ST. LOUIS — The St. Louis Rams weren’t afraid to take chances, especially at the end Sunday.
ST. LOUIS — The St. Louis Rams weren’t afraid to take chances, especially at the end Sunday.
Punter Johnny Hekker’s pass from the St. Louis 18 caught the Seattle Seahawks by surprise for the last of three big plays in a 28-26 victory over the defending Super Bowl champions.
Stedman Bailey had a 90-yard touchdown on a trick return that fooled the Seahawks into thinking another player was going to catch the punt, and Benny Cunningham’s 75-yard kickoff return set up an early touchdown for the Rams (2-4).
Yes, special teams were dangerous all day.
Russell Wilson rushed for 106 yards on seven carries and also passed for two touchdowns while going 23 for 36 for 313 yards, becoming the first quarterback in NFL history with 300 yards passing and 100 yards rushing.
But the struggling Seahawks fell to 3-3 with a second straight loss.
The Seahawks dominated statistically, outgaining the Rams 463 yards to 272. Doug Baldwin’s’ 9-yard reception cut the deficit to two with 3:18 to go, but the Rams were able to run out the clock after Hekker’s completion to Cunningham on fourth-and-3, and somehow recovered a fumble by Tre Mason in the final minute.
NFL spokesman Michael Signora said the play was reviewed by the league and that there was “no evidence of a clear recovery by either St. Louis or Seattle.”
Cory Harkey was credited with a fumble recovery, and the Rams finished it with a kneel-down. The Seahawks’ Richard Sherman had the ball after it popped out of Harkey’s grasp, but Harkey apparently grabbed it back in the scrum.
“I stripped the ball and it was a big scuffle and I was just trying to help Sherm get the ball,” safety Earl Thomas said. “He had it but somehow … I don’t know.”