INGLEWOOD—The Seahawks got their 10th win on Sunday, beating the Rams 30-25 to close out their 2024 season. All week long, the Seahawks talked about finishing strong despite missing the playoffs. They were able to do that, both by winning the game, and by finishing the game with a 70-yard go-ahead touchdown drive, followed by a red zone stand by the defense to preserve the lead.
Here are six rapid reactions to Sunday's win at SoFi Stadium:
- Geno Smith was sharp on his way to breaking several of his own franchise records.
While the final game of the season was without playoff implications for the Seahawks it was still meaningful for a number of reasons, not least of which was the team's desire to go out on a high note. There were also some significant individual milestones within reach, including for quarterback Geno Smith.
In his final game of the season, Smith turned in one of his best, completing 20 of 27 attempts for 223 yards and a career-high four touchdown passes, giving him a 137.8 passer rating that was the fourth highest of his career and second best as a Seahawk.
With that performance, Smith broke his own single-season franchise records for completions (407), attempts (578), passing yards (4,320) and completion percentage (70.4).
Smith also led his fourth game-winning drive of the season in the fourth quarter or overtime, leading the Seahawks on a 70-yard touchdown drive to take the lead for good on a touchdown pass to Noah Fant.
- Julian Love played like a Pro Bowler.
After making the Pro Bowl last season, safety Julian Love missed out this year, though he was named an alternate. Even if Love isn't a Pro Bowler, he sure played like one on Sunday, making plays all over the field to help a secondary that was, by the second quarter, missing three of its top four cornerbacks with Josh Jobe on IR and with Riq Woolen and Tre Brown both leaving the game due to injury.
Love finished the game with six tackles, three passes defensed and an interception, his third of the season. One of the pass breakups was initially ruled a forced fumble before being overturned, while the other was a huge pass breakup near the goal line as the Rams drove for a potential winning score in the final minutes.
Speaking of Pro-Bowl snubs…
- Leonard Williams had another big game, notching a double-digit sack season.
Despite being one of the best interior linemen in the NFL by about any measure, Leonard Williams was somehow left off the NFC Pro Bowl roster when it was released on Thursday. On Sunday, Williams added to an already outstanding season, recording a pair of sacks to give him 11.0 this season.
With his third-quarter sack, Williams became the first Seahawks player with a double-digit sack season since Frank Clark and Jarran Reed both did it in 2018, and it was also Williams's second double-digit sack season in his 10-year career, along with an 11.5 sack season in 2020.
- Zach Charbonnet and Kenny McIntosh continue to be a productive duo.
Playing again without starting running back Kenneth Walker III, who is on injured reserve, the Seahawks got another productive game out of the duo of Zach Charbonnet and Kenny McIntosh.
While there weren't a ton of carries for either back, both were effective when given a chance, with Charbonnet rushing for 59 yards on 14 carries and McIntosh adding 49 more yards on just seven carries.
- The tight ends came through in a big way.
Noah Fant led the Seahawks with 63 receiving yards, a total that included the go-ahead touchdown, which he held on to while being upended and landing hard on the back of his head and neck. Rookie AJ Barner also made some big contributions, catching five passes for 34 yards and a touchdown, his fourth touchdown catch of the season.
- Jaxon Smith-Njigba and DK Metcalf both hit milestones.
It was a quiet day for second-year receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who had four catches for 9 yards, but those four catches did give him 100 this season to tie Tyler Lockett's single-season franchise record.
DK Metcalf, meanwhile, had his fifth touchdown catch of the season, making him the second player in NFL history, along with Randy Moss, to have 900 receiving yards, 50 catches and five receiving touchdowns in each of his first six seasons.
Must-see shots of the Seahawks at their Week 18 matchup against the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium on Sunday, January 5, 2025.
Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon (21) at the Week 18 matchup against the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium on Sunday, January 5, 2025.
Seahawks kicker Jason Myers (5) at the Week 18 matchup against the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium on Sunday, January 5, 2025.
