Los Angeles Rams vs Seattle Seahawks Prediction, Pick and Preview, September 7 (9/7): NFL Week 5

Los Angeles Rams vs Seattle Seahawks Prediction, Pick and Preview, September 7 (9/7): NFL Week 5

Credit: photo by Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

 
Odds
Time 8:20 p.m. EST
Rams money line -128
Rams spread -2 
Seahawks money line +125
Seahawks spread +2.5
Over / under 54.5

 

2021 season stats
  Rams Seahawks
Record 3-1 2-2
Road / home record 1-0 0-1
Points per game 28.8 25.8
Points allowed per game 24.8 25.0
Pass yards per game 298 243
Rush yards per game 93 107
Total yards per game 399 368
Total yards allowed per game 397 445
Turnover ratio 0 +3

 

Preview

Another divisional battle in the NFC West takes place on Thursday Night Football to kick-off Week 5.  The Rams and the Seahawks suffered different fates in Week 4, with the Rams going down to the Cardinals who now are the only unbeaten team in the league and the Seahawks overcoming the 49ers after Jimmy Garropolo went off injured. The NFC West is only one of two divisions in the league without a team below .500.  

The last time these teams met was in the Wild Card Playoffs last season with the Rams won that matchup 30-20.  The Rams look different under center since then and were dominant in the first 3 weeks before stumbling against Arizona.  The Seahawks bounced back from back-to-back losses by staving off the 49ers and will now host the Rams. Seattle has lost its only home game so far this season to the Titans, meanwhile, the Rams have won their only road game of the season at Indianapolis.

Offensive matchup

The Rams are 5th in the league with 115 points scored mainly due to Matt Stafford and his chemistry with Cooper Kupp.  LAR has 1,193 years through the air ranking them 4th in the league in that department and Stafford is also 4th in quarterbacks with 1,222 total yards.  Kupp leads the league in targets with 46, is only behind Davante Adams in receptions with 30 and ranks 3rd in yards with 431 throughout the first 4 games.  Where the Rams have struggled is in the ground game.  LAR is 23rd of the 32 teams in rushing yards having only 372 in their 4 games at an average of 93 yards per game.  There hasn't been a 100-yard rusher in any of the Rams opening 4 games in 2021.  Darrell Henderson is already dealing with injury issues and Sony Michel has been generally inconsistent.

The Seahawks have scored 103 points in 4 games putting them 10th in the league.  Russell Wilson and Chris Carson both rank in the middle of the pack in passing yards and rushing yards respectively, but Tyler Lockett has been the team's best outlet.  The former first and Second-team All-Pro receiver has 20 receptions off 25 targets for 333 yards through the air, putting him 9th in the league in receiving yards.  His receiving partner DK Metcalf has 285 yards of his own. Seattle is one of only 4 teams in the league to have 2 receivers in the top 20 in yards at this point.

Defensive matchup

The Rams secondary hasn't been as solid as the last few seasons.  They've given up 1,093 yards which rank as the 8th worst in the league.  Corners Jalen Ramsey and Darious Williams have 25 tackles each and Ramsey has defended 4 passes which leads the team.  Safety Taylor Rapp leads the teams in solo tackles with 23 and assisted tackles with 12. Aaron Donald is one behind with 11 assisted tackles and has sometimes been subdued by opposing offensive lines.

Seattle is statistically the worst offense in the league having given 445 yards per game this season.  They've given up 608 on the ground - the most in the NFL - and a further 1,170 passing yards making them the 5th worse defense through the air.  Bobby Wagner has once again been the standout defensive player of the Seahawks.  He has 31 solo tackles and 23 assisted tackles for a total of 54 total tackles; 20 more tackles than fellow linebacker Jordyn Brooks.

Prediction

The Seahawks are not putting points on the board, 30 being their highest game total this season in a 37-30 loss to the Titans.  DK Metcalf has struggled in the past when covered by Jalen Ramsey. On the other side of the ball, the Seattle defense has not been able to contain opposition offenses.  The Rams have no credible running game, but have one of the best passing games in the league.  Stafford and Kupp should dominate against this flailing secondary while Ramsey and Williams should have a good day in the secondary.  Expect the Rams to rebound from a disappointing defeat last week.

PICK: Rams money line (-128)

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