It’s the first of two games that might decide the NFC West champion this season. The Seattle Seahawks (2-2), coming off their best offensive performance of the season, travel down the coast to the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum to take on the best offense in the league in the Los Angeles Rams (3-1).
The game opens the late slate of Sunday’s games on FOX at 4:05 p.m.
The Game: Seattle Seahawks at Los Angeles Rams (-1.5)
O/U: 47.5
The History
The two teams have been division rivals since the NFL re-aligned in 2002. Seattle leads the all time series, going back to 1976, 22-16.
The Rams have won three of the last four match ups against the Seahawks and four of the last six. Seattle won the last game between the two last season, 24-3, on December 15, 2016.
SEATTLE SEAHAWKS (2-2)
After three weeks of stumbles, the Seahawks finally discovered their offense last week against the Indianapolis Colts in the second half. Russell Wilson bounced back from two early interceptions to finish 21 of 26 for 295 yards and two touchdowns. Eddie Lacy had his best game of the season after Chris Carson went out with an ankle injury, carrying the ball 11 times for 52 yards. Thomas Rawls was a healthy scratch, but should suit up Sunday to try and help Seattle get a running game going.
The defense that has been so dominant over the last half decade has yet to show up this season, even though, arguably, this is the most talent the Seahawks have had on the roster since 2014. Sheldon Richardson, acquired in a trade with the New York Jets, has not shown up in any significant way. If Jeremy Lane was the next legit member of the Legion of Boom secondary, it won’t matter this week. He’s listed as out with a groin injury.
Joining Lane on the sidelines in sweats will be the team’s best pass rusher, Cliff Avril, along with running back C.J. Prosise who’s been a no show for the entire young season.
Considering the Rams’ weakness on run defense, this would be a good week for the Seahawks to uncork a solid performance from either Rawls or Lacy. Expect to see a lot more from third down speedster back J.D. McKissic. The sparkplug scored two long touchdowns against the Colts last week.
LOS ANGELES RAMS (3-1)
It looks like the Rams will once again be without safety Lamarcus Joyner, but he’s the only significant injury on a defense that made a huge leap in performance in the second half of the team’s 35-30 win over the Dallas Cowboys last Sunday. Los Angeles trailed 24-16 at halftime and held the Cowboys to just six points in the second half as they scored the next 15 points in the game.
Todd Gurley II won the head to head match up with Ezekiel Elliott and is right there with Kareem Hunt as the NFL’s top back this season. New head coach Sean McVay is utilizing Gurley in the passing game, turning him into a more Le’Veon Bell style back and it’s benefiting everybody. The Rams have scored 35 or more points in three of their four games this season.
If you play Daily Fantasy, then you already know Greg Zuerlein is a must have on your roster every week. Last Sunday Zuerlein was a perfect 7-for-7 on field goals and scored 23 of the Rams’ 35 points all on his own.
Jared Goff continues to show why he was taken No. 1 overall last season. He carved up the Cowboys with 21 of 36 passing for 255 yards and two touchdowns. It won’t nearly be that easy against Seattle, regardless of the players they’re missing. This game will hing on Gurley and what the defense can do to slow down Seattle.
The Pick
This is the kind of game that can flip the script on a season for either team. The Rams can not only take complete control of the NFC West with a win, they can propel themselves up to the upper eschalon of NFC teams. I think they do it. Rams 24, Seahawks 20
This week
Straight up: 1-0
Against the spread: 1-0
Last week
Straight up: 9-7
Against the spread: 10-6
Season
Straight up: 37-26
Against the spread: 32-31
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