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Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold didn’t dodge what happened the last time he saw the Los Angeles Rams, and he’s making it clear he expects a different result in the rematch.
Speaking with reporters on December 16, Darnold called the previous meeting with L.A. “not my best effort,” then pointed to the areas Seattle has to clean up fast on a short week: the details, third downs, and especially finishing drives in the red zone.
The Seahawks and Rams meet on Thursday Night Football, December 18, in Seattle with both clubs sitting at 11-3, giving the matchup major NFC West (and playoff-seeding) implications. It’s the first time in Thursday Night Football history two 11-3 teams have met.
Sam Darnold: Rams “Match the Pressure With the Coverage”
Darnold’s most pointed comments centered on the Rams’ defensive identity, and why he believes Seattle has to be sharper this time around.
He credited the Rams for making life difficult with a scheme where the rush and coverage work together, noting how L.A.’s defensive backs stay “on a string” and how the plan forces offenses to be precise. In other words: if Seattle is even a little sloppy, the Rams make you pay.
That theme also fits what happened in the first matchup, when the Rams won 21-19 at SoFi Stadium in Week 11. Darnold threw four interceptions in that game, and Seattle still had a chance late before missing a long field goal on the final play.
What It Means for Seattle’s Offense in the Rematch
Darnold’s “bold message” wasn’t trash talk, it was accountability. He praised Seattle’s effort (the “between-the-whistles” stuff like extra blocks and finishing runs), but he kept coming back to the idea that effort alone won’t beat this opponent.
For Seattle, the path is straightforward:
Stay out of long-yardage situations. Darnold said second-and-long and third-and-long situations have made it harder to convert.
Finish in the red zone. He described it as “executing, plain and simple.”
Start faster. Darnold acknowledged the Seahawks haven’t started as fast as they want, calling it another edge to chase.
And with the turnaround to Thursday, he also emphasized the balance between installing the plan and actually recovering — including sleep — when the week is condensed.
On the Rams’ side, there’s also something to monitor: wide receiver Davante Adams was held out of Tuesday’s walkthrough with a hamstring issue, though Los Angeles coach Sean McVay did not rule him out for Thursday.
Seahawks-Rams TNF: Time, TV, and What’s at Stake
This one has been circled for weeks, and now it’s here: Rams at Seahawks on Thursday, December 18 from Lumen Field.
Kickoff is scheduled for 8:15 p.m. ET on Amazon Prime Video.
With both teams entering Week 16 at 11-3, it’s the type of game Darnold said players want in December: meaningful football, in prime time, against a divisional opponent that already got the better of Seattle once.
Now, Darnold’s message is simple: he’s not pretending the last one was good enough — and the Seahawks don’t have time to ease into the rematch.
Erik Anderson is an award-winning sports journalist covering the NBA and NFL for Heavy.com. Anderson is also the host of The Rip City Pod on The I-5 Corridor, where he dives into the stories and personalities shaping the Portland Trail Blazers. His work has appeared in nationally-recognized outlets including The New York Times, Associated Press , USA Today, and ESPN. More about Erik Anderson
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