Sports
Rams edge Seahawks in a thriller to take sole possession of first in the NFC West
Midnight Mode, indeed.
On the day the Rams donned black uniforms for the only time this season, the offense largely went dark.
Red-hot quarterback Matthew Stafford cooled. Star receivers Davante Adams and Puka Nacua struggled to consistently make the clutch plays that they often make look routine.
But safety Kamren Kinchens and the Rams’ defense managed to keep the Seattle Seahawks at bay — just barely.
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Gary Klein breaks down what went right for the Rams in a 21-19 victory over the Seattle Seahawks at SoFi Stadium on Sunday.
Kinchens intercepted two passes, and cornerbacks Cobie Durant and Darious Williams also picked off passes as the Rams held off the Seahawks for a 21-19 victory on Sunday at SoFi Stadium that was not secured until Seattle’s Jason Myers missed a 61-yard field goal as time expired.
“I’m proud of our football team,” coach Sean McVay said. “We’re not going to apologize for finding different ways to win.”
No apologies necessary. Despite some struggles Sunday, the Rams are living up to expectations as a Super Bowl contender.
Stafford continues to play without major errors, the defensive front continues to pressure quarterbacks into mistakes, and kicking-game issues appear to be solved.
And now the secondary, regarded as a potential liability before the season, is stepping up.
Stafford tossed touchdown passes to Adams and tight end Colby Parkinson, and Kyren Williams rushed for a touchdown as the Rams improved to 8-2, extended their winning streak to five games and assumed sole possession of first place in the NFC West.
Rams coach Sean McVay tries to rev up his players before Sunday’s 21-19 win over the Seahawks at SoFi Stadium.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
“We found a way to win without playing perfect football against a really good football team,” Stafford said. “So I’ll take it.”
So will Adams, whose lone catch marked the 1,000 of his career and his league-leading 10th touchdown reception this season.
“It wasn’t like it was the worst of all time,” he said of the offense’s performance, “but to our standard it definitely was not there.
“But, I mean, it makes you feel even better knowing you can play like crap … and still come out with a victory against a really good team.”
The Rams can thank Kinchens, a second-year safety who has six career interceptions, including four against the Seahawks. His interceptions set up Williams’ one-yard touchdown in the first quarter and Parkinson’s six-yard score in the fourth.
Rams safety Kamren Kinchens celebrates with teammates after intercepting a pass in the second half against Seattle on Sunday at SoFi Stadium.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
“Man, they want to throw the ball,” a chuckling Kinchens said in explaining his success against the Seahawks. “People that want to kind of put it down the field or give us a shot — big mistake.”
Or, as Durant put it: “Preaching what we do every day, man — take the ball away.”
The Rams went into the game having scored at least 34 points in each of their last three games. But that production was absent against a Seahawks team that fell to 7-3 and had its four-game winning streak end.
Stafford increased his league-leading total of touchdown passes to 27 and did not have a pass intercepted for the seventh consecutive game. But the 17th-year pro was not as sharp as he had been during a stretch that put him in the conversation for NFL most valuable player.
“I’m obviously excited that we got the win,” said Stafford, who completed 15 of 28 passes for 130 yards. “Don’t get it twisted on me here, but at the same time I know I can be better too.”
Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford slings a pass to tight end Colby Parkinson in the first half Sunday at SoFi Stadium.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
Stafford enjoyed a banner day compared to Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold.
The Rams’ front did not sack Darnold but it pressured him into poor decisions, and Kinchens, Durant and Williams made him pay. Darnold completed 29 of 44 passes for 279 yards with four interceptions.
Seahawks receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who was on pace to set an NFL record for yards receiving in a season, caught nine passes for 105 yards. But he did not score.
Cooper Kupp, the former Rams star making his return to SoFi Stadium, did not have a catch in the first three quarters but had three during a late scoring drive that trimmed the Rams’ lead to two points.
With 1 minute 41 seconds left, Rams punter Ethan Evans kicked the ball 50 yards to the Seahawks’ one-yard line. The Seahawks drove past midfield, but Myers could not match his career-best 61-yard field goal against the Rams in 2020.
This time it went wide right, generating a roar from the crowd, a sigh of relief from the Rams and a joyous locker room celebration.
“It’s a lot of fun in there,” McVay said.
With more, seemingly, to come.
Rams defensive end Braden Fiske (55) and linebacker Byron Young (0) pressure Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold in the fourth quarter.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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The minute sports fans found out there was a new American pope and he’d been born in Chicago, every American sports fan had one thought: was he a Cubs or White Sox fan?
Soon, news emerged that he was a White Sox fan — not without a false report, however, that he was a Cubs fan — and shortly thereafter footage emerged that not only was the newly christened Pope Leo XIV a fan, he’d been in the stands for the 2005 World Series, which the White Sox won in a series sweep.
