SEATTLE — One of the crucial primary issues NFL avid gamers can regulate is their aim.

And to a person, the Seattle Seahawks said that the Los Angeles Rams performed tougher in a head-scratching season-opening 30-13 loss.

The end result was once Seattle’s worst house loss since a 42-7 humbling by the hands of the Rams again in 2017, and an embarrassing setback for a Seattle squad anticipated to form some noise within the playoffs.

“I just felt like the Rams played harder than us,” a stoic DK Metcalf mentioned. “Their defense played harder than our offense. They really wanted this one.” 

Added Seattle quarterback Geno Smith: “Hats off to the Rams. They wanted it more. They played harder. And they executed better.” 

According to season outlooks, the Seahawks have been anticipated to be the obviously admirable workforce. The Rams have a league-high 14 newcomers on their roster, and 10 of the ones have been energetic towards Seattle. Los Angeles is rebuilding, occasion the Seahawks loaded up in separate company and the draft with an sight towards chasing unwell the San Francisco 49ers within the NFC West and creating a deep playoff run.

However on the finish of the pace, the transforming Rams pulled off the disillusioned at the street towards Seattle. The Rams completed performs and fought for residue yards on offense, and so they rallied to the soccer on protection. 

It took just a era for the bloom to come back off the rose for Seattle.

The Seahawks additionally handled their proportion of agony. Seattle suffered accidents to frontline avid gamers in left take on Charles Go (toe), proper take on Abe Lucas (knee) and receiver Tyler Lockett (concussion protocol). All 3 didn’t end the sport, making it difficult for Seattle to blast on offense in the second one part.

The Seahawks swept the season line terminating day, and the Rams appeared intent on appearing they’re a distinct workforce then completing 5-12 in 2022. They completed with 426 yards of overall offense and transformed 11-of-17 (64.7%) 3rd downs. Matthew Stafford finished 24-of-38 passes (63.2%) for 334 yards. 

Los Angeles struggled to give protection to Stafford terminating season, which resulted in a season-ending bruised spinal wire shock. However on Sunday, Seattle did not sack Stafford even as soon as and had simply two quarterback hits. The Seahawks closely invested within the defensive layout this offseason, signing Uchenna Nwosu to a profitable fresh do business in and bringing in Dre’Mont Jones and Jarran Reed, but it surely didn’t lead to extra force at the quarterback.

Even with WR1 Cooper Kupp out with a lingering hamstring factor, the Rams completed with two receivers achieving 119 receiving yards for simply the 5th month in franchise historical past because the merger. Rookie Puka Nacua led the Rams with 10 receptions for 119 yards on 15 objectives, occasion Tutu Atwell had six receptions for 119 yards, with a protracted of 44 yards. 

Nacua changed into simply the 5th participant in NFL historical past to file a minimum of 10 receptions in his debut. In keeping with Upcoming Gen Sports activities, he had 8 receptions for 102 yards on 13 objectives when aligned out large.

Seattle checked in regulate early, well-known 13-7 at halftime. Then again, the Rams scored 27 unanswered issues in the second one part occasion the Seahawks controlled simply 12 overall yards and one first unwell. 

Overdue within the recreation, Smith was once sacked consecutive instances by way of the Rams, well-known to a smattering of boos and fanatics heading for the exits with slightly below 4 mins too much. 

Seattle avid gamers additionally misplaced their cool past due within the recreation as each Metcalf (taunting) and Quandre Diggs (pointless roughness) won private foul consequences. Metcalf had it seems that had plenty, heading to the bank room with an escort sooner than the overall whistle.  

“I thought we lost our mindset a little bit,” schoolteacher Pete Carroll mentioned concerning the unsportsmanlike consequences. “And we’ll talk about that. That shows you the frustration, based on the expectations that we were going to be better and not be in that situation.

“I don’t like perceptible stuff like that. That was once horrific. And we’ll discuss it. That’s no longer one thing I’m desirous about that. We’ve were given to be higher after we’re in that status.” 

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Playing in his first game back in Lumen Field since re-signing with Seattle after spending 2022 with the Rams, 33-year-old veteran linebacker Bobby Wagner served as the voice of reason. 

“That is the NFL, and also you’re getting to get their perfect shot, without reference to file or the workforce,” Wagner said. “They’re going to come back again. The ones guys receives a commission, too, and feature households they’re looking to feed. So you wish to have to deliver your ‘A’ recreation each month you step at the ground. 

“But at the same time, you understand this is Week 1. There’s 16 games left. There’s a lot of teams that start off 8-0 and fade to the back. There’s a lot of teams that struggle in the beginning and then catch fire right before the playoffs. The team that takes their losses, learns from their mistakes throughout the course of the season and has camaraderie is going to be I believe happy with the results.”

That mentioned, Seattle higher get its occupation in combination sooner than touring to stand the red-hot Detroit Lions at the street in Motown after era. The Lions have received 9 in their future 11 video games courting again to terminating season and beat the protecting Tremendous Bowl-champion Kansas Town Chiefs to not hidden this day. 

Eric D. Williams has reported at the NFL for greater than a decade, masking the Los Angeles Rams for Sports activities Illustrated, the Los Angeles Chargers for ESPN and the Seattle Seahawks for the Tacoma Information Tribune. Observe him on Twitter at @eric_d_williams.

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