After a dominant division win over the San Francisco 49ers last week, the Los Angeles Rams fly home to debut their new “Midnight Mode” uniforms for their biggest game of the season thus far.
Tied atop the NFC West at 7-2 a piece, the Seattle Seahawks come to LA for a battle where only one team will walk out as the division leader and get a leg up for the division crown.
The Rams showed their offensive scoring depth last week en route to their 42-26 win. The offense was once again headlined by the now betting favorite for MVP, Matthew Stafford, per DraftKings.
Stafford threw for 280 yards and four touchdowns, showing his poise in the pocket and an arm that can make any throw on the field. Each touchdown was thrown to a different receiver, and eight different receivers caught a pass. On the ground, the Rams had two 50-yard rushers, highlighted by Kyren Williams, who had two touchdowns running the football.
The offensive output is terrifying for the Rams’ future opponents, especially considering it came against a more-than-competent San Francisco defense.
However, if there is a team that is up to that challenge, it is the Seahawks.
After losing to the 49ers in Week 1, the Seahawks have won seven of their last eight games, with the only loss coming from a game-winning field goal against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
The Seahawks’ breakout comes on the back of wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who’s establishing himself as an elite pass catcher. Smith-Njigba is leading the NFL in receiving yards and is on pace to break the league’s receiving record on top of becoming the first 2,000-yard receiver in league history.
Sam Darnold replaced Geno Smith over the offseason and has been everything Seattle prayed he would be. He’s fit perfectly into the role that offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak drew up for him. Darnold is in the top 10 in both yards and touchdowns through his first nine games.
The heated division rivalry has leaned toward the Rams since they hired Sean McVay back in 2017. McVay is 11-6 against Seattle, including the playoffs.
The game is expected to be an offensive shootout because, despite two above-average defenses, both offenses have averaged nearly 30 points per game this season. With the level of production that Stafford is putting out, matched with an electrifying Seahawks offense, this game should be a classic.
It will come down to who can make plays in critical moments: big third downs, red-zone conversions, and late-game drives. The team that can control the ball and avoid turnovers will also be crucial to winning, as in any competitive matchup.
ESPN has the home Rams favored by 3.5 points, but the Seahawks have thrived on the road, boasting a 4-0 record. I predict that the Seahawks will pull off the road upset in a 31-28 last-second nailbiter, and thus take a huge step toward winning the NFC West.