It was the Seattle Seahawks' biggest game of the season, and their most important to date. It turned out to be their most epic, surprising, and almost miraculous game, when it could have been their worst. Their second-half surge and comeback ignited faith in every seat at Lumen Field, but the comeback was completed only at the very end of the game, when it had to be put to bed.
Sam Darnold struggled with two interceptions, while Matthew Stafford did the opposite, throwing for 457 yards and three touchdowns that almost stomped out the fire the Seahawks had roared back with to get the game into overtime. It was an epic game, but the all-too-reliable eye test should show everyone that it was not Seattle's best game by any means.
The Seahawks completed their comeback and won, but the many flaws and mistakes in this game were far too glaring. Even in a win, turnovers and mistakes cannot be justified or accepted. That's why, after the Seahawks' 38-37 overtime win over the Rams, there is still a loser from the game.
Sam Darnold loses, Kenneth Walker III wins in Seahawks' Week 16 win
Winner: Kenneth Walker III, RB
Kenneth Walker didn't do much in the second half, but his first half was his most electrifying of the season. He took a 55-yard run to the end zone, and ended the game with 100 yards on the ground, but he also contributed 64 yards on three receptions. It was by far Walker's best game of the year. What makes his production more incredible is that it helped lead to a win.
Winner: Sam Darnold, QB
Darnold was again very up and down — a trend Seahawks fans have witnessed for the past few weeks. First half turnovers dug Darnold into a hole. The more games like this Darnold has, the more questions and concerns swirl. This shaky performance was seemingly set to enhance the noise.
But then the good part of Darnold's night happened. He became precise with his throwing in the second half, which sparked part of the Seahawks' comeback. No one expected it, except Darnold and the Seahawks.
Winner: Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR
Calvin Johnson's single-season wide receiving record was likely already off the table for Jaxon Smith-Njigba after Week 15's game. Smith-Njigba was barely used in the first half, and the Seahawks' offense not making him a priority likely affected the game early. Thursday night was JSN's third of the last four games in which he did not reach 100 yards.
But there is little doubt that when JSN was needed the most, he was there, especially in overtime with a great catch along the sideline, and then the touchdown. The last 2-point conversion doesn't happen if Smith-Njigba isn't used as a decoy and draws much of the attention away from the defense.
Loser: Entire Seahawks' defensive squad
Suffice to say that the Seahawks' secondary was unable to tighten its grip on the Rams' passing attack. Stafford threw for over 400 yards, and 225 of those were to Puka Nakua. Seattle's defense let the electric wideout run all over the field, and he went virtually untouched.
Even while their pressure and attack in the second half improved, had the Seahawks lost, much of the blame could have fallen at the feet of the defense.
Winner: Cooper Kupp, WR
Kupp coughed up a critical fumble in the first half while the Seahawks were marching down the field, but he did make up for it later in the second half with a brilliant catch in overtime. Kupp could have been viewed as a loser because of his fumble, except for one major thing.
This past offseason, Kupp was released by the Rams and signed by the Seahawks. In Week 16, his new team defeated his old one, allowing Seattle to move into sole first place in the NFC West. Kupp has found a better home in Seattle, and his leadership has been key.