Seahawks cornerback Tariq Woolen owes every teammate who helped secure Seattle's trip to Super Bowl LX with a 31-27 win over the Los Angeles Rams a big hug.
If not for a clutch defensive effort and an offense that played superbly, Woolen could be waking up Monday as an infamous character.
With the Seahawks holding a 31-20 lead late in the third quarter, Woolen appeared to have forced a pivotal punt, breaking up a pass to Rams receiver Puka Nacua on third-and-12. However, after the play, the corner repeatedly jawed at L.A.'s sideline, drawing a taunting penalty and giving the Rams new life. On the next play, Nacua beat Woolen on a double-move for a 34-yard touchdown.
"Even though I made a great play, I wasn't great for my team," Woolen said, via the Associated Press. "And I've got to be better with that and celebrate with the team. The next play, they scored a touchdown, and that wouldn't have happened if I had just celebrated with the team."
It wasn't Woolen's initial yapping that caused the penalty, but his continued jawing at the Rams' bench after repeated efforts by the officials to go to his own bench were ignored that brought out the laundry.
In the immediate aftermath, there was some frustration on the Seahawks' sideline. What could have been a play that tilted the contest in Seattle's favor -- getting the ball, up double-digits -- turned the game into a barnburner.
Luckily for Woolen, the Seahawks defense tightened up on the Rams' next possession following the touchdown, denying Matthew Stafford the end zone on fourth-and-4 to keep a four-point lead. Seattle's offense then milked most of the clock to secure a trip to the Super Bowl.
"We just told each other you've got to keep going, keep playing," defensive lineman Byron Murphy II said. "We have Riq's back no matter what. No matter if it's a positive or negative thing, you've just got to keep going."
"I said, 'Don't do that again, obviously. But I love you, and you're gonna make plays for us,' " safety Julian Love added. "That's how we approach what's next."
The Seahawks will need Woolen, who was one of three Seattle defenders with multiple passes defended in the NFC Championship Game, joining rookie Nick Emmanwori (three) and Devon Witherspoon (two), who made the TD-saving play on fourth down, as they head to Santa Clara, California, to face the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LX on Feb. 8.
"He just made an emotional decision and we got to pick him up," Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald said of Woolen. "That's not the time to point (the finger), get all upset. You've got to go play the next play and score and go rebound back and go back. Riq came back and played well the rest of the game. So I mean, it literally is like '12 As One'. Just keep picking each other up."
