After difficult week, L.A. keeps its focus
LOS ANGELES — The Rams were still reeling from the mass shooting less than 5 miles from their training complex when wildfires consumed the nearby hills, forcing a practice to be canceled and the evacuation of many players and coaches from their homes.
At the close of a horrific week in Southern California, a comeback victory over the Seahawks on Sunday somehow seemed both more trivial and even sweeter.
Brandin Cooks scored on a 9-yard run with 5:49 to play on the first snap after Dante Fowler forced and recovered a fumble by Russell Wilson, and Los Angeles bounced back from its first loss with a 36-31 victory.
Jared Goff, who was forced from his home during the week, passed for 318 yards and two touchdowns as the Rams (9-1) swept the season series from NFC West rival Seattle (4-5).
“It’s just been a tough week for the whole city, the whole area up there,” Goff said. “Hoping today provided a little bit of joy and regularity for those people.”
Todd Gurley rushed for 120 yards and a score and Gerald Everett and Tyler Higbee caught TD passes for the Rams, who survived a topsy-turvy game with just enough big plays.
“It means a lot, (because) there’s a lot of tragedy that’s been going on,” said L.A. defensive end Aaron Donald, who had 2½ sacks of Wilson after evacuating his family during the week. “We’ve all been affected by it. We had to move ourselves, so to win a game like this, a divisional game, we’re trying to give people something to smile about.”
Wilson threw three touchdown passes, rushed for 92 yards and nearly rallied the Seahawks all the way back after his fumble.
Wilson hit Mike Davis for a short TD catch to cap a 90-yard drive with 1:56 to play. After the Seattle defense held, he got the Seahawks to the Los Angeles 35 before throwing four consecutive incompletions in the final minute.