Tensions Boiled, Then the Seahawks Took Over: Inside Seattle’s Fiery Rivalry Win Over the Rams
Divisional games in the NFL always hit different. The stakes are higher, the emotions run hotter, and there’s often a little more behind every shove, every stare-down, and every sideline outburst.
The NFC West might not always get the spotlight when it comes to legendary rivalries, but don’t let that fool you - there’s no love lost between the Seattle Seahawks and the Los Angeles Rams. And their recent battles have only added fuel to the fire.
Take their last regular-season clash, for example. Seattle stormed back from a 16-point deficit to pull off a dramatic win, a comeback that not only stunned the Rams but also kept the Seahawks’ playoff hopes alive and in position for the NFC’s top seed. But what happened off the field - specifically in the tunnel at halftime - might’ve been just as impactful as what happened on it.
According to reports, the temperature really started to rise after a costly first-half fumble by Seahawks wide receiver Cooper Kupp - a former Ram - just before halftime. The turnover was a momentum killer for Seattle at the time, but it also lit a fuse.
As players and coaches made their way toward the locker rooms, several Rams assistants were reportedly discussing the play. One offensive coach asked who had fumbled, and when told it was Kupp, he reportedly chuckled - a reaction that didn’t sit well with Seahawks outside linebackers coach Chris Partridge.
That’s when things escalated.
Witnesses said Partridge snapped back at the Rams staffers, and the situation quickly intensified. Rams defensive pass rush coordinator Drew Wilkins shouted back, and things got heated enough that Partridge had to be physically restrained by fellow Seahawks coaches.
It all played out in a packed elevator, with tension thick enough to cut through. No punches were thrown, but it was clear: this wasn’t just another game.
And maybe that moment - as small as it might seem in the grand scheme - helped flip the switch for Seattle. The Seahawks came out of halftime with a different energy. They clawed their way back into the game, took control late, and walked away with a win that carried serious playoff implications.
Fast forward to the NFC Championship Game, and the rivalry wrote another chapter. This time, the stakes were even higher, and while the game stayed tight through the first half, it was a special teams miscue that broke things open. A muffed punt return by the Rams in the third quarter handed Seattle a golden opportunity, and they didn’t waste it.
The Seahawks capitalized, extended their lead, and never looked back. They held on through the fourth quarter, punching their ticket to the Super Bowl with a win that was both gritty and clinical - the kind of performance that championship teams are built on.
Now they’re headed to face the New England Patriots on the biggest stage in football. But make no mistake: the road to the Super Bowl ran straight through their division, and the Rams - with all the history, hostility, and halftime fireworks - were a major part of that journey.
In the NFL, rivalries aren’t just about geography. They’re about moments like these - the ones that get under your skin, the ones that make a win feel just a little bit sweeter. And for the Seahawks, that elevator scuffle might’ve been the moment they decided they weren’t going home.