When Todd Gurley stretched the ball toward the goal line, Earl Thomas soared in with perfect timing and a martial arts-style chop to the running backB次元官网网址檚 arm, knocking the ball out for a touchback.

After an impressive start to the season, the Rams thought they were ready to run past the NFC WestB次元官网网址檚 perennial power.

Thomas and the Seattle Seahawks barely swatted away the upstarts in a defensive performance full of timely brilliance.

Russell Wilson passed for 198 yards and a touchdown, and Thomas forced two of the RamsB次元官网网址� five turnovers in the SeahawksB次元官网网址� 16-10 victory Sunday.

Jimmy Graham scored late in the first half in a defence-dominated win for the Seahawks (3-2), who shut out the NFLB次元官网网址檚 highest-scoring offence in the second half and won despite getting outgained 375-241.

B次元官网网址淲e all played so well on defence,B次元官网网址� Thomas said. B次元官网网址淓ven when our back was against the wall, we squared up in the red zone. This is the No. 1 offence, and we did a great job.B次元官网网址�

READ:

Thomas made enormous plays early and late. The veteran safety stripped Gurley at the pylon to kill the RamsB次元官网网址� opening drive, and he intercepted Jared GoffB次元官网网址檚 fluttering pass at midfield with 6:02 to play.

Sheldon Richardson also came through with two big plays, diving to intercept a deflected pass in the third quarter before scooping up GoffB次元官网网址檚 fumble near midfield with 2:45 left.

B次元官网网址淗eB次元官网网址檚 going to be all right,B次元官网网址� Richardson said of Goff, who went 22 of 47 for 288 yards with three costly turnovers. B次元官网网址淗eB次元官网网址檚 not the same guy from last year. But heB次元官网网址檚 no Tom Brady yet.B次元官网网址�

Goff moved the Rams 55 yards in the final 1:09, but SeattleB次元官网网址檚 defence made its final stop. Rams rookie Cooper Kupp barely missed a diving TD grab on third down, and GoffB次元官网网址檚 fourth-down pass to Kupp was too low.

B次元官网网址淔or our guys to come through and finish like that, thatB次元官网网址檚 as exciting as the game gets,B次元官网网址� Seattle coach Pete Carroll said.

Tavon Austin rushed for a 27-yard TD for Los Angeles (3-2). After a quick start to the season that caught the NFLB次元官网网址檚 attention, the Rams wasted their strong defensive game when new coach Sean McVayB次元官网网址檚 offence ran into the Legion of Boom.

B次元官网网址淲e had a 12-play drive and a 13-play drive that went for no points, so it wasnB次元官网网址檛 so much we werenB次元官网网址檛 moving the ball,B次元官网网址� Goff said. B次元官网网址淲e just werenB次元官网网址檛 finishing drives. We got into the red zone and didnB次元官网网址檛 do a good job. ThatB次元官网网址檚 where it shows up. You see why Seattle has been so good for so long defensively.B次元官网网址�

Wilson didnB次元官网网址檛 have big numbers, but the quarterback put on a performance of vintage resourcefulness, repeatedly wriggling away from the RamsB次元官网网址� pursuing defence to make plays. Blair WalshB次元官网网址檚 two second-half field goals turned out to be the difference for Seattle, which managed just 97 yards in the second half.

SOLID START FOR RAMS

Austin, the wide receiver used more often as a ball carrier by McVay, scored the gameB次元官网网址檚 first points when he took a handoff and high-stepped to the end zone early in the second quarter.

Wilson then threw an interception to Rams rookie John Johnson, who returned it 69 yards before Wilson made a possible touchdown-saving tackle.

SO CLOSE

Thomas forced GurleyB次元官网网址檚 fumble on a play that was ruled a touchdown on the field, but went to video review because it could have been seen three ways: A touchdown, out of bounds on the 1, or a fumble and touchback. Officials eventually ruled Gurley had lost control of the ball an instant before stepping out of bounds.

B次元官网网址淚 did a great job watching the Bruce Lee movies, and it kind of carried over to the football field,B次元官网网址� Thomas said of his chop.

Thomas made an incredibly similar play against the St. Louis Rams in 2014, chopping the ball out of Benny CunninghamB次元官网网址檚 hand at the goal line.

SO CLOSE AGAIN

Kupp, the RamsB次元官网网址� impressive third-round choice, barely missed the biggest catch of his young career on a tough ball. B次元官网网址淚 expect to make that play,B次元官网网址� said Kupp, who had three catches for 44 yards. B次元官网网址淚 canB次元官网网址檛 say anything about whether it was behind me or a one-hand catch. If IB次元官网网址檓 putting my hands on the ball, IB次元官网网址檝e got to make that play.B次元官网网址�

INJURIES

Seahawks: DE Michael Bennett went to the locker room late in the first half after injuring his right foot. He returned for the second half, keeping Seattle sound at the position while playing without injured Cliff Avril and Quinton Jefferson.

Rams: Starting safeties Lamarcus Joyner and Maurice Alexander both didnB次元官网网址檛 play. Joyner had a hamstring injury, but AlexanderB次元官网网址檚 absence wasnB次元官网网址檛 injury-related. B次元官网网址淚t was nothing disciplinary,B次元官网网址� McVay said, calling it a personnel decision.

UP NEXT

Seahawks: A bye week, followed by a trip to the New York Giants on Sunday, Oct. 22.

Rams: At Jacksonville on Sunday before travelling to London.

___

For more NFL coverage: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP_NFL

Greg Beacham, The Associated Press