The Seattle Seahawks secured an overtime 38-37 win over the mighty Los Angeles Rams. But after the game, the conversation shifted from celebration to accountability. The Seahawks’ head coach, Mike Macdonald, didn’t shy away from addressing the mistakes made in the game.

“In the first half it was a lot of the early down stuff that was getting us,” he said, via Seattle Seahawks‘ post on X. “So we made some adjustments in the second half.”

In a clip from the post-game press conference, Macdonald took responsibility for the team’s early struggles, particularly in the red zone. Macdonald admitted the defense struggled on early downs in the first half. While those changes led to more third-down situations, he acknowledged they “botched” key moments. Now, he wants to ensure his team is “cleaner” in those situations.

In the Week 16 game, the Seahawks’ problems in the first half were most obvious in the red zone. The Rams moved the ball deep into Seahawks territory on long drives, including one that lasted 12 plays and allowed a 75-yard possession. Further, a 27-yard catch by the Rams’ tight end Davis Allen after a coverage mistake helped push his team inside the 10. Even though a penalty wiped out their touchdown, the Seahawks still gave up points. 

Later, quarterback Matthew Stafford again reached the red zone before tight end Terrance Ferguson scored. It showed the Seahawks had trouble stopping them when it mattered most. Then came some third-down mistakes, which made things worse. Wide receiver Puka Nacua made key plays on third and fourth down, while running back Kyren Williams picked up tough yards to keep drives going. 

Even when the Seahawks forced long-yardage situations, missed assignments on third down allowed the Rams to extend possessions. Those were likely some of the “botched” moments Mike Macdonald took responsibility for during the post-game conference. Meanwhile, the coach also addressed the controversial moment that came late in the game. 

Mike Macdonald shares his take on the controversial play

In the late game, the Rams’ defense was dead set on taking away quarterback Sam Darnold’s top targets. But as the game was inching closer to an end, Mike Macdonald had decided not to settle for a tie despite the high stakes. After Darnold connected with wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba for a touchdown in overtime, Macdonald got creative. 

Instead of playing it safe, the coach roped in Darnold for a bold two-point attempt. The quarterback responded by finding tight end Eric Saubert. He threw the pass, which hit the shoulder of Rams defensive end Jared Verse before landing in the end zone. After a review, the referees ruled it a backward pass and counted it as a successful conversion. 

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And just like that, the Seahawks overcame a 16-point fourth-quarter deficit to beat the Rams in the most shocking way possible. The move drew criticism because of its risky and spontaneous nature. But according to Hawkmania’s post on X, Macdonald revealed the call wasn’t impulsive. 

“It was something we talked about throughout the season and particularly for this game because of the playoff situation,” he told reporters. “You know, you play for the tie and lock up a playoff seat, but I just felt great about our play and I trusted our guys.”

Meanwhile, not everyone agreed with the ruling. The Rams’ head coach, Sean McVay, questioned how a play initially called incomplete turned into a game-winning conversion, per NFL reporter Ari Meirov. The loss was a stunning blow to the Rams, while it was an epic episode of celebration for the Seahawks.