The lamp may be different, but the lights are the same.
The Los Angeles Rams offense struggled again as they fell to the Seattle Seahawks, 24-3, in their first game without head coach Jeff Fisher on NBC's Thursday Night Football.
Russell Wilson threw three touchdown passes to three different receivers as the Seahawks clinched the NFC West Division with the victory.
Meanwhile, in a tale of two teams headed in opposite directions, the Rams continued their downward spiral as they dropped their fifth consecutive game and ninth in their last ten matchups.
Both teams were playing on just three days rest in an NFC West matchup deemed the "Poopfest," by Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman throughout the week.
Despite most of the team not playing at 100 percent, the Rams started the game with an unexpected energy and excitement under new interim head coach John Fassel.
Fassel proved to be every bit the risk taker he was as Special Teams coordinator for the Rams when he went for it on 4th and 1 from the Seattle 7-yardline on just L.A.'s second drive of the game.
Two drives later, with the Rams trailing 7-0, Fassel called for a fake punt on 4th and 9 from their own 30, but Johnny Hekker's pass fell short to a wide-open Michael Thomas that would have been enough for the first down.
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With nothing to lose, the Rams played loose and free throughout the contest, but unfortunately a tiger doesn't change it's stripes, and the offensive inefficiency problems that plagued the team all season continued to rear its ugly head on Thursday night.
Entering the fourth quarter, the Rams had less than 100 yards on total offense, and just three points on the board.
Jared Goff finished 13 for 25 for 135 yards with no touchdowns and no interceptions. Todd Gurley had 38 yards on 14 carries and Kenny Britt led the Rams receiving corps with four catches for 50 yards.
The game may have been decided on a controversial call at the end of the third quarter. On first and goal, Russell Wilson threw a pass to Jimmy Graham in the corner of the end zone that appeared to have been intercepted by linebacker Bryce Hager.
The play was ruled incomplete on the field and Fassel challenged the call, but after review, the ruling was upheld. IT was a game-changing decision as Wilson threw a touchdown pass to Doug Baldwin two plays later to give the Seahawks a two-touchdown lead.
On Seattle's next drive, Wilson connected with wide receiver Tyler Lockett on a 57-yard touchdown bomb that gave the Seahawks a 24-3 lead. Locket finished the game with seven receptions for 130 yards and a touchdown.
Goff left the game early in the fourth quarter and was taken to the locker room for concussion testing after he took a shot from Sherman inside the five-yardline. In total, four different players had to leave the game for concussion testing.
Richard Sherman just welcome'd Jared Goff to the NFL. https://t.co/7aWTxGYmMc — NFL Memes (@NFL_Memes) December 16, 2016
The Rams three points scored was the second lowest total of the season since their were shutout 28-0 by the 49ers on Monday Night Football in the opening game of the season.
Players of the Game:
Russell Wilson: 221 yards, three touchdowns.
Tyler Locket: 6 catches for 122 yards and a touchdown.
Seattle Defense: 3 points allowed.
Three Takeaways:
1. Poopfest: The Thursday night matchup between the two NFC West Division opponents was officially titled the "Poopfest," by Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman who blasted the NFL for scheduling games on Thursday night during the week.
The #Poopfest shirts are out in Seattle �� #TNF pic.twitter.com/pKhdnA5xiB — Bleacher Report NFL (@BR_NFL) December 16, 2016
2. Ankle Breaker: Seattle Seahwaks wide receiver, Doug Baldwin, broke the ankles of Rams' cornerback Troy Hill during a third quarter touchdown catch. Hill was promoted from the practice squad to the active roster on Wednesday.
Unfair, @DougBaldwinJr...
�������� #TNF #LAvsSEA pic.twitter.com/q2PuHUjYv8 — NFL (@NFL) December 16, 2016
3. Law and Order: Leave it to NBC to find a use for the theme song of one of their most successful TV shows, Law and Order, during a replay review in the third quarter.
Wait, when did NBC start using the "Law & Order" music for challenges? pic.twitter.com/GkXEebmOGG — SI Extra Mustard (@SI_ExtraMustard) December 16, 2016
Up Next:
Rams (4-10): Los Angeles will get eight days off to rest before they host the San Francisco 49ers at the L.A. Memorial Coliseum on Christmas Eve.
Seahawks (9-4-1): Seattle will also have eight days off before they host the Arizona Cardinals on Christmas Eve.
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