The Rams’ 2026 season came to a heartbreaking end as they fell 27-21 in overtime to the Newcastle Vikings in the NFC Division 1 Final at Graham Sports Centre, Durham. In a dramatic contest that swung back and forth, Elliot Jackson ran in three touchdowns and the Rams fought back from 14-7 down to take a 21-14 lead in the third quarter, only for the Vikings to level the scores and win it in the extra period.

The Rams won the toss and elected to kick, but the opening kickoff sailed out of bounds to give the Vikings good field position. Newcastle earned a first down on the ground, though a fumbled exchange saw the quarterback forced to recover his own ball. A deep pass fell incomplete on a later down and the Vikings were forced to punt. The Rams took over deep in their own territory on the 5-yard line and Jackson picked up a first down, but they too had to punt.

The Vikings’ next possession was more productive. Good running and well-timed screen passes moved the chains, and on third down the quarterback found #89 with a long pass in the end zone for the opening touchdown. The PAT was good to make it 7-0.

Harry Anchor looked to have answered with a long kick return, but a holding penalty brought it back. Jackson then broke a big run on second down as the first quarter came to a close.

Jackson carried that momentum into the second quarter, bursting free on the very first play for a massive touchdown run. A huge block from Matt Fox made it possible, and Trishmpriyo Sarkar added the PAT to level the score at 7-7.

The Rams’ defence stepped up on the next series. Kelvin Newsome delivered a big tackle on third and inches to force a fourth-down pass, and Nathaniel Derrick broke it up to force a turnover on downs. The Rams moved the ball on the ensuing possession, with Jono Bell-Davis picking up a first down, but a delay of game penalty on fourth down forced a punt.

The Vikings had to punt as well after a drive built on the ground petered out, pinning the Rams back near their own goal line. The Rams earned a first down but ultimately punted again, handing the ball back to the Vikings with 57 seconds left in the half. Newcastle moved the ball but could not convert, and the Rams took over on downs. Dan Haywood launched a deep ball on the final play of the half, but it was intercepted as the teams went into the break level at 7-7.

The Rams went three-and-out on the opening drive of the second half, and the Vikings took full advantage. Strong running produced two consecutive first downs before a big pass to #12 set up first and goal. #6 ran it in for the touchdown and the PAT was good to restore the Vikings’ lead at 14-7.

Anchor again produced a good kick return, but another penalty wiped it out. Jackson was undeterred, breaking free on another big run to score and tie the game at 14-14 with Sarkar adding the PAT.

What followed was one of the pivotal sequences of the contest. The Rams called a surprise onside kick and Anchor was on hand to recover the loose ball. The Rams earned a first down but were forced to punt, only for the Vikings’ returner to muff the catch. Ben Dolan pounced on the loose ball to give the Rams possession in opposition territory. Jackson needed no second invitation, running it in on first down behind a superb block from Liam Calvert. Sarkar’s PAT was good to put the Rams ahead 21-14.

The Vikings struck back immediately. Their running game continued to trouble the Rams’ defence, and #6 finished the drive with his second rushing touchdown of the afternoon. The PAT was good to level the scores at 21-21. The Rams went three-and-out and punted, and an unnecessary roughness penalty appeared to hand the Vikings a fresh set of downs, but the call was overturned and the Vikings took over on their own 10-yard line as the third quarter ended.

The fourth quarter was a tense, scoreless affair. The Vikings ran the ball effectively again but were forced to punt from midfield, and it was a good one, pinning the Rams deep. The Rams worked the ball out from under the goalposts but their punt with six minutes remaining was blocked, though the bounce rolled forward to around the halfway mark.

The Vikings went three-and-out when Anchor broke up a pass down the middle. He then collected the ensuing punt and held on despite taking a heavy hit. Haywood connected with Dolan on a pass and Bell-Davis added a run to offset a sack on first down, moving the Rams to a first down as the two-minute warning arrived. An incomplete pass on the next set of downs left the Rams with no choice but to punt, and the Vikings took over on their own 30-yard line with a minute remaining.

Daniel Barker came up with a huge sack on first down to put the Vikings under pressure. On fourth down with one second on the clock, the Vikings connected on a big pass to move the chains and send the game to overtime.

The Rams received the ball first in overtime but the drive ended when Haywood was intercepted. The Vikings’ offence took the field and their quarterback ran it in to seal a 27-21 victory and claim the NFC Division 1 title.

The result brings an end to a remarkable 2026 campaign for the Rams, who finished second in the NFC 1 North regular season before playoff victories over the Black Country Steelers and Leicester Panthers carried them to the divisional final. Despite the disappointment, the Rams can take pride in a season that saw them come agonisingly close to winning it all.