Seahawks kicker Jason Myers (5) at the Week 18 matchup against the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium on Sunday, January 5, 2025.
Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon (21) and Seahawks cornerback Tre Brown (22) at the Week 18 matchup against the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium on Sunday, January 5, 2025.
Seahawks linebacker Ernest Jones IV (13) and Seahawks cornerback Tre Brown (22) at the Week 18 matchup against the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium on Sunday, January 5, 2025.
Seahawks linebacker Ernest Jones IV (13) and Seahawks cornerback Tre Brown (22) at the Week 18 matchup against the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium on Sunday, January 5, 2025.
Seahawks players at the Week 18 matchup against the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium on Sunday, January 5, 2025.
Seahawks linebacker Derick Hall (58) and Seahawks linebacker Tyrice Knight (48) at the Week 18 matchup against the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium on Sunday, January 5, 2025.
Seahawks linebacker Derick Hall (58) at the Week 18 matchup against the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium on Sunday, January 5, 2025.
Seahawks linebacker Derick Hall (58) and Seahawks linebacker Tyrice Knight (48) at the Week 18 matchup against the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium on Sunday, January 5, 2025.
Seahawks linebacker Derick Hall (58) and Seahawks nose tackle Jarran Reed (90) at the Week 18 matchup against the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium on Sunday, January 5, 2025.
Seahawks linebacker Derick Hall (58) and Seahawks nose tackle Jarran Reed (90) at the Week 18 matchup against the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium on Sunday, January 5, 2025.
Seahawks linebacker Tyrice Knight (48) at the Week 18 matchup against the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium on Sunday, January 5, 2025.
Seahawks linebacker Ernest Jones IV (13) and Seahawks cornerback Tre Brown (22) at the Week 18 matchup against the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium on Sunday, January 5, 2025.
Seahawks linebacker Boye Mafe (53) at the Week 18 matchup against the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium on Sunday, January 5, 2025.
Seahawks linebacker Tyrice Knight (48) at the Week 18 matchup against the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium on Sunday, January 5, 2025.
Seahawks linebacker Ernest Jones IV (13) at the Week 18 matchup against the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium on Sunday, January 5, 2025.
Seahawks linebacker Ernest Jones IV (13) at the Week 18 matchup against the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium on Sunday, January 5, 2025.
Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith (7) at the Week 18 matchup against the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium on Sunday, January 5, 2025.
Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith (7) at the Week 18 matchup against the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium on Sunday, January 5, 2025.
Seahawks wide receiver DK Metcalf (14) at the Week 18 matchup against the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium on Sunday, January 5, 2025.
Seahawks wide receiver DK Metcalf (14) at the Week 18 matchup against the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium on Sunday, January 5, 2025.
Seahawks players at the Week 18 matchup against the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium on Sunday, January 5, 2025.
Seahawks linebacker Tyrice Knight (48) at the Week 18 matchup against the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium on Sunday, January 5, 2025.
Seahawks linebacker Tyrice Knight (48) and Seahawks linebacker Ernest Jones IV (13) at the Week 18 matchup against the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium on Sunday, January 5, 2025.
Seahawks linebacker Tyrice Knight (48) and Seahawks linebacker Ernest Jones IV (13) at the Week 18 matchup against the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium on Sunday, January 5, 2025.
Seahawks running back Zach Charbonnet (26) at the Week 18 matchup against the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium on Sunday, January 5, 2025.
Seahawks running back Zach Charbonnet (26) at the Week 18 matchup against the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium on Sunday, January 5, 2025.
Seahawks running back Zach Charbonnet (26) at the Week 18 matchup against the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium on Sunday, January 5, 2025.
Seahawks wide receiver Jaelon Darden (1) at the Week 18 matchup against the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium on Sunday, January 5, 2025.
Seahawks wide receiver Jaelon Darden (1) at the Week 18 matchup against the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium on Sunday, January 5, 2025.
