The battle for NFC West superiority will be fought Sunday at Lumen Field between the Seattle Seahawks ( 10-4) and the Los Angeles Rams ( 9—5 ). The Seahawks have punched a ticket to the playoffs for the eighth time in nine years. A Rams win over the Seahawks would get them in the playoffs. There are scenarios that can get the Rams in the postseason before Sunday’s game but it’s all mathematically and who lot of it. The bottom line is the Seahawks will be looking to split the season series against the Rams and win the NFC West outright. The Rams will be looking for a season series against the Seahawks and make it three wins in a row. Here is how the teams stack up numbers-wise.
HEAD TO HEAD COMPARISON
| 202 Regular Season | SEAHAWKS | RAMS |
| Record | 10-4 | 9-5 |
| Total Yards Gained | 5,340 | 5,365 |
| Total Offense ( NFL Ranks) | 381.7 (9) | 383.2 (8) |
| Rush Offense | 125.4 (11) | 127.9 (9) |
| Pass Offense | 256.1(12) | 255.4(13) |
| Points Per Game | 29.5 (4) | 24.6 (17) |
| Total Yards Allowed | 5,427 | 4,005 |
| Total Defense | 387.6(26) | 286.1 (1) |
| Rush Defense | 94.6 (3) | 94.1 (2) |
| Pass Defense | 293.0 (32) | 192.0 (10 |
| PointsAllowed/Game | 24.2 (T14) | 19.2 (3) |
| Possession Avg | 30:10 | 31:33 |
| Sacked /Yds. Lost | 41/254 | 20/143 |
| Sacks Made/Yds. Lost | 40/202 | 44/296 |
| Interceptions By | 13 | 13 |
| Penalties/ Yds | 75/596 | 61/572 |
| Punts/Avg | 51/49.4 | 60/45.1 |
| Turnover Differential | +2(T3) | -1 ( 20) |
WHAT TO LOOK FOR:
The Seahawks defense much improved from the team that faced the Rams in the Week 10 23- to 16 loss. D.J. Reed started at left cornerback for the inured Shaquill Griffin and Tre Flower started at the right corner spot. Griffin is back at left cornerback and Reed will start at right for Flowers who switched position on the injury reserve list with Griffin. The Seahawks defense gave up 283 passing yards to Jared Goff and company. The Seahawks defense is still ranked last in pass defense at 32 but the improvement has been in the unit’s ability to create big plays and turnovers when needed. The Seahawks are tied for 3rd in turnover differential. Look for Goff to have a good but not great day and the Seahawks to force at turnover and a couple of sack.
RUSH DEFENSES
The teams are ranked two and three when it comes to rush defense. The Rams are second at 94.1 and the Seahawks are third at 94.6. The Seahawks. running backs for the first games were Alex Collins and Dee Day Dallas. Both are not on the active roster. Dallas due to an ankle injury suffered in last Sunday’s game at Washington. Collins is on the practice squad making way for Chris Carson and Carlos Hyde. Also, back for the Seahawks is Rashaad Penny. Both backs are healthy and will tip the scales in the Seahawk’s favor. The Rams will be missing Cam Akers. Malcolm Brown rushed for two TDs and Darrell Henderson rushed for a score in the Week 10 meeting. A productive day by either one will negate the absence of Akers.
2020 STAT LEADERS
| | SEAHAWKS | RAMS |
| Rushing | Chris Carson | Cam Akers |
| | 568 (114-5. 0-5) | 592 (124-4. 8-2) |
| Passing | Russell Wilson | Jared Goff |
| | 3,806( 490-344-37-13-107.1) | 3,718 (509-346-20-12-92.4) |
| Reception | Tyler Lockett | Cooper Kupp |
| | 85(920-10.8-8) | 84 (908-10.8 8-3) |
| Scoring | DK Metcalf | Robert Woods |
| (Non kicker) | 60 | 48 |
| Sacks | Jamal Adams | Aaron Donald |
| | 9.5 | 12.5 |
| Int | Quandre Diggs | Darious Williams |
| | 4 | 4 |
| Punting | Michael Dickson | Braden Mann |
| | 49.4/44.1 net (27 In 20) | 45.9/38.2 net (26 In 20) |
| Kicking | Jason Myers | Matt Gay |
| | 105 (20 /20FG, 45/48 PAT) | 39(8/10 FG, 15/15 PAT) |
BEHIND CENTER
The Seahawks do not need Russell Wilson to cook up a holiday feast for the team to win. A clean efficient game will be enough. No costly turnovers and pinpoint passing will be the expectation from the Seahawks game plan for Wilson. The Seahawks offense will be in up-tempo mode with Wilson moving around the pocket to avoid the league’s best player in Aaron Donald. Donald is tied for second in the NFL with 12.5 sacks. In the last six games against the Seahawks Donald has eight sacks and three forced fumbles.
