It’s here! It’s the day Seattle Seahawks fans have all been waiting for ever since that tough loss back in November.
Week 16 kicks off with the Seahawks and Los Angeles Rams squaring off for top spot in the NFC
West. Both teams are 11-3 and the winner has the clear path to the No. 1 seed; LA has a much easier path given its final two games of the season. Lumen Field should be rocking even with the continued terrible, rainy, stormy weather that has had a devastating impact throughout Western Washington. There has not been a night game of this magnitude since 2019, which didn’t end well for the Seahawks against the San Francisco 49ers. That is, coincidentally, the last time the Seahawks beat the Rams on a Thursday night. Could history repeat itself and have fans believing this is a true Super Bowl contender?
Let’s get to this week’s predictions, but let’s first revisit how last week’s predictions went for the Indianapolis Colts game.
Bold prediction: Seahawks force an opening drive turnover
Punt, no turnover. Maybe I meant they end the game with a turnover forced.
Seahawks offense prediction: At least 5 explosive pass plays
Despite the struggles, the Seahawks still had three pass plays of 20+ yards. Three is less than five so forget that.
Seahawks defense prediction: Seattle keeps the “No 100-yard rushers allowed” streak alive
The streak continues!
Colts prediction: Philip Rivers doesn’t finish the game
Damn right he finished the game. I was wrong.
Game prediction: The Seahawks win, obviously
They did win, but not in blowout fashion.
Bold prediction: Cooper Kupp catches the game’s only touchdown pass
This is a double bold prediction. I think there will only be one touchdown thrown by either Sam Darnold or Matthew Stafford, and that touchdown will be caught in a classic revenge game situation. Cooper Kupp has only caught two touchdowns all season, both on the road, and he was mostly a non-factor against the Rams in his first meeting. Kupp is coming off five catches against the Indianapolis Colts, his highest total since Week 5, and may be relied upon a little more often knowing how much the Rams will look to take away Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Rashid Shaheed.
Remember those tunnel screens the Rams used to run with Kupp? The Seahawks defenses were destroyed by that repeatedly. Why can’t Klint Kubiak get Kupp some easy touches and some yards after the catch that way? Maybe that’ll be how he scores his first (and only?) Lumen Field touchdown in a Seahawks uniform.
Seahawks offense prediction: No turnovers for Sam Darnold
I could’ve just as much argued for this as the bold prediction than my actual bold prediction, but maybe I’m giving you a double dose of boldness. Darnold’s last two games against the Rams have been horror shows; two brutal turnovers with the Minnesota Vikings in the playoffs, then four interceptions with the Seahawks. Sam didn’t throw a pick against the Colts last week, although he did fumble on a scramble and the ball went harmlessly out of bounds.
I’m really tempting fate given Darnold’s fumbling issues and his interceptions throughout the year, but I think he quiets his critics by playing clean football against one of the league’s best defenses. I’m not saying it will translate to a lot of points or a hugely effective day for the offense, but he won’t make matters worse with giveaways deep in his own territory (or any part of the field).
Seahawks defense prediction: They get to Matthew Stafford this time
No sacks, no turnovers forced off of the MVP candidate in the first meeting. Stafford still had a generally quiet game thanks to some Seattle pressures that forced some throwaways and inaccurate throws, so it wasn’t like the Seahawks didn’t cause any disruption. With a fully healthy defense raring to go, I believe we see the Seahawks try to be responsibly aggressive going after Stafford and this time they’ll get home. If there was ever a time for Boye Mafe and Derick Hall to add to their meager sack totals, it’s now. I’d also be on the lookout for Tank Lawrence, who’s been outstanding all season as a run stopper and pass rusher.
I’d be disappointed if the Seahawks go the whole season not sacking Stafford once, even though he’s only been sacked 18 times all year.
Rams prediction: Kyren Williams ends Seattle’s 100-yard streak
Seattle’s run defense has been stellar all season, but they’ve shown some tiny cracks in terms of giving up “successful rushes” that aren’t necessarily explosives. Kyren Williams had 91 yards on just 12 carries in the first meeting and probably would’ve cleared 100 yards if the Rams didn’t run so few plays. It’d be a shock if the same game played out twice and the Seahawks had most of the ball and the Rams were severely outsnapped.
LA is an excellent rushing team (1st in DVOA in both pass and rush, to be specific) with the ability to overpower just about any defensive line. The Seahawks have an elite DL but they are a bit on the lighter side, and there’s no doubt that the Rams will try and lean on their heavier 12 and 13 personnel packages to compensate for the lack of Davante Adams. Seattle has not allowed a 100-yard rusher in 23 straight games, but I believe one of the keys for the Rams will be pounding the rock and controlling the clock. Williams will crack over 100 on this occasion and it’ll be one of those rare times where the Seahawks defense looks compromised in the trenches.
Game prediction: Sigh. It’s a sweep.
This is going to be a close game and the only thing that would really worry me is if the Seahawks get blown out. I would be getting 2017 flashbacks all over again. The deciding factor for me in picking the Rams is their ability to play consistently cleaner football than the Seahawks. They have the fewest penalties in the league and despite the whole “NFL is biased toward the Rams” talk, it’s clear that they’re a well-oiled machine. The Rams are also light on turnovers committed while the Seahawks are one of the worst offenders. You’re looking at one of the NFL’s best offenses against a unit that went from a top 10 RZ offense to one of the worst performing over the past month.
Field position will be key, and Seattle averages the worst starting field position in the NFL and have a terrible time flipping the field as a result. The Rams take it 23-20 and the Seahawks will have to likely go on the road for the rest of the season to reach the Super Bowl. Puka Nacua thanks the officials for a well refereed game.
Your turn! Have a go in the comments section and make your predictions for the game!
