Kobie Turner makes his residing as a cross rusher and run defender for the Rams, not a defensive again.
However the final time the Rams performed the Seattle Seahawks, the third-year defensive lineman snatched a Sam Darnold cross close to the objective line for his first profession interception.
“It was like time nearly stopped,” Turner recalled Thursday. “It was an ideal spiral. It was stunning.”
Turner’s turnover was one in all seven the Rams compelled in two video games this season towards the Seahawks, together with six interceptions.
Of the Rams’ 16 interceptions this season, greater than a 3rd got here towards the Seahawks.
The Rams intention to proceed their torrent of takeaways towards the Seahawks on Sunday after they play within the NFC championship sport at Lumen Discipline.
4 of second-year security Kam Kinchens’ six profession interceptions got here towards the Seahawks, together with two within the first matchup between the groups this season.
“Normally, you hope a man doesn’t make the identical mistake twice,” Kinchens mentioned of Darnold. “In my case, I’m hoping he makes the identical mistake twice, as a result of that’s extra picks for me.”
Are the Seahawks his favourite group to play towards?
“Sure,” Kinchens mentioned, “As a result of they like to check the secondary. They’ve good receivers and Sam Darnold desires to throw the ball down the sector and push it down the sector.
“That’s a whole lot of alternatives, and I like once I get to indicate folks my receiver abilities.”
Rams cornerback Cobie Durant runs with the ball after intercepting a cross towards the Chicago Bears within the divisional playoffs on Sunday.
(Eric Thayer / Los Angeles Instances)
Cornerback Cobie Durant, nicknamed “The Land Shark,” intercepted three passes through the common season, together with one towards the Seahawks.
Durant intercepted a cross in a wild-card victory over the Carolina Panthers, and he picked off two passes in final Sunday’s divisional-round victory over the Chicago Bears.
“The Land Shark reveals up while you want him probably the most,” coach Sean McVay mentioned.
The important thing, Durant mentioned, is the mix of stress from the Rams entrance and ball-hawking abilities of the secondary.
“No rush,” Durant mentioned. “No picks.”
Turner, edge rushers Jared Verse and Byron Younger and linemen Braden Fiske and Poona Ford will likely be on the spot on Sunday as they try to decelerate Darnold, operating again Kenneth Walker III and receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba amongst others.
If the entrance can get to Darnold, whether or not for a stress, quarterback hit or sack, “he is aware of that we’re coming,” Verse mentioned. “He is aware of that he’s going to really feel us, and that makes any quarterback cautious, irrespective of who you’re.”
Rams defensive finish Braden Fiske (55) and linebacker Byron Younger (0) shut in on Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold throughout a Rams win in November.
(Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Instances)
In a Week 11 sport towards the Seahawks at SoFi Stadium, the Rams intercepted 4 passes in a 21-19 victory that was not assured till Jason Myers’ 61-yard field-goal try on the ultimate play fell quick.
Kinchens intercepted two passes, and Durant and cornerback Darious Williams every intercepted one.
5 weeks later at Lumen Discipline, the Seahawks defeated the Rams 38-37 in extra time. The Rams led by 16 factors within the fourth quarter however couldn’t maintain off the Seahawks.
Turner and cornerback Josh Wallace intercepted passes, however Darnold accomplished 22 of 34 passes for 270 yards and two touchdowns and in addition transformed two two-point conversion passes.
Now comes the third sport between the NFC West rivals.
“I don’t suppose both of us are going to be tricking one another,” Rams defensive coordinator Chris Shula mentioned.
The Rams should decelerate a Seahawks offense that was at full throttle in final Sunday’s 41-6 divisional-round victory over the San Francisco 49ers.
Walker ran for 116 yards and three touchdowns. However Seahawks operating again Zach Charbonnet suffered a season-ending knee harm.
Darnold accomplished 12 of 17 passes for 124 yards and a landing. Smith-Njigba caught three passes, one for a landing.
Crowds at Lumen Discipline are among the many NFL’s loudest, so the Rams predict one other one at full quantity on Sunday.
Security Kam Curl, whose interception in extra time towards the Bears arrange the game-winning discipline objective, famous that the group in Seattle quiets when the Seahawks offense is on the sector.
“It’s good for us,” he mentioned. “We get to make all our checks and our communication. They suppose they’re serving to the offense however they’re actually serving to us too.”
Turner mentioned Darnold confirmed his mettle by directing the game-winning drive towards the Rams the final time they visited Lumen Discipline. “He’s a tricky quarterback,” he mentioned. “A veteran skilled man.”
Turner want to expertise one other interception.
“If Sam desires to throw me one other cross,” he quipped, “I’d suggest throwing one other spiral similar to that one as a result of it was stunning.”
And many others.
Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford is a finalist for NFL most beneficial participant and receiver Puka Nacua is a finalist for offensive participant of the 12 months. Stafford led the league with 46 landing passes and 4,707 yards passing. Nacua led the NFL with 129 receptions. MVP finalists: Stafford, Buffalo quarterback Josh Allen, Jacksonville quarterback Trevor Lawrence, New England quarterback Drake Maye and San Francisco operating again Christian McCaffrey. Offensive participant of the 12 months finalists: Nacua, Maye, McCaffrey, Atlanta operating again Bijan Robinson and Smith-Njigba. … The Rams designated offensive lineman Rob Havenstein to return from injured reserve. Havenstein has not performed for the reason that Nov. 16 sport towards the Seahawks.
