The Rams' question nullified a two-point play that helped the collapse against the Seahawks

The Seahawks' fourth-quarter two-point attempt was initially ruled incomplete, but was later ruled out as a fumble, allowing Seattle to tie the game. The game was part of a 16-point loss to the Los Angeles Rams on Thursday night.

Epic collapses often involve a mixture of extraordinary circumstances.

The Los Angeles Rams had plenty of them in their 38-37 overtime loss to the Seattle Seahawks on Thursday night.Brutal special teams mistakes, compounded by an offense that stumbled late and a defense that couldn't stop the bleeding, combined for a 16-point lead in the fourth quarter.

The only play that lasted was the Seahawks' two-point conversion midway through the fourth quarter that allowed Seattle to tie the game at 30-30.Sam Darnold's quick screen hit Rams pass rusher Jared Vries and went up in the air at the goal line before falling to the field.Officials reviewed the play and determined that Darnold's pass was actually back, which was ruled out, and Seahawks running back Zach Charbonnet, who picked up the ball in the end zone, was awarded two points.

Instead of the Rams clinging to a two-point lead, the game was tied, which ultimately led to overtime.

The Rams questioned the decision after the contest.

"Very interesting," coach Sean McVay said via ESPN."I didn't get a clear explanation of everything that happened just because of time.

"I have never seen anything or even a part of something like that. And I grew up in this game. I don't make excuses. We don't believe in it. It doesn't move us forward, but we want clarity and understanding of what we can do to reduce it if we reject the two changes."

Matthew Stafford, who became the fifth player in history with 450+ passing yards, 3+ TDs and 0 INTs for a loss (Jared Goff, Andrew Luck, Ben Roethlisberger, Matt Cassel), thought about how to move forward in this situation.

"I want to know the rule," Stafford told the LA Daily News.

The play wasn't the main driver of the Rams' collapse, but it highlighted what can go wrong when an opponent is given life.

After dominating the first three quarters, producing 30 points, 405 yards and zero touchdowns, the offense went cold, going three-and-out on three straight plays to open the door for Seattle.A defense that forced three turnovers allowed Darnold to move the ball in the final frame and go into overtime.And special teams, a problem all season, were atrocious, giving up momentum and conceding a field goal in the fourth quarter, among other issues.

Coaches often say it's a four-quarter game.The Rams didn't show up in the final frame, costing them control of the NFC.

LA fell to 11-4, behind Seattle in the NFC West.The Rams have a 27% chance to win the division, according to Next Gen Stats, with games against the Falcons and Cardinals remaining.Entering the game for first place in the conference, they now have a 21% chance to clinch the No. 1 seed, while Seattle's odds of finding a way have increased to 51%.The 49ers, who face the Seahawks in Week 18, have a 19% chance to clinch first place with a win.

The Rams clinched the playoffs, but a collapse could make their Super Bowl run that much more difficult.

"We went down swinging," quarterback Coby Turner said. "We beat them once, they beat us once.We will see them again.At the end of the day we have a big dance, that's what matters, that's what matters.I don't care where we are, whether it's freezing cold, snowing, raining, or coming home, my boys."