
- Joshua Karty’s Leg: The Rams rookie kicker was a machine, setting franchise records and keeping LA in games when the offense stalled.
Why the 2025 Matchups Changed Everything
If 2024 was about transition, 2025 was about Sam Darnold entering the fray for Seattle and the rivalry hitting a fever pitch. We saw a pair of games decided by a total of three points. Think about that for a second.
In their Week 11 clash, the Seahawks actually dominated the stat sheet, outgaining the Rams 414 to 249. You’d think that’s an easy win, right? Wrong. Darnold threw four interceptions. The Rams, despite struggling to move the ball consistently, lived off that short field. Seattle had a chance to win it late, but Jason Myers was forced into a 61-yard prayer that fell short.
Then came the December 18, 2025, Thursday Night Football game. This is the one people will talk about for years. Seattle was down by 16 points in the fourth quarter. It looked like the Rams were going to cruise. But then Rashid Shaheed—who Seattle picked up to add some juice to the return game—housed a punt for 58 yards.
Suddenly, the energy at Lumen Field flipped.
The Two-Point Gamble
Mike Macdonald proved he’s got a different kind of DNA than the coaches who play it safe. In overtime of that December 2025 game, after a Darnold-to-JSN touchdown, Macdonald didn't send out the kicking unit. He went for two.
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It was a gutsy, "burn the ships" kind of move. Darnold found tight end Eric Saubert wide open. Seahawks win, 38-37. It was the first time an NFL team won on an overtime two-point conversion. That’s the kind of stuff that turns a divisional rivalry into a legendary feud.
Head-to-Head Realities
The all-time series is sitting at a razor-thin 29-28 lead for the Seahawks as of early 2026. While the regular season has been a back-and-forth battle, the Rams still hold the ultimate trump card: they are 2-0 against Seattle in the postseason. For Seahawks fans, the 2020 Wild Card loss at home still stings more than any regular-season sweep.
Stafford vs. the New Guard
You sort of have to marvel at Matthew Stafford. Even as the Rams' roster shifted around him, he remained the ultimate equalizer. In 2025, he threw for over 4,700 yards and 46 touchdowns. His connection with Puka Nacua has become the spiritual successor to the Stafford-Kupp connection that won them a Super Bowl.
On the other side, Seattle has spent the last two years proving they can win with different styles. Whether it was Geno Smith’s precision in 2024 or the high-variance, big-play nature of the Sam Darnold/Mike Macdonald era in 2025, the Seahawks have stayed relevant in an NFC West that was supposed to belong to the 49ers.
Actionable Insights for the Next Matchup
If you're looking at a Seahawks vs LA Rams game on the schedule, stop looking at the records. They don't matter. Here is how to actually evaluate these teams:
- Watch the Red Zone Efficiency: In their 2024 Week 9 meeting, Seattle had four red-zone trips and only one touchdown. That’s how you lose games you dominate statistically.
- Monitor the Pass Rush: The Rams have leaned heavily on young guys like Jared Verse and Braden Fiske to replace the void left by Aaron Donald. If they get home, Stafford wins. If they don't, the Seahawks' receivers will pick them apart.
- The "Middle of the Field" Factor: Mike Macdonald’s defense is designed to confuse quarterbacks by muddying the middle of the field. Stafford is one of the few who can still thread the needle there, making this the key matchup to watch every time they play.
- Special Teams Matter: Between Joshua Karty’s record-breaking rookie year for the Rams and Seattle’s reliance on big returns, the "hidden yardage" usually decides at least one of their two annual meetings.
The NFC West is a gauntlet, but the road to the top almost always requires surviving this specific pairing. Whether it's a 103-yard interception return or a historic overtime two-point conversion, expect the unexpected.
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Keep an eye on the injury reports regarding the Rams' offensive line and the Seahawks' secondary depth heading into the 2026 season. Those two units have historically been the breaking points in this series. If Seattle can keep their corners healthy, they have the personnel to finally neutralize Puka Nacua, but as we've seen, Sean McVay always has a counter-move ready.