All Episodes

December 19, 2025 16 mins

Richard Sherman gives his full reaction to the Los Angeles Rams vs Seattle Seahawks Thursday Night Football showdown, breaking down Sam Darnold’s dramatic comeback win, Matthew Stafford’s massive performance, and Puka Nacua’s explosive game for the Rams. Sherm analyzes every key moment from this NFC West thriller, including Seattle’s clutch fourth-quarter drive, the overtime touchdown, Rasheed Shaheed’s huge return plays, Cooper Kupp’s big late catch, and how the Seahawks’ defense battled through a tough night against one of the NFL’s hottest offenses. Sherman also explains what this result means for the NFC playoff picture, the Seahawks’ push for the No. 1 seed, the Rams’ postseason chances, and why Sam Darnold’s performance could change Seattle’s season.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mark as Played
Transcript

Episode Transcript

Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:05):
Welcome back to the Richard Sherman Podcast. And what a game.
What a win by the Seattle Seahawks. But back and
forth battle in Seattle. The crowd was roaring, it was chaotic,
it was exciting. You really didn't know who was gonna
finish this game. Some crazy plays, the two point conversion.

(00:25):
I really have never seen anything like that in my life.
But good job for the Seattle Seahawks. Everything went their
way down the stretch. And I mean, honestly, what a
game for Matthew Stafford. He looked like he probably solidified
himself as the MVP in the National Football League with
this game. Four hundred and fifty seven yards, three touchdowns,

(00:48):
no interceptions, which gives him forty touchdowns and only five
interceptions on the season. If the season was over today,
I think he's the MVP. I think he has around
forty two hundred yards. It's been a aster for performance
by him, pooking the cool twelve catches for two and
twenty five yards, two touchdowns, really clutch performance down the stretch,

(01:09):
clutch touchdown and overtime on a dig catch and run
that that scored and gave the Rams the lead. Uh,
this was a cool game. This is a cool game,
and it had everything. It had lead changes, it had
drama before, during, and after the game. I I guess

(01:34):
we'll start with with the pooking the cool stuff. I
don't know. I don't know. I obviously you can't do
the things that he did. He apologized, the Rams, apologize,
everybody apologized for what he did. But I think he
just got baited into something, you know, just being ignorant

(01:55):
to it. He's thinking he's just having fun on the stream.
He's not. Uh, the guy wants you to do something
you probably shouldn't be doing obviously, and and it and
it cost him, and it cost him, and it cost
him a lot of bad press, and then some stuff
with his brother. But for him to have all those
distractions and played the way he did was incredible. I'm

(02:16):
sure he's gonna have many more questions to answer this week.
But the story of the game for me was Sam Donald.
Sam Donald, Uh, this this this cloud over his head
about the Rams and and him not being able to
beat him. Him struggling with the four interceptions the last game,

(02:37):
and then struggling with multiple interceptions this game that obviously,
to the viewers, reinforced what your thought was gonna happen.
And I'm sure to him kinda kind of uh uh,
where was the worst fears coming true? And I don't
think people understand how difficult it is to be in

(02:57):
the midst of a game, in the midst of the
biggest game of your life, and that that was far
and away, I think the biggest game of Sam Darnold's life.
You could say the playoffs last year, but this was
a game on a new team, trying to establish a
new identity on the biggest day or on a big
stage against the division opponent, a really good team. And

(03:21):
he answered the bail. He answered the bail to be
able to execute in the fourth quarter. It was eighty
six percent completion percentage in the fourth quarter, one hundred
and fifty seven yards, two touchdowns in the one interception,
one hundred and four point five passer rating the fourth
quarter and overtime. I mean, that's incredible. That's clutch. And

(03:43):
that final overtime drive where they're they're down seven, you
could say, you could say would I would assume there
were a lot of people skeptics. There are a lot
of people skeptical about whether he could get it done,
whether he would exit cute and and sure this team
did everything they could. The Seattle Seahawks did everything they

(04:05):
could to keep him in this game, to keep this
team competitive while he was struggling and Rashid shahe deserves
a ton of credit. I'm sure he'll He'll have all
pro considerations, Pro Bowl considerations because of the impact that
he's had in such a limited time in Seattle. He's

(04:26):
come in and made huge plays back to back games
with the return touchdown, a punk return touchdown this game,
a kick return touchdown in Atlanta in a huge, huge
end to round run that that helped set up another
more points for the Seattle Seahawks in this game. But
for Sam Donald to go into this situation and execute

(04:50):
the way he did to to stand in the pocket
and deliver a dime a strike to Jackson Smith and
Jigba who also didn't He didn't have a catch in
the first half. We didn't have a catch in the
first half, but ends this game with eight catches for
ninety six yards and a touchdown, breaks the franchise record
with one hundred and one receptions on the year. Congratulations

(05:11):
to u JSN, you deserve it. This just feels like
a special team on a night where the defense didn't
play to the standard. There k Bullov, which happens sometimes
in these seasons. You run into situations where you know
it's a like opponent, a division opponent that knows you

(05:33):
and the Rams executed. You run into an MVP candidate
playing like an MVP candidate. You ran into one of
the best receivers in the National Football League playing like
one of the best receivers in the National Football League,
and they called him in a few coverages. But again
that's a that's a that's old number one receiver, a guy,
a guy who who if you watch the tape, Seattle

(05:54):
tried to do everything to stop poking the cool without
Devonte Adams. They bracketed him, they clouded him, they dealt
they did everything. He just down the way and the
Rams and Sean McVay found a way to get him open.
But Cooper cup had a had a really really tough
uh fumble before the half that cost the Seattle Seahawks points.

