Seattle Seahawks vs Los Angeles Rams Match Player Stats On Sep 13, 2015

The Sports Xchange
Sep 13, 2015

ST. LOUIS -- A stunning gamble by the Seattle Seahawks to start overtime failed and led to a St. Louis Rams win on the opening Sunday of the NFL season.

Placekicker Greg Zuerlein's 37-yard field goal with 12:06 on the clock gave St. Louis a 34-31 verdict over the two-time NFC champions at the Edward Jones Dome.

The kick came six plays after Seattle tried an onside kick that was recovered by rookie wide receiver Bradley Marquez at the Seahawks' 49. Jeff Triplette's officiating crew initially nullified the recovery, saying that Marquez gave an invalid fair catch signal, but the ball never hit the ground and Triplette reversed his original call.

Seattle's overtime possession ended when running back Marshawn Lynch was stopped for a 2-yard loss on fourth-and-1 at the Rams' 41 by defensive end Chris Long.

St. Louis tied the game with 53 seconds remaining when quarterback Nick Foles found tight end Lance Kendricks down the left side for a 37-yard touchdown pass. Strong safety Dion Bailey slipped and fell in coverage, leaving Kendricks uncovered.

Cornerback Cary Williams' sack, scoop and score on an 8-yard fumble return with 4:39 remaining in the game capped Seattle's rally from an 11-point deficit, giving it a 31-24 lead.

The Seahawks evened the score just seven seconds prior to Williams' winning touchdown on Steven Hauschka's third field goal, a 35-yarder. It capped a 10-play, 58-yard drive that started when linebacker Bruce Irvin recovered a fumble by running back Isaiah Pead at the Seahawks' 25-yard line.

Quarterback Russell Wilson started the fourth quarter comeback with a 7-yard scoring strike to tight end Jimmy Graham at the 12:04 mark. Wilson finished 30 of 39 for 244 yards, absorbing six sacks and throwing under duress all day.

Seattle opened the scoring when rookie wide receiver Tyler Lockett sped 57 yards on a punt return with 4:31 left in the first quarter, taking advantage of two nice blocks on a low boot by Johnny Hekker.

St. Louis tied it on the second quarter's first play as wide receiver Tavon Austin lined up at running back and scooted 16 yards to finish a six-play, 80-yard drive.

The Rams took their first lead when placekicker Greg Zuerlein nailed a 33-yard field goal with 7:31 left in the half, but the Seahawks forged a 10-10 halftime tie as Hauschka converted a 25-yarder on the half's final snap.

Hauschka's 27-yard field goal with 9:40 remaining in the third quarter gave Seattle a 13-10 lead, but St. Louis responded with two touchdowns in less than two minutes.

Foles bootlegged 1-yard touchdown around right end at the 6:10 mark. That polished off an 80-yard drive which featured a 30-yard connection between him and tight end Jared Cook that pushed the ball to the Seahawks' 2.

After defensive tackle Aaron Donald sacked Wilson to force a three-and-out, Austin raced 75 yards down the left side with Jon Ryan's punt with 4:30 remaining, providing the Rams with a 24-13 advantage.

Foles, acquired from the Philadelphia Eagles in the offseason, was 18 of 27 for 297 yards and two scores.

NOTES: Seattle RB Marshawn Lynch entered Sunday's game with an NFL-high 24 100-yard rushing games since the start of the 2011 season. ... Prior to Sunday's game, St. Louis had recorded 145 since the opening of the 2012 season, second-most in the NFL. ... Rams CB Trumaine Johnson (concussion) left the game just before halftime and did not return. ... This was the first season opener in league history that both teams returned punts for TDs.