Williams’ interceptions help stifle Seattle offense
INGLEWOOD, Los Angeles County — The Rams have been dealing withRussell Wilson long enough to know they probably can’t stop Seattle’s quarterback entirely.
The Rams and their increasingly dominant defense have not come much closer than they did Sunday during a win that propelled Los Angeles into a share of the NFC West lead.
Darious Williams made two interceptions, Jared Goff passed for 302 yards and the Rams moved alongside Seattle and Arizona atop the division with a 2316 victory over the Seahawks.
Williams, Leonard Floyd and the Rams’ elite defense did some of their best work yet against Wilson and the NFL’s highestscoring team, holding Seattle to three points after halftime.
Whenever Wilson and Seattle got into position to do something big over the final three quarters, Los Angeles ( 63) stopped them in a sevenpoint win that didn’t feel nearly that close.
Los Angeles sacked Wilson six times — three by Floyd. The Rams made three takeaways in L. A. territory, intercepting two of Wilson’s passes and recovering his only fumble — also by Floyd.
“We can cause a lot of stress on a quarterback,” Floyd said. “We were rushing great as a unit and waiting on the quarterback to make a mistake.”
Wilson went 22for37 for 248 yards and rushed for 60 more yards for the Seahawks ( 63), who have lost three of four after a 50 start.
“We knew it was going to be a challenge, but it’s what we live for,” said Rams cornerback Jalen Ramsey after holding DK Metcalf, the NFL’s secondleading receiver, to two catches for 28 yards.
Wilson has committed 10 combined turnovers in Seattle’s three losses, and he couldn’t engineer a touchdown drive against the Rams in the final 54 minutes.
“I’ve just got to get better,” Wilson said. “I’m not going to make it overly complicated. It’s not on anybody but me, and I put it on my shoulders to get it fixed.”
Rams head coach Sean McVay praised both defensive coordinator Brandon Staley’s halftime adjustments and his players’ implementation of them. Seattle couldn’t crack the Rams’ defense, which has allowed just two touchdowns — none since Week 3 — and 29 total points in the second half all season long.
“This is a great offense, ( and Wilson is) someone that we have a tremendous amount of respect for, but our defense has been stout all year,” McVay said.
Malcolm Brown rushed for two touchdowns and Darrell Henderson had another score as the Rams returned from their bye week to win for the fifth time in the rivals’ past six meetings.
Williams, the Rams’ rising star at cornerback opposite Jalen Ramsey, made an endzone interception in the first half and a spectacular thirddown pick near midfield with 7: 48 to play. Floyd sacked Wilson thrice and also recovered Wilson’s fumble on a snap early in the fourth quarter in Rams’ territory.
“We played a terrible game again, and that didn’t work out for us,” Seattle head coach Pete Carroll said. “With all the emphasis that we have on ( not) to turn the ball over, seven times in the last two weeks is just — I don’t even recognize that kind of execution where we’re giving the ball up.”