Los Angeles Rams vs Seattle Seahawks Match Player Stats On Dec 27, 2015

The Sports Xchange
Dec 27, 2015

SEATTLE -- St. Louis linebacker Akeem Ayers had two key fumble recoveries, one of which he returned for a first-quarter touchdown, sparking the Rams to a big early lead on the way to a 23-17 win over the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday.

It marked only the second time, and the first since 2004, that St. Louis swept Seattle in two divisional games in the same season.

Ayers returned a fumble 45 yards for a touchdown to help propel the Rams (7-8) to a 16-0 lead, then he cemented the win with another recovery, falling on a fumble by Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson at the St. Louis 11-yard line with 2:15 remaining.

The Seahawks (9-6) saw their five-game winning streak end. They had already clinched a playoff berth and were out of contention for the NFC West title before the game started, so the defeat had very little bearing on Seattle's postseason outlook.

Seattle wide receiver Doug Baldwin (eight receptions, 118 yards) caught a touchdown pass for the fifth week in a row, giving him a franchise record of 14 for the season, but it wasn't enough in the loss.

St. Louis defensive end William Hayes had three of the Rams' four sacks. The Rams held the Seahawks to 60 rushing yards on 22 carries, with Wilson accounting for 39 yards on six attempts.

Wilson completed 25 of 41 passes for 289 yards and two touchdowns with one interception. He connected with wide receiver Jermaine Kearse on a meaningless 18-yard score with 17 seconds remaining.

Wilson's first-half interception was the first he threw since Nov. 15.

St. Louis rookie running back Todd Gurley had 85 rushing yards and a touchdown on 19 carries on a day when the Rams had just 103 passing yards. Gurley's 2-yard touchdown with 10:34 remaining put St. Louis ahead 23-10.

After St. Louis went into halftime with a 16-3 lead, the Seahawks got back into the game by opening the second half with a 16-play, 67-yard drive that culminated with Baldwin's 25-yard touchdown catch.

Center Tim Barnes saved St. Louis twice on the opening possession of the fourth quarter, recovering a pair of fumbles before the Rams extended their lead to 13 points.

St. Louis running back Benny Cunningham fumbled on a fourth-and-1 carry near midfield with 13:20 remaining, and Seattle safety Earl Thomas came out of the pile with the ball, but officials ruled that Barnes was the first to gain possession.

Two plays later, after Gurley broke free and leaped over would-be tackler Richard Sherman, the ball came loose again when Seattle cornerback DeShawn Shead forced a fumble. Barnes again came up with the ball, this time at the 2-yard line.

Three plays after that, Gurley followed a Barnes block up the middle for a 2-yard touchdown run and a 23-10 lead.

The Seahawks still had a chance to come back, but their next possession stalled out in St. Louis territory when the snap to Wilson got away from him and resulted in a 12-yard loss on third down with seven minutes remaining.

Four-and-a-half minutes later, with the Seahawks threatening to score again, Wilson fumbled at the end of a scramble, resulting in another Ayers recovery at the St. Louis 8-yard line to clinch the win with 2:38 remaining.

The Rams benefitted from good field position and a pair of first-half turnovers on their way to a 16-0 lead midway through the second quarter. Ayers turned one of the turnovers into a 45-yard touchdown when he returned a fumble for his first career score.

The Rams' other two scoring drives in the first half covered just 53 yards over six plays.

NOTES: Seahawks S Kam Chancellor (pelvis) was inactive for the second week in a row. Kelcie McCray started at strong safety. ... Seattle LT Russell Okung (calf) did not suit up. Alvin Bailey stepped in for his second start of the season. ... Three players -- Seattle TE Luke Willson and St. Louis S Mark Barron and DT Nick Fairley -- sat out the second half with concussions. ... Sunday may have marked the final time that the St. Louis Rams play in Seattle. Since moving from Los Angeles in 1995, the Rams have gone 3-12 at Seattle and 10-19 against the Seahawks overall. The Rams are rumored to be one of the teams considering a move to Los Angeles, possibly as soon as next season.