Takeaways From SUPER Wildcard Weekend
Next up on the list of wacky outcomes is what happened in Seattle. The Los Angeles Rams beat the Seattle Seahawks, 30-20, in Seattle, in a game a game the Rams dominated from start to finish. How’d the Rams dominate? With their defense.
Los Angeles’ defense completely shut down quarterback Russell Wilson and the Seahawks offense. The best defense in the league according to Pro Football focus, lead by Aaron Donald and Jalen Ramsey, held Wilson to 174 yards passing, completely just 11 of 27 attempts, and they even got a pick-six off Wilson. That’s a helluva job!
When’s the last time Russell Wilson threw an interception, let a lone a pick-six? No really, I’m genuinely curious. It feels like Wilson never throws a pic, especially in the playoffs. Well, there was that one time in the Super Bowl against the Patriots on the goal line, but besides that.
Anyways, as for the Rams offense, running back Cam Akers carried the load. The rookie from Florida State rushed for 131 yards and a touchdown and caught two passes for 45 yards.
According to Yahoo Sports, Akers became the first rookie in Rams franchise history to rush for over 100 yards in a playoff game. Akers’ 142 scrimmages yards in the first half were the most by a player in the first half of a playoff debut in the Super Bowl era, which dates back to 1966. Without Akers, the Rams would have lost this game because their quarterback situation was interesting to say the least.
Backup QB John Wolford started the game because of Jared Goff’s thumb issue. However, after Wolford was injured early on in the game from a hit to the head, Goff had to step up.
Despite undergoing surgery on his thumb less than two weeks ago, Goff wasn’t terrible. He threw for 155 yards, completing nine of 19, a touchdown pass, and more importantly, no turnovers. Goff was fine and that’s all their is too it.
Now Los Angeles and that top notch defense heads to Green Bay to face off against Aaron Rodgers and the top seeded Packers in the NFC.
For Seattle, they are in a similar position as the Pittsburgh Steelers. Both teams started off the season very hot, but then petered out during the second half of the year. Both teams lost home playoff games in disappointing fashion. Both teams will have to be make some moves in the offseason to get back to the promised land.