Little known inside linebacker Heath Farwell helped make one of the bigger defensive stops of the season for the Seattle Seahawks. His tackle of St. Louis Rams running back Daryl Richardson at the Seattle 1 yard line for no gain, provided the impetus for the Seahawks to close out their 14-9 win over an eager Rams team. This win puts the Seahawks at 3-0 in the NFC West which means that they are in sole possession of first place in that division. And all it took for the Seahawks to get to that perch atop their division, was a superb defensive performance leading up to a huge tackle by a backup linebacker and special teams maven.
Tonight was an off night for Seattle offensive stars such as quarterback Russell Wilson (10 of 18 for 139 yards and 2 touchdown 
passes) and running back Marshawn “Beast Mode” Lynch (8 carries for 23 yards and no score). But Seattle to a certain extent didn’t need those two to be off the charts tonight as their defense suffocated and stymied the Rams time and time again. Yes, rookie running back Zac Stacy gained 134 yards on 26 carries, but he also never pranced into the end zone. And as well, the Rams’ talented and explosive receivers weren’t big factors in the red zone and neither one of them scored either.
It’s too bad the Rams lost this game, because they had two defensive ends who irritated the Seahawk’s offensive line. First there was 3rd year defensive end Robert Quinn who had 3 sacks in the first half alone, with 2 of those sacks on successive plays on the last drive of the first half for both teams. Then there was Chris Long who had three sacks of his own accompanied by three different sack dances or celebrative body movements.
The Rams defense posted seven sacks on the night and only allowed 135 yards total offense to Seattle. Most times that would be enough to beat an opposing team, but the Rams can’t seem to get it together in the red zone or as far as scoring points this year.
Down 3-0 late in the 2nd quarter, Seattle cornerback Richard Sherman intercepted Ram quarterback Kellen Clemens (15 of 31 for 158 yards, no touchdown passes, and 2 interceptions) at the SEA 36 and returned his theft to the STL 26 for a 38 yard return. Sherman’s big play set up a Wilson—with Quinn close enough with pressure, to smell the quarterback’s breath—2 yard touchdown pass to receiver Golden Tate (5 catches for 93 yards and 2 scores) between slight double coverage from cornerbacks Janoris Jenkins and Trumaine Johnson. Tate’s score gave the Seahawks a 7-3 lead with 5:45 left in the 2nd quarter.
Tate further burned the Rams buns, with an 80 yard touchdown catch that was aided by a fallen Jenkins near where Tate caught the pass. But the biggest story of that play wasn’t the score, but it was Tate’s blatant taunting when he was more than 20 yards from the end zone. The outcome of the taunting? His team was assessed penalty yards on the ensuing kickoff and the receiver got a stern lecture from head coach Pete Carroll on the sidelines. Tate’s second touchdown reception of the game put the score at 14-6 Seattle with 3:45 left in the 3rd quarter.
On the ensuing drive, the Rams received a big assist from receiver Chris Givens (4 catches for 59 yards) who caught a Clemens pass for 23 yards that set up the Rams at the SEA 40. He came through again with a run on a reverse for 16 yards down the right side to the SEA 25 yard line. But all the Rams got out of this drive was a successful chip shot 27 yard field goal from Greg Zuerlein. Now it was 14-9 early in the 4th quarter.
On the Rams last offensive drive of the game, they set up shop at their own 3 yard line. Later in the drive, Stacy gained 18 yards on an off left tackle cutback run down to the STL 29. Then Givens caught a pass for 21 yards down to midfield.
Then with just under 2 minutes left in the game, tight end Lance Kendricks snared a Clemens pass near the right sideline and took the ball to the SEA 21 good for an 18 yard gain. But later in the drive, Farwell then star safety Earl Thomas combined to stuff Richardson for no gain at the SEA 1. That play happened on 3rd and goal, but the biggest play of the game for Seattle was Clemens’ incomplete pass to Givens versus tight coverage from cornerback Brandon Browner near the back right corner of the end zone.