(06:17):
And and you know in a game like that, when
you when you have something that happens to you like that, again,
just like Sam Darnold, it messes with your mind and
you don't have the time to to think about it
and soak on it and like, hey, I'm gonna go
practice and fix this and be better. In the moment,
it sucks. It sucks bad. And for him to be

(06:38):
able to to push that away, get rid of that
and again execute a critical catch in the fourth quarter
with a toe tap toeap drag swag was was. It
was phenomenal. See so many plays made K nine having
one of his best games of the season, eleven carries

(06:58):
for one hundred and one yards in a fifty five
yard TD right after half. This was showed a complete
Seattle Seahawks teef team and even though the defense struggled
during this game, they had three straight three and outs
before overtime. That was critical. That gave them a chance,

(07:20):
That gave Sam Darnold and this offense a chance to
be able to do what they did at the end
of the game. Go down, score a game tying touchdown,
or the game whatever you want to call it. The
game winning touchdown is what it amounted to. And it
had to go for two. They didn't have a choice.
They had to go for two because if they didn't
go for two, you're leaving your destiny in the hands

(07:44):
of the Rams and whether they want to run the
clock out and take the tie because they have the
tie breaker with the win in La or if you
wanted to go for two and go for the Gusto
and Mike McDonald made a great decision, went for two.
Sam Donald executed to play and I would say he

(08:06):
exercised some demons. Does this eliminate everything that that happened
in the past. No, by no means it doesn't. But
it gives this team, this coaching staff, this city, these
fans confidence that he can execute down the stretch. And
it gives Sam Donald confidence that he can execute down
the stretch against a really good team, a team you

(08:27):
struggled against. You can you can go back and watch
this film and feel good that, Hey, I made some mistakes,
but I did not let it deter me. I did
not let it change the way I played. And he
made huge plays. He made big throws, He was accurate
with the football, He made good decisions. They were three

(08:49):
for three on two point conversions in this game, three
for three for the first time and I think five
years was the stat that was the difference in the
game as well. Woo This NFC West is crazy. I mean,
I thought it would come down. I said it. I
said it, and you can't. You guys can't say I didn't.

(09:11):
I literally, literally said before this season started in my
predictions that this division will come down to the last
game between the Seattle Seahawks and the San Francisco forty
nine Ers. And guess what if both teams win their
next game, That's exactly what's gonna happen. It's gonna come

(09:32):
down to the Seattle Seahawks and the San Francisco forty
nine Ers in Levi Stadium for all the marbles and
likely the one seed. If you're the San Francisco forty
nine Ers, you gotta feel fantastic about that. Kyle Shanahan. Ah,
if it wasn't for Grabel, he'd be walking away with
Coach of the Year and it wouldn't even be close
right now. But the forty nine ers gotta get pass,

(09:55):
get past Philip Rivers and the Colts, which is something
I never thought. I wouldn't thought I would say this season.
But the Rams have pretty pretty easy schedule so and
they're not a limit. They're not out of it. If
the Seahawks slip up against against the Carolina Panthers or

(10:15):
then then a lot of things could change. You know,
a lot of things could change, and that can put
the Rams back in the mix to win this division.
So you know, it's not all lost for them. But
I think these two teams will see each other again
in the playoffs regardless of who wins the division. I
think it's it's so weird because records don't matter when

(10:37):
it comes to seeding, and I think that needs to change,
and I hope they do change that at some point.
But one of these teams will be the one seed.
The other will be either the five or six seed,
depending on how it goes. And if you and if
the five or six seed beats the the three and
four seed, then the one seed gets the highest seed

(10:58):
left I mean the lowest seed left. I mean, which
would be the sixth seed or as a fifth seed, etc.
Which will be these teams. So I don't think there
will be an NFC championship game. I think they might
end up meeting in a divisional just because the way
the seeding works. But do not be surprised this year
if these lower seeds are really competitive. It's if you

(11:19):
see multiple low seeds in the NFC Championship game. That
would not would not change, I mean, would not surprise
me at all. Huh. I can't believe it. I really
can't believe it. I mean, if you're Sean McVay and
somebody told you that Matthew Stafford's going to throw for
four to fifty seven, three touchdowns, no interceptions, if he
told somebody told you that even after everything, after the

(11:41):
playing delay, after all the controversy, all the issues before
the game, Pulan Nicole was gonna have twelve catches for
two hundred and twenty five yards and multiple touchdowns. I
think you say, oh, I feel really good about this.
We win this game running away, and they did. And
for all the Sea Yawk fans that left this game

