SERIES HISTORY
The Seahawks have owned the Rams, winning 21 of the teams’ 33 meetings. The series has become even more lopsided since Seattle joined the NFC West in 2002. In the 26 games the teams have played as divisional opponents, the Seahawks are a staggering 19-7, which included a 10-game win streak from 2005-2009. Last season the teams split their meetings. St. Louis edged Seattle 28-26 early in the season, but the Seahawks prevailed late in the campaign, 20-6.
KEY MATCHUP
Seattle offensive line vs. St. Louis defensive line
The Seahawks’ new-look offensive line receives as tough a test as possible right out of the gate.
Seattle’s offensive line is young and inexperienced. Center Drew Nowak is a converted defensive tackle who spent last season on the Seahawks’ practice squad. Right tackle Garry Gilliam is a converted tight end who was a rookie back-up last season. Between them they have one career NFL start. Add in Justin Britt’s move from right tackle to left guard and Seattle has three offensive linemen who are brand new to their positions.
Meanwhile, the Rams’ defensive line is enough to scare the most experienced veterans, let alone new starters. All four Rams starters up front are former first-round draft picks. Defensive end Robert Quinn and defensive tackle Aaron Donald were both Pro Bowlers last season. Donald also was selected by the Associated Press as the NFL’s Defensive Rookie of the Year. St. Louis uses a unique scheme that creates one-on-one blocking match-ups, which will challenge Seattle’s linemen.
“They have speed, they have versatility in their guys, they go fast, real big with (Michael) Brockers and have a great athlete on the edge with Robert (Quinn),” Seahawks coach Pete Carroll said. “(Chris) Long’s got great savvy and knows what he’s doing, so they take advantage of all of that. (Defensive coordinator) Gregg (Williams) has a system that is very aggressive and they try to utilize these guys in their special areas, and you don’t know which way he’s coming at you, but he’s coming. We have all kinds of issues to deal with scheme-wise. With the athletes, it makes it very hard.
“This is a great test for us coming out in the opener. We’ll have a good sense for how (the offensive line) is doing and where we are.”
KEY NUMBER
8 The number of sacks St. Louis defensive end Robert Quinn has against the Seahawks over the past four seasons. Just twice during that eight-game span has Seattle managed to keep Quinn away from the quarterback as he’s caused fits for the Seahawks’ offensive line.
IMPORTANT INJURIES
Seahawks—Seattle heads into the season opener in good shape health-wise, as the Seahawks have no starters on the injury report. Back-up linebacker Mike Morgan is out with a pulled hamstring, but otherwise everyone should be available. The big missing player is strong safety Kam Chancellor, whose holdout has stretched into the regular season.
Rams—St. Louis has issues in the backfield, with running backs Tre Mason (thigh), the team’s leading rusher from last season, and Todd Gurley (knee), the team’s first-round draft pick, both ailing. Mason is listed as questionable for Sunday, but Gurley has been ruled out. Back-up linebacker Daren Bates (knee) is questionable.
BREAK IT DOWN
The Seahawks will win if …
QB Russell Wilson is right. Wilson struggled during the preseason, missing open receivers on occasion and failing to take the first-team offense into the end zone until the last of his 13 drives. Wilson has been adamant that things are going well and it’s just a matter of finishing drives, so it will bode well for Seattle if Wilson’s confidence proves justified.
They avoid trick plays on special teams. Coach Jeff Fisher’s Rams are as good as it gets when it comes to trickery, including an audacious fake punt that sealed their win over Seattle in St. Louis last season. Seahawks coach Pete Carroll said Seattle is better suited personnel-wise to deal with such situations this season.
The secondary holds up. Seattle’s secondary has two new starters, with cornerback Cary Williams taking over for departed free agent Byron Maxwell, and Dion Bailey filling in for holdout strong safety Kam Chancellor. Seattle needs Williams and Bailey to at least be close approximations of the players they replaced.
The Rams will win if they …
Keep Russell Wilson in the pocket. It’s almost a given that St. Louis’ defensive line will spend time in the Seattle backfield — the Rams sacked Wilson three times each time the teams played last season. Wilson’s forte is eluding oncoming rushers and delivering improvised plays. Preventing Wilson from making plays with his legs takes away a significant part of the Seahawks’ offense.
Get something out of the passing game. St. Louis has used four different quarterbacks in its past five meetings with Seattle, with none of those QBs throwing for more than 252 yards or finding the end zone more than twice. The Rams are counting on Nick Foles, acquired from Philadelphia in the offseason, to finally close the revolving door at quarterback.
Believe. St. Louis is the sexy pick to challenge Seattle’s position atop the NFC West this season. After eating Seattle’s dust for more than a decade, the Rams need to have the mindset that they are more than the Seahawks’ little brothers.
PICK
Seahawks 20, Rams 13
These are tough circumstances for a season opener for Seattle: on the road, an early game in a stadium with little atmosphere, facing a tough divisional foe whose strength matches up against the Seahawks’ potential weakness. But Seattle has St. Louis’ number, and the Rams won’t catch the Seahawks napping on special teams again.
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