The Seahawks have lost two out of their last three games, the latest being a 44-34 loss to Josh Allen and the Bills. Now they meet the Rams.
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Seattle Seahawks: 4 Bold Predictions For Week 10 Vs Rams
The Los Angeles Rams know they have a big opportunity this weekend. After racing to a 6-0 start this season, the Seattle Seahawks have lost two out of their last three games, the latest being a 44-34 road loss to Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills in Week 9. While the Seahawks’ offense remains one of the best in the NFL with Russell Wilson still playing at an MVP-caliber level, their losses to the Arizona Cardinals and Bills showed that he can’t save them every game, especially with a defense that so far ranks among the worst in NFL history.
That defense will once again be tested when Seattle goes back on the road to face the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium for the first time this season. The Rams are coming off a bye week and are eager to bounce back after a 28-17 loss to the Miami Dolphins in Week 8 in quarterback Tua Tagovailoa’s first NFL start. A game between the 6-2 Seahawks and the 5-3 Rams could have important consequences in the NFC West standings, especially with the 5-3 Cardinals and 4-5 San Francisco 49ers not far behind in the league’s most competitive division.
Seattle and Los Angeles have usually played close games against each other, with five of their last eight matchups being decided by six points or fewer. Here are four things that could happen when the Seahawks go on the road again to face the Rams:
1. Russell Wilson will bounce back and throw three touchdowns
It’s rare for Wilson to be outplayed by an opposing team’s quarterback this season, but that’s what happened last week when Allen burned the Seahawks defense by completing 31 of 38 passes for 415 passing yards and three touchdowns in their 44-34 victory. The 31-year old Wilson, meanwhile, had a sub-par game by his standards, completing 28 of 41 passes for 390 passing yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions.
If the seven-time Pro Bowler wants to have a bounce back game, he’ll have to do it against a Rams defense that has allowed an average of just 291.9 yards through eight games, the second best mark in the NFL. Brandon Staley’s defense has also been stingy in the air, allowing just 197.1 passing yards per game, which also ranks second in the league, so Wilson and the Seattle offense will have their work cut out for them, especially against defensive end Aaron Donald, who has sacked him eight times in the teams’ last five meetings.
With the Seahawks likely missing running backs Chris Carson and Carlos Hyde against Los Angeles, Wilson will need to be at his best for Seattle to even have a chance at picking up their seventh win. But after a sub-par game against Buffalo, the veteran signal-caller will be motivated against the Rams, especially knowing the implications of the game against a division rival.
2. D.K. Metcalf will have a big game against Jalen Ramsey
With 43 receptions, 788 receiving yards, and eight touchdowns so far, the 22-year Metcalf has emerged as the Seahawks’ top receiver this season. Fellow wide receiver Tyler Lockett has had more targets and receptions than Metcalf, but it is the former Ole Miss Rebel that has had more receiving yards, touchdowns, and has been more of a nightmare for opposing defenses.
He has had at least four receptions and 92 receiving yards in seven of the Seahawks’ first eight games, with the 6-foot-4, 235-pound wideout’s combination of size and speed being a problem for opposing cornerbacks. One player who could match up against Metcalf is Rams cornerback Jalen Ramsey, who is smaller and has a slighter build at 6-foot-1 and 208 pounds, but has the speed to keep up with him and remains one of the best at his position.
Should Staley choose to put Ramsey on Metcalf, then it could be the game’s most interesting match-up. But the Rams defensive coordinator declined to confirm if that will be the team’s strategy, although that didn’t prevent him from anticipating what should be an interesting matchup.
“This is going to be a great chess match between these two guys, if they line up near each other. This is what gets you excited about pro sports, is to see two elite players square off against one another. These two guys are as good as I think that I’m seeing right now in the NFL at their positions.”
3. The defense will do just enough to slow down Jared Goff and the Rams’ offense
While the Seahawks offense ranks as one of the best in the NFL, their defense currently ranks among the worst in league history. The Seattle secondary allows 362.1 passing yards per game, which is 51 more yards than the second worst mark by the 3-6 Atlanta Falcons, and the worst mark in Super Bowl history. In Week 9, Allen and the Bills clearly exploited that weakness, and as a result scored 44 points against Seattle, the most points they’ve given up this season.
The Rams, like the Seahawks, have one of the league’s best offenses, averaging 396.4 yards per game, which ranks sixth in the league. But in their previous game against the Dolphins, the offense put up just 17 points, with quarterback Jared Goff completing just 35 of 61 passes for 355 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions. Goff has typically done well against the Seahawks, passing for 240 yards in each of the Rams’ last four games against Seattle, with three of those games being wins.
With cornerbacks Shaquill Griffin and Quinton Dunbar likely to be sidelined, the Seahawks’ defense will have a tougher time against Los Angeles. But after coming off their worst defensive performance against the Bills, the Seahawks should put up a better effort on that end against the Rams, and with Wilson and their offense firing on all cylinders, they might not have to do that much.
4. The Seahawks win a close, high-scoring game
With two of the league’s best offenses taking the field, the game between the NFC West rivals is expected to be a high-scoring affair. The Seahawks and Rams have also typically played close games against each other, and Goff expects a similar game this season.
“We’ve always really seemed to have really close games. It’s really been one-score, last-drive, last-play type of games with them always, every year. They’re a great team. It’s always a good game, and always exciting.”
Los Angeles, however, has seemingly had Seattle’s number in recent years, as they hold a 4-2 record over the Seahawks during Sean McVay’s time as Rams head coach. But no one is playing better right now than Wilson, who gives the Seahawks a chance against almost every team. The Rams are coming off a bye week, giving McVay and the coaching staff more time to plan on stopping the Seahawks offense.
But in a high-scoring game that likely goes down the wire, it’s hard to bet against Wilson and the Seahawks, especially after coming off a disappointing loss to Buffalo. In a highly-entertaining game, they should emerge with their seventh win of the season, which should give them some separation in what has become a tight race to win the division.
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