Seahawks versus Rams: Tyler Lockett and the amazing play

While Thursday’s game had lots of ebbs and flows, no play was more important than Tyler Lockett caught Russell Wilson’s pass for a Seahawks touchdown.

Tyler Lockett caught the ball and kept two feet in. The Seahawks receiver seemed to be the only person inside CenturyLink Field that knew this for a few seconds. Well, maybe Luke Willson knew as well, but that would make just two people. Russell Wilson‘s improbable throw combined with Lockett’s unlikely catch changed the game versus the Rams.

I realize that Seattle would go on to take a 14-6 lead then the Rams would come back to regain the lead and then the Seahawks would find a way to win in the end. But Lockett’s improbable catch meant Seattle would score 7 and not three and those four points ended up being the difference.

According to NFL Next Gen stats, Lockett had a 6.3 percent probability of making the catch. This is the most unlikely completion since week 12 of 2017. But with Wilson, of course, anything is possible.

Seattle had the ball 1st and 10 with a bit over 50 seconds left in the first quarter. Wilson was under pressure all night and have to work his special kind of magic to get Seattle points. On the play to Lockett, though, Wilson did something even more.

Wilson takes the snap and actually has a few seconds to stand in the pocket, but everyone is covered. Then the Rams get three players near him forcing the quarterback to roll left. making a throwing while moving left is difficult for a right handed quarterback.

Lockett is still covered this entire time but seeing Wilson move, Lockett moves to the left side of the endzone. Wilson lets the ball go at the Rams 25 just as Lockett is about to reach the sideline. Where Wilson places the ball no Ram could have gotten it.

To be fair, no Seahawk should have caught it either. But as I said, Wilson can make anything happen and his connection to Lockett is only building. Once catching the ball, however, Lockett still has to keep both feet inbounds with inches remaining. With the tips of both his feet, Lockett makes the catch before belly-flopping out of bounds.

The play didn’t decide the game for Seattle. The Seahawks still needed three more quarters and a last-minute missed Rams field goal to win the game. But without the Wilson to Lockett play, Seattle probably has about a 6.3 percent chance of winning.