Seahawks wide receiver Jaelon Darden (1) at the Week 18 matchup against the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium on Sunday, January 5, 2025.
Seahawks running back Zach Charbonnet (26) at the Week 18 matchup against the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium on Sunday, January 5, 2025.
Seahawks running back Zach Charbonnet (26) at the Week 18 matchup against the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium on Sunday, January 5, 2025.
Seahawks running back Zach Charbonnet (26) at the Week 18 matchup against the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium on Sunday, January 5, 2025.
Seahawks running back Zach Charbonnet (26) at the Week 18 matchup against the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium on Sunday, January 5, 2025.
Seahawks running back Zach Charbonnet (26) at the Week 18 matchup against the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium on Sunday, January 5, 2025.
Seahawks tight end Noah Fant (87) at the Week 18 matchup against the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium on Sunday, January 5, 2025.
Seahawks tight end Noah Fant (87) at the Week 18 matchup against the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium on Sunday, January 5, 2025.
Seahawks tight end Noah Fant (87) at the Week 18 matchup against the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium on Sunday, January 5, 2025.
Seahawks tackle Michael Jerrell (65) at the Week 18 matchup against the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium on Sunday, January 5, 2025.
Seahawks wide receiver Jake Bobo (19) at the Week 18 matchup against the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium on Sunday, January 5, 2025.
Seahawks wide receiver Jake Bobo (19) at the Week 18 matchup against the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium on Sunday, January 5, 2025.
Seahawks wide receiver Jake Bobo (19) at the Week 18 matchup against the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium on Sunday, January 5, 2025.
Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith (7) at the Week 18 matchup against the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium on Sunday, January 5, 2025.
Seahawks wide receiver DK Metcalf (14) at the Week 18 matchup against the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium on Sunday, January 5, 2025.
Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith (7) at the Week 18 matchup against the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium on Sunday, January 5, 2025.
Seahawks wide receiver DK Metcalf (14) at the Week 18 matchup against the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium on Sunday, January 5, 2025.
Seahawks wide receiver Tyler Lockett (16) at the Week 18 matchup against the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium on Sunday, January 5, 2025.
Seahawks wide receiver DK Metcalf (14) at the Week 18 matchup against the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium on Sunday, January 5, 2025.
Seahawks wide receiver Tyler Lockett (16) at the Week 18 matchup against the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium on Sunday, January 5, 2025.
Seahawks wide receiver Tyler Lockett (16) at the Week 18 matchup against the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium on Sunday, January 5, 2025.
Seahawks wide receiver Tyler Lockett (16) at the Week 18 matchup against the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium on Sunday, January 5, 2025.
Seahawks wide receiver Tyler Lockett (16) at the Week 18 matchup against the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium on Sunday, January 5, 2025.
Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba (11) at the Week 18 matchup against the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium on Sunday, January 5, 2025.
Seahawks wide receiver Tyler Lockett (16) at the Week 18 matchup against the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium on Sunday, January 5, 2025.
Seahawks tight end AJ Barner (88) at the Week 18 matchup against the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium on Sunday, January 5, 2025.
Seahawks free safety Julian Love (20) at the Week 18 matchup against the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium on Sunday, January 5, 2025.
Seahawks free safety Julian Love (20) at the Week 18 matchup against the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium on Sunday, January 5, 2025.
Seahawks free safety Coby Bryant (8), Seahawks free safety Julian Love (20), and Seahawks defensive end Leonard Williams (99) at the Week 18 matchup against the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium on Sunday, January 5, 2025.
Seahawks cornerback Nehemiah Pritchett (28) at the Week 18 matchup against the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium on Sunday, January 5, 2025.
Seahawks punter Michael Dickson (4) at the Week 18 matchup against the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium on Sunday, January 5, 2025.
Seahawks tight end Noah Fant (87) at the Week 18 matchup against the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium on Sunday, January 5, 2025.
