When Seahawks' Mike Macdonald knew he'd play for the win in overtime of Rams game

With 3:13 remaining in the much-anticipated "Thursday Night Football" game involving the Seattle Seahawks and the Los Angeles Rams, Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold connected with wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba for a short touchdown pass that decreased Los Angeles' lead to 37-36. 

Shortly after Darnold hit tight end Eric Saubert for the game-winning two-point conversion, Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald suggested that he and offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak never intended to kick a standard extra point and play for the tie in that situation. 

Mike Macdonald trusted his players to win the game

"Well, it was something we had talked about really throughout the season and then really particularly for this game because of the playoff situation," Macdonald explained, per the Seahawks' website. "You know, do you play for the tie and lock up a playoff seed? I just felt great about our play, and I trusted our guys. To Klint's credit, he was really confident, and then the players ultimately make it happen. Once we got that drive going, it was pretty clear what we were going to do."

Macdonald was referencing how a tie would have resulted in Los Angeles holding onto its tiebreaker advantage over Seattle via the Rams defeating the Seahawks back in Week 11. Instead, 12-3 Seattle began Friday sitting atop the NFC West and the conference standings. The 11-4 Rams, 10-4 San Francisco 49ers and 10-4 Chicago Bears are now all chasing the Seahawks. 

Seattle will play at San Francisco's Levi's Stadium in Week 18. 

Seahawks overcoming adversity is "who we are"

The Rams held a 30-14 lead when Seattle's Rashid Shaheed returned a punt 58 yards to the house for a touchdown with 8:03 remaining in the game's fourth quarter. Roughly two minutes later, Darnold connected with tight end AJ Barner for a touchdown that was followed by the Seahawks tying the game via a two-point conversion for the ages. 

"It's who we are," Macdonald said about the Seahawks overcoming adversity in front of a prime-time audience. "It's what we do. You know, you believe in who you are, and then you keep doing it and keep proving it, really, to yourself, to our guys. They understand who they are, and then when it's time to put it on the line, they're ready to go."

Seattle next plays at the Carolina Panthers in Week 17. This coming Sunday, the 7-7 Panthers will host the 7-7 Tampa Bay Buccaneers with first place in the NFC South division standings on the line.