One costly penalty and a sideline shouting match nearly derailed the Seattle Seahawks’ trip to the Super Bowl, putting cornerback Tariq Woolen in the NFL’s sights. The Seahawks secured a 31-27 win over the Los Angeles Rams, but the taunting penalty and the consequent touchdown made the game much closer than it should’ve been.

Woolen and Seahawks safety Nick Emmanwori got into a brutal sideline exchange with a little more than two minutes remaining in the third quarter.

Seattle was in control at that point, leading 31–20. The Rams were facing third-and-12 at the Seattle 49-yard line, already backed up after a pick thrown by Matthew Stafford. Everything pointed toward a punt and another chance for the Seahawks to bleed the clock. Instead, Woolen turned toward the Rams’ sideline and taunted, drawing a 15-yard flag.

What followed made it worse. On the very next snap, Woolen was the defender in coverage when Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua slipped free and scored on a 34-yard touchdown. Just like that, a game that felt stable turned into a one-score game at 31–27.

To Woolen’s credit (or relief), the Rams never found the end zone again, even with a full quarter left to play. Seattle held on. But the damage from that sequence lingered. On the broadcast, Woolen and Emmanwori were later shown being separated on the sideline, clearly still jawing at each other.

And the consequences might not stop there. Every Saturday, the NFL releases its accountability report, detailing fines for on-field conduct. Taunting falls under unsportsmanlike conduct, which typically carries a fine of $11,593 and can climb as high as $17,389 for repeat offenses.

That matters because Woolen has been here before. Earlier this season, he was fined $11,593 for standing over Washington’s Jacory Croskey-Merritt after a tackle in Week 9. Given that history, it wouldn’t be surprising if the number is higher this time around.

Macdonald sends an authoritative but supportive message

Despite the costly mistake, head coach Mike Macdonald was quick to support his player rather than throw him under the bus. He understands exactly how quickly the game could have flipped after the 15-yard taunting penalty and the coverage bust that followed. Still, when given the chance, he didn’t single anyone out.

“He made an emotional decision,” Mike Macdonald said. “But we have to pick him up. There is no point in getting upset. You’ve got to go rebound and come back, and he played well for the rest of the game. 12 as one. Keep picking everyone up.”

That’s what leadership looks like in moments like that. Outside of that brief stretch, Woolen actually put together a solid game. He finished with two solo tackles and didn’t allow much of anything in the fourth quarter as the Los Angeles Rams tried to rally. Seattle locked things down late, and Woolen was part of that.

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While his overall performance this season has been solid with 33 solo tackles, eight assisted tackles, and one interception, these numbers don’t tell the whole story, especially when it comes to his discipline and consistency.

Where the concern creeps in is coverage. Woolen’s 61.7 coverage grade ranks 61st among 114 cornerbacks, and that vulnerability showed up again Sunday when he couldn’t stay with Puka Nacua on the touchdown that tightened the game. It wasn’t a one-off moment so much as a reminder of an area that still needs tightening.

But even that isn’t the biggest issue. The larger concern is decision-making. The taunting penalty was unnecessary. It changed the field position. It gave the Rams life. And it wasn’t the first time. Tariq Woolen drew a similar unsportsmanlike flag back in Week 9. Whether he was provoked or not, that’s something he has to clean up.

Woolen is a key piece of the best defense in football this season. The Seahawks need him locked in.