When quarterback Sam Darnold threw his second interception of Thursday night's game against the Rams while down 16 points in the fourth quarter, it looked like he was on his way to the kind of result that has helped define his last two seasons.

There was plenty on the line for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the 2024 regular-season finale against the New Orleans Saints. The NFC South and a playoff berth would be clinched with a win or an Atlanta Falcons loss. Wide receiver Mike Evans came into the game 85 yards short of an NFL -record-tying 11th season of 1,000 or more receiving yards.

Despite moving the ball effectively between the 20s, quarterback acknowledges that third-down efficiency and red zone execution are holding the offense back from reaching elite status.

Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold has put two solid seasons together, with one significant asterisk. In the biggest games, he hasn’t delivered. It started last year. Week 18. No. 1 seed on the line. The Vikings could have taken control of the game at Ford Field against the Lions. But Darnold was floating passes and generally missing receivers.

Naturally, fans were in awe of the play, especially after seeing the alternate angle and slow-motion version. In the clip, it was clear how Darnold sent the ball perfectly to Saubert, just a little to the side of the head of Rams defensive end Kobie Turner and above the defending Seahawks guard Grey Zabel.

A win in Week 18 would mean the 49ers sweep the Seahawks and win the head-to-head tiebreaker (assuming their records match). The 49ers and Rams split their series this season. San Francisco is 5-1 in the NFC West while Los Angeles is now 4-2, giving the 49ers the edge there if their records match at the end.

Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua's best plays from two touchdown, 225-yard game vs. the Seattle Seahawks during Week 16 of the 2025 NFL season. Seattle Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III's best plays from his 164-yard game vs. the Los Angeles Rams during Week 16 of the 2025 NFL season.