St. Louis Rams at Seattle Seahawks: NFL Week 16 Pick
By Erik Lambert
Dec 28, 2014; Seattle, WA, USA; St. Louis Rams wide receiver Tavon Austin (11) is tackled by Seattle Seahawks safety Earl Thomas (29) at CenturyLink Field. he Seahawks defeated the Rams 20-6 to clinch the NFC West division title. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
It may not seem like it from the outside, but there are some serious things at stake as the Seattle Seahawks prepare to host the St. Louis Rams in this divisional matchup. Who gets the win?
Backdrop:
The Seahawks know they can’t go much further than they have in terms of playoff position. Arizona has locked up the division. Now it’s a question of health and momentum. There aren’t many hotter teams in the league than them but they also know key injuries were a big reason why they lost the Super Bowl last year.
Such knowledge must be used carefully against a division opponent known for playing physical. The Rams are trying to build their own head of steam going into next season and finishing 8-8 to stamp an improvement from their 6-10 campaign a year. It would also signify their first season sweep of Seattle in a long time.
Matchup To Watch:
RB Todd Gurley vs. S Kam Chancellor
Part of why the Seahawks have experienced such a resurgence down the stretch is how much better they’ve been playing on defense, especially against the run. They’re only giving up 83 yards per game on the ground, 3rd best in the NFL. Part of why that is must be credited to safety Kam Chancellor, the most physical presence on that unit and one of the key brains behind the operation.
This will be the first time he and the Seahawks have seen Rams rookie sensation Todd Gurley up close and personal. The running back is averaging 4.9 yards per carry, has scored three touchdowns in the past two games and is on his way to the Pro Bowl. When he does well, so does St. Louis. Getting him going will be a priority. That means Chancellor will see tons of action down in the box.
Key Stat:
A big reason the Seahawks have had so much success lately is the maturation of Russell Wilson as a pocket passer. After being sacked 31 times in the first eight games, he’s been dropped just a further nine times since. Applying pressure on him may be the only way to stop that offense given the way they’re playing. Aaron Donald leads a formidable Rams defensive front that is still dangerous even with star Robert Quinn done for the year.
Prediction: Seahawks win 31-20
This is a much different Seattle team than the one that lost to the Rams on opening day. Their defense has all the pieces back and the offense is clicking. Throw in the fact that it’s in Seattle and the odds don’t seem to favor St. Louis in this one.