Bobby Wagner inspires Rams against old team Seattle but not enough as skid continues

Within the days main as much as it, Rams linebacker Bobby Wagner stated he would method Sunday’s sport in opposition to the Seattle Seahawks like some other.

Certain.

The six-time All-Professional linebacker’s unceremonious launch from a workforce he spent a decade with didn’t spark further motivation.

OK.

His maturity enabled him to not maintain on to exhausting emotions.

Uh, huh.

As soon as the sport began at SoFi Stadium, the noticeably emotional Wagner performed like a future Corridor of Famer. He intercepted a cross and sacked Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith twice.

However as has been the case so usually on this misplaced season for the defending Tremendous Bowl-champion Rams, it was a part of a misplaced trigger.

The Rams gave up a late landing cross in a 27-23 defeat that prolonged their shedding streak to 6 video games, dropped their report to 3-9 and moved them to the brink of official elimination from playoff consideration.

Wagner was stoic in his disappointment.

“I’m a grasp at controlling my feelings,” he stated, including, “I managed them in the course of the week and allow them to out in the course of the sport.”

Coaches and teammates have been additionally visibly distraught that they may not assist Wagner defeat the Seahawks, a workforce he helped result in a Tremendous Bowl title and consecutive Tremendous Bowl appearances.

“There was nothing that we needed extra as a workforce, as a training workers, and actually all people in that locker room, to have the ability to attempt to get that executed and try to get him that sport ball that he deserved,” coach Sean McVay stated. “However we got here up brief.”

The Rams remained short-handed of star gamers.

Quarterback Matthew Stafford and receiver Cooper Kupp, each on injured reserve, stood on the sideline in sweats and white Rams ball caps. Lineman Aaron Donald, out due to a high-ankle sprain, presumably watched from house.

Earlier than kickoff, the animated avatars of Stafford, Kupp and Donald have been featured on the stadium’s big videoboard as a part of an augmented actuality expertise.

The truth for the Rams is that none of these stars is more likely to play one other snap this season.

McVay stated after the sport that Stafford has a spinal wire contusion.

Is the 14th-year professional executed for the season?

“There’s likelihood that that’s most likely the case,” McVay stated.

John Wolford began at quarterback in opposition to the Seahawks. He helped put the Rams in place to win by engineering a drive that ended with operating again Cam Akers speeding for his second landing and a 23-20 lead.

Now it was on the Rams protection that performed properly the earlier week in a defeat by the high-powered Kansas Metropolis Chiefs, and for a lot of Sunday in help of Wagner.

In April, after he signed with the Rams, Wagner spoke of trying ahead to taking part in the Seahawks.

“I’ll ensure that [the Seahawks] see me each time we play them,” he stated, “in order that they’ll know the place I’m at — and I’ll ensure that I inform them.

“It received’t be a quiet sport for me.”

Throughout warmups, Seahawks coaches and gamers greeted Wagner.

“Lots of people got here up and stated, ‘Wassup,’ and I present love,” he stated. “However, you realize, I lock again in.”

Wagner sacked Smith in the course of the first sequence. Sadly for the Rams, on the subsequent play Smith sidestepped edge rusher Leonard Floyd and fired a landing cross to Tyler Lockett.

After sacking Smith within the second quarter, Wagner struck an emphatic pose, his arms clenched in entrance of him. The play pressured the Seahawks to punt, and the Rams capitalized with a discipline purpose to drag inside 14-13.

Wagner animatedly jawed with receiver DK Metcalf and different Seahawks gamers within the third quarter.

“Your little brothers begin speaking trash to you,” he stated, “so that you begin speaking trash again.”

Rams linebacker Bobby Wagner steals the ball from Seattle’s Tony Jones Jr. within the third quarter for an interception.

(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Occasions)

After his interception late within the third quarter — and all through a assessment that upheld the play — Wagner gestured on the Seahawks’ sideline. His interception arrange one other field-goal drive that pulled the Rams to inside 17-16 early within the fourth quarter.

Rams teammates felt Wagner’s depth.

“You may see simply the fireplace that he had in his eyes,” stated linebacker Michael Hoecht, who sacked Smith and compelled a fumble within the third quarter.

Mentioned rookie cornerback Derion Kendrick: “He all the time has power, however it was simply turned up a notch.”

However the Rams couldn’t end — not with Smith working in an offense designed by former Rams assistant Shane Waldron, a scheme that harked to the Rams of 2017 and 2018, when receivers have been seemingly extensive open on each play.

With lower than three minutes left, Smith engineered a 10-play drive that included a 30-yard cross to Lockett and the dart for the decisive landing to Metcalf.

“It’s a sport that you could possibly have received — a sport that it is best to have received,” Wagner stated. “And also you allowed workforce to make performs, they usually did.”

Afterward, Seahawks gamers and coaches lined up on the sector to embrace Wagner.

“Throughout the sport, we compete,” he stated. “After the sport, whatever the end result, they’re nonetheless my brothers over there.”

Wagner will get one other shot on the Seahawks when the Rams journey to Seattle for the regular-season finale. He’s anticipated to obtain a heat welcome from followers at Lumen Discipline.

He solely felt disappointment Sunday.

“It’s irritating,” he stated. “It’s unlucky. You wish to try to get the win.”