Game Day: Rams vs. Seahawks

SERIES HISTORY

This is the 35th regular-season meeting between Seattle and St. Louis. The Seahawks hold a 21-13 series lead, including winning seven of the past 10. However, the Rams prevailed 34-31 when the teams met earlier this season, scoring a last-minute touchdown to tie the game, then winning it in overtime. However, Seattle has won the past 10 games played between the teams at CenturyLink Field, and the only time St. Louis won at CenturyLink in 13 attempts was a 33-27 overtime result way back in 2004.

KEY MATCHUP

Rams DT Aaron Donald vs. Seahawks OL Justin Britt and J.R. Sweezy

The St. Louis defense is renown for its defensive line. When everyone is healthy, it boasts four first-round draft picks, but one of those first-rounders has separated himself from the rest, that being Donald.

Donald is small for a defensive tackle, being listed at just 6-foot-1 and 285 pounds. However, the second-year player is already feared across the league. Last season he was named the NFL’s Defensive Rookie of the Year after recording 48 tackles and nine sacks. He’s already eclipsed those numbers this season with 64 tackles and 11 sacks with two games remaining. Last week he was named to his second consecutive Pro Bowl, and there are those who would put Donald in the conversation for being the best defensive player in football.

“He’s really, really quick and he penetrates run and pass,” Seattle coach Pete Carroll said of Donald, who had nine tackles and two sacks when the teams met in Week 1. “He’s got 11 sacks, so he’s obviously been a big factor in the passing game. But he’s a factor chasing the football and beating blocks. It’s not just that he can run you down, he has explosion and a get-off that gets him to a point where he has an advantage by a lot. He’s a big deal for us to deal with.”

Donald is listed as the Rams’ left defensive tackle, meaning it will be Sweezy, Seattle’s right guard, who initially has to deal with Donald. However, Donald will line up on either side of the line at times, meaning Britt also will have his moments when Donald is his responsibility.

Seattle’s offensive line has improved by leaps and bounds the past seven games. Seahawks QB Russell Wilson, who was sacked 31 times in Seattle’s first seven games, has been sacked just 10 times over the past seven contests, and the Seahawks averaged more than 166 rushing yards in the past five games.

“They have some really stellar players over there, and Donald is outstanding in his own right, just by himself without the rest of the pressure,” Seahawks offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell said. “We have to be able to handle him, we have to be able to handle the pressure looks, and if all that works together — the protection, the receivers getting open on time — that will be big this week.”

KEY NUMBER

176.5 The Rams’ average number of passing yards per game, which ranks dead last in the NFL.

IMPORTANT INJURIES

Seahawks — RB Marshawn Lynch (abdominal) has been ruled out for the sixth straight week. DE Michael Bennett (toe) and WR Doug Baldwin (hamstring) are both listed as questionable, but participated fully in practice Friday, suggesting they should be able to play. T Russell Okung and SS Kam Chancellor are also questionable, but they didn’t practice Friday, leaving their status more in doubt.

Rams — St. Louis doesn’t have any starters on the injury report this week. However, LB Alec Ogletree (broken leg), who was eyeing a return from injured reserve, appears unlikely to be activated. Also, DE Robert Quinn (back), who has terrorized Seattle in the past, was placed on injured reserve earlier this month and is done for the season.

BREAK IT DOWN

The Seahawks will win if they …

Contain RB Todd Gurley. Gurley is one of the frontrunners for Rookie of the Year honors, having already eclipsed 1,000 yards rushing. The Rams don’t have a passing attack that will scare a Seattle secondary that includes three Pro Bowlers, so if the Seahawks can limit St. Louis’ running game, it will be difficult for the Rams to keep up.

Continue to be productive on the ground. Seattle will again be without its top two running backs because of injury, meaning the Seahawks will again be going with a committee of desperation options. That committee still ran for 182 yards last week against Cleveland, and another performance like that would greatly complement Seattle’s newfound passing attack.

Avoid mistakes. Seattle is playing incredible football, having scored 29-plus points in five straight games and blowing out its past three opponents. As long as the Seahawks don’t make any catastrophic miscues they shouldn’t have a problem beating a Rams team playing out the string.

The Rams will win if they …

Get a repeat performance out of QB Case Keenum. Keenum made his first start of the season last week in place of Nick Foles, and he had a near-perfect performance, going 14-for-17 for 234 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions in a 31-23 victory over Tampa Bay. St. Louis will need similar numbers to have a chance against Seattle.

Get pressure on Wilson. St. Louis sacked Seattle’s quarterback six times when the teams met earlier in the season, and that played a big role in the Rams pulling out the victory. No team has been able to get much pressure on Wilson lately. St. Louis will need to buck that trend.

Stop WR Doug Baldwin. Over the past four weeks Baldwin has channeled the spirit of Jerry Rice, catching 10 touchdown passes. St. Louis’ pass defense, which is allowing 365.2 yards per game, must prevent Baldwin from making it five straight games with multiple touchdown catches.

PICK

Seahawks 27, Rams 10

St. Louis has won two straight, so the Rams have some momentum. But those victories came at home against lesser teams in Detroit and Tampa Bay. Seattle presents a completely different challenge, especially with the Seahawks’ offense now performing as well as the defense. Before its two-game winning streak St. Louis faced playoff teams in Cincinnati and Arizona and was blown out. Expect another one-sided affair this week.