A crucial defensive stop became a costly mistake. Riq Woolen's taunting penalty gifted Rams a first down, nearly derailing Seahawks' Super Bowl dreams.
The Seattle Seahawks will be playing in their first Super Bowl since 2015 on Sunday, February 8, and it is due in no small part to their defense being one of the best in the NFL over the course of the season.
But it was one of their defensive players who almost cost them this chance to get back to the big game.
To set the scene, it was 3rd and 12 in the NFC title game against the Los Angeles Rams, and the Seahawks were on defense. Matthew Stafford took a shot to Puka Nacua, but Riq Woolen was able to force the incompletion.
And while that may sound good at first, it is what happened next that almost cost Seattle a trip to the Super Bowl.
After breaking up the pass and almost picking it off, Woolen went back to the line of scrimmage. But the problem is that while he made his way back, he was trash-talking the Rams' sideline, and the refs saw it.
They threw a flag for taunting, and the Rams got 15 yards and an automatic first down. What was about to be a huge defensive stop at the end of the third quarter turned into a disaster.
Woolen then found himself guarding Nacua again, but this time he couldn't stop him, and the Rams scored to cut the lead to just four.
Luckily for Woolen, the rest of the team was able to close out the game and advance to the Super Bowl, but he almost cost the Seahawks. And now is being punished by the league for it as well.
The NFL announced that they will be fining the 26-year-old cornerback $17,398 for the words and actions he was directing at Los Angeles' bench during the NFC Championship game.
The Seahawks will need Woolen to cool off and act very different in their upcoming battle with the New England Patriots, as it will be the biggest game that the young defensive back has ever played in, and ever will play in.
Last time Seattle was in the Super Bowl was also against the Pats, and everyone knows how that went. They lost in heartbreaking fashion on the goal line, and the team will be doing everything in their power to make sure something like that does not happen again.
And having Woolen at the top of his game while not running his mouth would definitely be a huge help.