After a much deserved bye week, the Los Angeles Rams go into Week 10 of NFL action well rested. After dropping a game against the Miami Dolphins to drop to 5-3 going into the break, the Rams are presented with an intriguing task against the visiting Seattle Seahawks. Coming off of a big loss against the Buffalo Bills, the Seahawks sit at 6-2.
In what should be a highly competitive match-up between two NFC West foes, the Rams have the opportunity to grab a piece of first place in the division.
Rams Offensive Potential vs. Seahawks
The run game for the Rams has been a pleasant surprise with Darrell Henderson and Malcolm Brown carrying the load since Todd Gurley‘s departure.
Through the halfway point, the Rams rank seventh in run offense with 137.8 yards/game. The current pace slightly trails their 2018 campaign of 139.4 yards/game, where they eventually lost to the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LIII.
The Rams will be up against the fourth best run defense in the Seahawks. However, leaving it at that leaves a large hole in the conversation.
Seahawks Pass Defense
Long gone are the days of the Legion of Boom. What would we call it? Nothing that can be repeated in front of a toddler.
The Seahawks pass defense is, by far, the worst in the league, giving up 362.1 air yards per game. In front of them are the Atlanta Falcons, giving up an average of 310.3 yards/game.
For perspective, no pass defense in NFL history has ever given up 300+ yards per game after 16 games. The closest were the historically bad 2011 Green Bay Packers, giving up 4,796 total yards or 299.8/game. At the current pace, the Seahawks would end up with 5,794 yards, decimating the Packers record. This is a team that traded for one of the best safeties in the league in Jamal Adams back in July.
What does this mean? Jared Goff leads the 13th ranked passing offense and will have the opportunity to inflate those numbers.
Seahawks Offense
Defense aside, the Seahawks offense has been far from ineffective. Far from it. In fact, the Seahawks’ 415.0 total yards/game is good for third in the league. The Russell Wilson-led passing attack currently leads the league, averaging 298.1 yards. Their red-zone efficiency is top in the league with an 86.21%, which is on pace to be the best in NFL history.
This will be matched well with the Rams second ranked pass defense. With a secondary hailing corners Jalen Ramsey and Darious Williams, they will be facing one of the league’s premier threats in D.K. Metcalf and Tyler Lockett.
The Seahawks run game has been greatly affected by injuries, going without Chris Carson and Carlos Hyde for two games. With the possibility of at least one coming back, the challenge will diversify for Rams defensive coordinator Brandon Staley.
Obviously, the task at hand will be stopping Wilson. Can Aaron Donald and Leonard Floyd, both leading the Rams in sacks and tackles for loss, put the pressure necessary to damper the elusive signal-caller’s performance?
Rams Under McVay
The Sean McVay-effect had been very real for the Rams. Since not having a top-10 offense since 2006, the Rams have posted three consecutive top-10 offense teams since McVay’s introduction in 2017.
In that same timeframe, the Rams are 4-2 against the Seahawks and both losses coming from a combined total of seven points.
Rams Path to Victory
The clear assumption is that one would need to stop Wilson if the Rams are going to win. Even in losing to the Bills, Wilson was 28-of-41 for 390 yards. Nonetheless, five sacks, with important performances by A.J. Klein and Tremaine Edmunds, gave the Bills the necessary pressure to force Wilson into two interceptions. The Rams front-line will have to duplicate that performance.
Give Goff, currently trending towards the best completion percentage of his career, the opportunity to pick apart a historically bad pass defense.
Per BetMGM, the Rams are favored at -1.5. Kickoff is slated for 1:25PM PST from SoFi Stadium.
