The irony in the 1st Rams game was that the Seahawks have the superior special teams, but then their punter has the kick of the decade, and our kicker can’t make the hero field goal.
This game set the stage for the rest of the season. Darnold became much more conservative after the loss. Time management improved. The team learned lessons and adapted. McVay adapted too. He saw what MacDonald had done defensively and made adjustments that delivered a ton of yards in the second matchup. Then, needing to come from behind, Sam had to come out of his shell, and delivered the best game of the season.
The 9ers rivalry in the LOB years was emotional. Turkey on the 49ers logo. Merry Christmas taunts. Head coaches who really didn’t like each other. The current Rams rivalry is different. It’s taking place in meeting rooms and on whiteboards. The Rams whine and the Seahawks do not care.
The Rams offense vs the Seahawks defense is the chess match of the decade. The attacks and counter attacks are fascinating. The Seattle offense vs the LA defense is different. It’s about matchups, and the Rams have invested to make life difficult for Sam. Can Fleury scheme around Garrett and not get funneled into dead plays? Is he creative enough to not become predictable? Let’s wish him the best!
This was the game where I felt the Seahawks were going to be something special in the playoffs. I felt better about the team after this loss than after some wins (Indy).
The defense was just so suffocating. And even with the 4 picks, they had a chance to win at the end. This was my “oh hell yeah!” Game.
I do agree with you it was our best defensive game of the year. I remember having watched the SF loss and this loss that it was so hugely different than the routine Carroll losses, where it was so evident we were just being outcoached. Here I felt we FINALLY had our own genius to countermand Shanahan and McVey. And being so glad it wasn’t Ben Johnson trying to out-McVey McVey
But then came the 38-37 game where McVey pretty much stomped our faces — except he didn’t count on the Samdarnold Redemption. That game we won bc of Darnold not MacDonald.
Thought the third game was a pretty clear win for MacDonald again and had Tariq not committed that “Never mind, it was 27” penalty, the score would have reflected the dominance.
But again, feels SO MUCH better to know we have a coach that can at least fight to a draw or in the case of last year, actually beat ‘em both. And as you say, in the losses arguably won too.
The irony in the 1st Rams game was that the Seahawks have the superior special teams, but then their punter has the kick of the decade, and our kicker can’t make the hero field goal.
This game set the stage for the rest of the season. Darnold became much more conservative after the loss. Time management improved. The team learned lessons and adapted. McVay adapted too. He saw what MacDonald had done defensively and made adjustments that delivered a ton of yards in the second matchup. Then, needing to come from behind, Sam had to come out of his shell, and delivered the best game of the season.
The 9ers rivalry in the LOB years was emotional. Turkey on the 49ers logo. Merry Christmas taunts. Head coaches who really didn’t like each other. The current Rams rivalry is different. It’s taking place in meeting rooms and on whiteboards. The Rams whine and the Seahawks do not care.
The Rams offense vs the Seahawks defense is the chess match of the decade. The attacks and counter attacks are fascinating. The Seattle offense vs the LA defense is different. It’s about matchups, and the Rams have invested to make life difficult for Sam. Can Fleury scheme around Garrett and not get funneled into dead plays? Is he creative enough to not become predictable? Let’s wish him the best!
This was the game where I felt the Seahawks were going to be something special in the playoffs. I felt better about the team after this loss than after some wins (Indy).
The defense was just so suffocating. And even with the 4 picks, they had a chance to win at the end. This was my “oh hell yeah!” Game.
I do agree with you it was our best defensive game of the year. I remember having watched the SF loss and this loss that it was so hugely different than the routine Carroll losses, where it was so evident we were just being outcoached. Here I felt we FINALLY had our own genius to countermand Shanahan and McVey. And being so glad it wasn’t Ben Johnson trying to out-McVey McVey
But then came the 38-37 game where McVey pretty much stomped our faces — except he didn’t count on the Samdarnold Redemption. That game we won bc of Darnold not MacDonald.
Thought the third game was a pretty clear win for MacDonald again and had Tariq not committed that “Never mind, it was 27” penalty, the score would have reflected the dominance.
But again, feels SO MUCH better to know we have a coach that can at least fight to a draw or in the case of last year, actually beat ‘em both. And as you say, in the losses arguably won too.