Justin Ishbia, Ambassador Brian Burch and Clay Travis with an autographed World Series 2005 jersey signed by all the players seen on the left, as Pope Leo XIV is seen on the right. (OutKick; Reuters)
Pope Leo, born Robert Prevost, was elected as pope in May of 2025 and then one month later it was announced that my Vanderbilt law school friend and classmate Justin Ishbia was buying the Chicago White Sox.
The two of us were chatting about fun ways Justin could introduce himself to Chicago sports fans and I tossed out an idea — we should travel to the Vatican and invite Pope Leo to throw out the first pitch at a planned new White Sox stadium.
After all, Pope Leo was a big enough White Sox fan that he’d attended the World Series 20 years ago as a fan in the crowd. Sure, he’s the pope now, but deep down he, like all of us, is a diehard sports fan.
We were both convinced the idea was a good one, but it presented a challenge: how do you get a meeting with the pope to invite him to throw out the first pitch?
Pope Leo XIV waves to the faithful ahead of his inauguration Mass in St. Peter’s Square, Vatican City, on May 18, 2025. (David Ramos/Getty Images)
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An Invitation to the Pope
It’s not like you can just call the Vatican and ask to speak to the pope’s people.
Ultimately we hit on our answer: Vatican ambassador Brian Burch, who lived in Chicago with his family prior to his confirmation as ambassador.
Luckily, Ambassador Burch loved the idea and, this morning in Vatican City, Justin and his wife Kristen met the pope, delivered a team autographed 2005 White Sox World Series replica jersey, and conveyed the first pitch invitation to Pope Leo, who said yes so long as his schedule permits. (It turns out the pope is kind of busy).
So, the result, as many of you have likely seen on social media already, is an awesome one — the first ever American-born pope will be throwing out the first pitch in a new Chicago White Sox stadium, which will potentially mark the first time the pope has visited Chicago since 1979.
Pope Leo XIV prays over members of the international media in the Paul VI Hall at the Vatican on May 12, 2025. (Domenico Stinellis)
Let’s hope it’s a strike.
And that Pope Leo can help return the magic of the 2005 season for White Sox fans.
Four years of basketball excellence for Jason Crowe Jr. of Inglewood High is leading to scoring records. The record broken on Monday was the Southern Section’s all-time career scoring mark after Crowe scored 43 points in his season opener against Lynwood.
He started this season 328 points away from the state record. On Monday, Inglewood’s head coach, Jason Crowe Sr, called timeout when the Southern Section record was broken. Jarod Lucas of Los Altos, also the son of the head coach, Jeff Lucas, held the old record of 3,356 points.
“I’m glad it’s over with. On to something else,” Jason Sr. said. “I’m definitely proud of the hard work he’s put in and the way he’s led his team. His career has been a statement.”
Jason Jr. is committed to Missouri, and his entire family is expected to join him, so this final season in Southern California will be a memorable one.
This is a daily look at the positive happenings in high school sports. To submit any news, please email eric.sondheimer@latimes.com.
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An MLB prospect is under “intensive medical care” after a car crash in the Dominican Republic that killed three people.
Antonio Jimenez, a 24-year-old pitcher in the San Francisco Giants farm system, fractured his femur and spine and suffered “several” lacerations as a result of the Monday morning crash.
An SUV collided with two scooters in front of an Altice office building in San Pedro de Macoris, according to a local outlet.
Antonio Jimenez of the San Francisco Giants throws a bullpen session at Scottsdale Stadium on Feb. 12, 2025 in Scottsdale, Arizona. (Andy Kuno/San Francisco Giants/Getty Images)
“We are aware of the tragic car accident involving one of our players, Antonio Jiménez, and are in the process of gathering more information,” the team said in a statement to Fox News Digital. “Out of respect for everyone affected and due to the ongoing investigation, we will refrain from further comment at this time.”
“Our prayers are with our pitcher Antonio Jiménez, who suffered several injuries in a regrettable traffic accident,” Jimenez’s Dominican Winter League team, Toros del Este, said on X. “We extend our condolences and prayers to the families of the victims who lost their lives in the incident.”
Antonio Jimenez of the Montgomery Biscuits pitches during the game between the Montgomery Biscuits and the Birmingham Barons at Rickwood Field on Tuesday, June 18, 2024 in Birmingham, Alabama. (Daniel Shirey/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
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Prospect Savant lists Jimenez as the Giants’ 31st-ranked prospect.
Pitching for the team’s Triple-A affiliate this season, he recorded a 3.55 ERA with opponents hitting .217 off him in 45.2 innings pitched. He struck out 27.9% of the batters he has faced but walked 17.3% of them.
Antonio Jimenez of the Montgomery Biscuits looks on during the game between the Montgomery Biscuits and the Birmingham Barons at Rickwood Field on Tuesday, June 18, 2024 in Birmingham, Alabama. (Daniel Shirey/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
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Jimenez has been in the minor leagues since he was 18, beginning as a member of the Tampa Bay Rays organization. He joined the Giants ahead of this past season.
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