The Los Angeles Rams (3-4) face off against the Seattle Seahawks (4-4) this Sunday at 4:25 p.m. EST, airing on Fox. According to the latest odds from BetMGM, the Rams are favored by 1.5 points in this matchup. The historical record shows that the Seahawks have a slight edge with a 27-26 advantage in their series. The two teams last met on November 19, 2023, where the Rams narrowly defeated the Seahawks with a score of 17-16 in Inglewood, California.
In their most recent games, the Rams managed a 30-20 victory over Minnesota, while the Seahawks suffered a significant loss to Buffalo, ending the game at 31-10. In terms of covering the spread this season, both teams have struggled, with the Rams holding a record of 2-5 and the Seahawks at 2-5-1.
When examining the Rams’ performance, they currently rank 20th overall on offense, with their rushing game placed at 26th and passing at 14th, leading to a scoring rank of 23rd. Conversely, their defense sits at 21st overall, with similar low rankings in rushing (23rd), passing (16th), and scoring (22nd). On the other hand, the Seahawks’ offense is performing better overall at T9, despite ranking 29th in rushing. Their passing game, however, ranks first in the league and scores at the 13th position. Defensively, they’ve been struggling, holding an overall ranking of 22nd, and are 29th against the rush.
The player to keep an eye on for the Rams is wide receiver Puka Nacua, who made a strong return against the Vikings with seven receptions for 106 yards after missing five games due to a knee injury. Nacua’s presence, paired with fellow receiver Cooper Kupp, has been vital as the Rams look to strengthen their offensive output in pursuit of climbing the NFC West standings.
For the Seahawks, wide receiver DK Metcalf is also worth monitoring. After missing the recent game against Buffalo due to a grade one MCL sprain, he returns to practice with hopes of playing on Sunday. Metcalf has already amassed 568 receiving yards on 35 catches this season, averaging an impressive 16.2 yards per reception.
A crucial matchup in the game will be Rams running back Kyren Williams against the Seahawks’ run defense. With eight rushing touchdowns and two receiving touchdowns, Williams is a focal point for the Rams’ scoring, making stopping him essential for Seattle. Thus far, the Seahawks have allowed an alarming 148.4 rushing yards per game, ranking 29th in the league. While they demonstrated improvement by limiting the Falcons to just 39 yards in the second half the week prior, they faltered significantly against the Bills, allowing 164 rushing yards.
In terms of injuries, Metcalf’s knee issue kept him out of practice on Wednesday, but he could still participate on game day. Other absentees include wide receiver Laviska Shenault and cornerback Devon Witherspoon, both of whom were also inactive at practice. Similarly, Tre Brown has missed two games but was a healthy scratch against the Bills. Meanwhile, Rams offensive tackle Joe Noteboom is expected to return, having missed six games.
The history of this rivalry is rich, dating back to their first encounter in 1976, where the Rams secured an impressive 45-6 victory. Los Angeles has triumphed in five of their last seven confrontations, though they dropped both matchups last season. The Rams have also prevailed in both postseason meetings against the Seahawks, emphasizing the competitive nature of their rivalry.
In terms of statistics, the Seahawks are aiming for their 400th win in franchise history, while linebacker Ernest Jones matched his career high in tackles during his debut with the team. Meanwhile, punter Michael Dickson set a franchise record last week with an incredible average of 61.25 yards per punt against Buffalo. Quarterback Geno Smith is close to making franchise history, needing just one more 300-yard game to tie for second most in a single season.
Fantasy players should consider Kyren Williams, who has consistently scored at least 15 fantasy points over the last six weeks. Given the Seahawks’ struggles with their rushing defense, Williams is set up to have a standout performance.