The hottest team in football returns home to the Pacific Northwest to host a divisional rival. Once again, there is a lot at stake for the Seattle Seahawks this weekend. At 11-4 the Seahawks essentially control their own destiny for the #1 seed in the NFC playoffs. A win on Sunday against the 6-9 Rams and the Seahawks will earn the #1 seed - unless the Detroit/Green Bay game ends in a tie.  

The St. Louis Rams defeated the Seahawks in Week 7 with several plays that would be best classified as “showing some mojo”. The Rams pulled out all the stops and stunned the Seahawks with several big plays, particularly on Special Teams. Expect the Seahawks to be ready for anything on Sunday afternoon as the Rams have nothing to lose and everyone knows that Jeff Fisher can and will do anything.  

Despite the 6-9 record and losing their last two games, the Rams are more than capable of pulling off another victory in Seattle. Aside from Seattle, the Rams also have wins over the Broncos and 49ers this season. While some may call it dirty, their style of play has been imposing on opponents, including last weekend’s slugfest against the NY Giants.  

With so much on the line for Seattle’s playoff aspirations, here is a preview of what to expect when each team holds the ball on Sunday:

When the Seahawks are on offense

You wouldn’t know the Seahawks offensive line continues to be ravaged by injuries the way they decimated the Arizona Cardinals last weekend to the tune of 596 total yards of offense, which included 267 on the ground. If the Seahawks offense can put up 400+ yards of offense each week for the remainder of their season, you will likely be seeing them raising another Lombardi Trophy to close out the NFL season.

The Rams defense personifies “average” when it comes to the numbers. They are 19th in the league in defending the pass, giving up 242.6 yards per game. They are 14th against the run allowing 108.9 yards per game. However, there is a certain swagger that the defense displays every weekend and the Seahawks must avoid getting involved in the chatter in between and after plays on the field.  

Advantage: Seahawks

When the Rams are on offense

Shaun Hill is back at Quarterback for the Rams and he has the unenviable task of trying to figure out a way to beat a defense that is playing out of this stratosphere right now. The Seahawks have given up more than seven points just once over the past five weeks - 14 to the Eagles … in Philadelphia.  

Advantage: Seahawks … by a lot

Special Teams

Similar to their matchup in Week 7, the Rams best chance of beating the Seahawks comes on Special Teams. Trick plays, video game-like play calling, etc. will likely be the norm on Sunday. With Steven Hauschka going 0-3 on field goal attempts in Arizona last weekend, Seahawks fans may be on edge, hoping that one of the most accurate kickers in NFL history doesn’t have something going on upstairs as the team enters the playoffs.  

Advantage: Rams

Final Score Prediction: Seahawks 27, Rams 9

The Seahawks defense continues to shine to close out the regular season, which affords the team the bye week in the NFC playoffs.  

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About the author
John Flesta
Displaced Oakland A's, Seattle Seahawks, and Minnesota Timberwolves fan in New Jersey.