(12:04):
thinking it was over when they were down sixteen, shame
on you. Shame on you. You don't leave the game.
You keep believing because that environment was incredible. The fans
were on the edge of their seats. They were screaming,
they were yelling. I've never seen it from that side.
I've never seen I've seen it. I've experienced these kind
of games from the field and understand how this fan

(12:27):
base gets into it. The twelves go crazy, how electric
it could be. But I've never watched it as a fan. Man,
that was fun. That was fun. It feels like it
gives you a heart attack, but it was a good time.
It was a good time. It's a good time when
they find a way to pull it out. But again,
this was a great game that showcased so many positive
things about both teams, so many great things about just

(12:52):
sticking with it and staying the course. I think it's
great for Sam Darnold, it's great for the Seattle Seahawks tea.
It's a championship mindset. It gives you confidence as a
team that, hey, even when things don't go well, even
when things don't go perfectly, you can get it done,
even when you don't play your best football if you
stay together and lean on one another. The special teams

(13:16):
made plays in this game. The defense made plays when
they had to, Sam Darnold, and the offense made plays
when they had to. Even through all the mistakes, they
got it done. And I wish I had the numbers
and the percentages of games where a team got outyarded,
lost the turnover battle, lost the time of possession battle,

(13:40):
and still won like it's it couldn't happen often. They
lost the total plays battle. The Rams had eighty eight
total plays on offense. The Seahawks, I think had sixty
three or sixty six. Wow, I mean unprobable. When win

(14:00):
for the Seattle Seahawks. Oh, if they can keep this
up and continue, I can't wait to watch this next game.
They get to sit back and relax and enjoy Christmas
and see what happens with the rest of the league.
But oh, if you're a Seattle Seahawks fan, you gotta
be feeling good. And I know you guys. There were

(14:20):
so many people, including Seahawks fans, in my mentions about
my power rankings. It looks like I got it right, guys. Right,
looks like I figured it out. Looked like I had
it pegged exactly as it should have been. The Seahawks
are two, the Rams were three. Maybe I know something.
Maybe I don't, but it feels like I know something

(14:41):
and I got it right. So don't come on my
mentions saying oh, well, you got it wrong. Switch these teams.
Switch this team here, switch this team. I know the game,
I know what I'm doing. Thank you, though I appreciate
your feedback. Who this was? This was a huge game.
I can't remember. I can't remember a big comeback like

(15:02):
this in century link for US our guests looming for them.
Multiple in that Super Bowl season, we had the Buccaneers game,
we had to come back. We had an NFC Championship game.
Both NFC Championship games we had to come back against
Aaron Rodgers. But to come back from sixteen sixteen, yeah, sixteen.

(15:24):
We had to come back from sixteen. In the NFC
Championship game against the Packers, we came back from sixteen points,
only gave up it was sixteen nothing at the half,
only gave up three points, three more points after the half,
and we won that game. We found a way to

(15:44):
win that game, win that game, and it was improbable
onside kick, fakefield goal, touchdown, Marshawn Lynch, a heavy dose
of Marshawn Lynch. Oh Man. See. Our fans enjoyed this one,
and I mean if you're a forty nine Ers fan,
you probably enjoyed it too. Because the only path to
the number one seed for the San Francisco forty nine Ers,

(16:06):
they did not control their own destiny, was if the
Seattle Seahawks won, and the Seattle Seahawks winning gives the
forty nine ers control of their own destiny. If they
went out there to one seed. If the Seattle Seahawks
went out there to one seed, and we all get
to witness it, and it's gonna be electric. I can't wait.
As always, I appreciate you guys joining me. You could

(16:27):
be anywhere in the world, but you're here with me,
and I surely do appreciate it. We'll see you next time.
This was a great win. Seahawks fans, enjoy your sales.
Go Hawks. That's big time and everybody else will see
you this weekend and see how these games go. Hit
that sub button if you
Advertise With Us

Hosts And Creators

Colin Cowherd

Colin Cowherd

Jason McIntyre

Jason McIntyre

Popular Podcasts

Dateline NBC

Dateline NBC

Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com

Betrayal: Weekly

Betrayal: Weekly

Betrayal Weekly is back for a brand new season. Every Thursday, Betrayal Weekly shares first-hand accounts of broken trust, shocking deceptions, and the trail of destruction they leave behind. Hosted by Andrea Gunning, this weekly ongoing series digs into real-life stories of betrayal and the aftermath. From stories of double lives to dark discoveries, these are cautionary tales and accounts of resilience against all odds. From the producers of the critically acclaimed Betrayal series, Betrayal Weekly drops new episodes every Thursday. Please join our Substack for additional exclusive content, curated book recommendations and community discussions. Sign up FREE by clicking this link Beyond Betrayal Substack. Join our community dedicated to truth, resilience and healing. Your voice matters! Be a part of our Betrayal journey on Substack. And make sure to check out Seasons 1-4 of Betrayal, along with Betrayal Weekly Season 1.

Music, radio and podcasts, all free. Listen online or download the iHeart App.

Connect

© 2025 iHeartMedia, Inc.