There wasn’t a bigger play in Sunday’s game between the Los Angeles Rams and Seattle Seahawks than Dante Fowler Jr.’s strip-sack in the fourth quarter. Not Brandin Cooks’ touchdown, not Aaron Donald’s 2.5 sacks, and not Robert Woods’ 35-yard reception.

Nope, it was Fowler’s sack that proved to be the turning point, essentially clinching the win for the Rams. If you missed the game, or that specific play, let’s set the table.

With just over six minutes to play and the Rams leading 29-24, Fowler knocked the ball out of Russell Wilson’s hand and recovered it at the Seattle 9-yard line. On the very next play, Cooks scored to give the Rams a 12-point cushion, which proved to be too much for the Seahawks to overcome.

It was a game-changer for the newest member of the Rams, but things weren’t going well for him before that play. On the opening possession of the game, Fowler was flagged for a face mask penalty, giving Seattle 15 free yards. Three plays later, Wilson hit Nick Vannett for six points.

In the third quarter, he was called for unsportsmanlike conduct after a discussion with an official as the defense was walking off the field thanks to a third-down stop. The drive continued and the Seahawks scored a touchdown two plays later.

After the game, Fowler explained what happened on the unsportsmanlike penalty.

“Tempers were kind of flaring. I guess the referees, their tempers flared, too. It’s just the heat of the moment thing. At the end of the day, I just can’t put the team in those types of situations in a close game like that,” Fowler said. “I told him that it felt like we were getting held a lot and we weren’t getting the calls. I’m a respectful young man. I never called him by his name or anything. I told him, ‘that was a terrible call.’ ‘Terrible’ was the bad word that I got the flag thrown on me for. That’s just when I knew I can’t do that. I can’t put my team in those positions or predicaments. The thing that I learned today: Don’t talk to the referees.”

Fortunately, Wade Phillips and Sean McVay stuck by their stud pass rusher and didn’t put him in the doghouse for two mistakes. They were rewarded for staying with him, as evidenced by the forced fumble above.

Fowler was happy to make up for his mistake, too, earning some trust from his teammates and the coaching staff.

“I knew I had to put the team on my back. I had to go out there and redeem myself and show the coaching staff that they can trust me to go out there and make big plays,” he said. “I can stay composed and when I do make a mistake, I can go out there and redeem myself.”

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