Too good to pass up
Goff looks to take advantage of Seahawks ‘ D’ that ranks last in NFL through the air
INGLEWOOD, Calif. — The chance to play against the NFL’s worst pass defense should be a golden opportunity for Jared Goff and Sean McVay to get the Rams back into top form after a few stumbling weeks.
It’s not that simple for the quarterback or his head coach.
That woeful pass defense belongs to the Seahawks ( 6- 2), who still lead the NFC West and always present far more problems than opportunities.
There’s also the matter of Russell Wilson, who has proved he can cause trouble for the Rams ( 5- 3) no matter how many points they put up Sunday.
“We’ve always really seemed to have really close games,” Goff said of meetings with the Seahawks. “It’s really been one- score, lastdrive, last- play type of games with them always, every year. They’re a great team. It’s always a good game and always exciting.”
Indeed, five of the teams’ eight meetings in Goff ’s career have been decided by six points or fewer. This matchup carries particular importance after the sudden tightening of the division race, with the Rams watching on their bye week while Seattle, Arizona and San Francisco all lost.
Goff struggled in his last game, going 35for- 61 with four turnovers while the Rams scored only 17 points in losing to the Dolphins.
A week later, the Seahawks’ woes in pass defense were amplified when quarterback Josh Allen passed for 415 yards and led the Bills to 44 points in their win.
“We’re still trying to get it together,” Seahawks coach Pete Carroll said of his defense. “We haven’t played like we want to. We played winning football, but it’s not playing the style that we’d like to play. I feel like our best ball is ahead of us.”
Goff has thrown for at least 290 yards in each of his last four games against Seattle, and the Rams have won three of them. The Seahawks’ top two cornerbacks, Shaquill Griffin and Quinton Dunbar, are slowed by injuries and will not play Sunday.
Everything seems set up for Goff, Robert Woods and childhood Seahawks fan Cooper Kupp to reclaim their passing game’s mojo.
The Rams’ history with the Seahawks — and Wilson’s playmaking presence — means they won’t take anything for granted.
“It’s always a hard- fought game when we play Seattle,” said defensive tackle Aaron Donald, who has sacked Wilson eight times in the teams’ last five meetings. “It’s always a challenge when you’re playing against a great quarterback who can do so much.”
Carrying the load
Wilson has plenty of work to do. For the third consecutive game, the Seahawks are likely to be without their top two running backs, Chris Carson and Carlos Hyde. Rookie DeeJay Dallas has been the primary ballcarrier but had just seven rushes last week against the Bills.
Travis Homer and Alex Collins also were in the mix against the Bills, but Seattle isn’t likely to run much against the fifth- best run defense in the league.
Marquee matchup
Standout cornerback Jalen Ramsey seems likely to match up regularly with DK Metcalf, the Seahawks’ burgeoning star receiver. Metcalf didn’t back down from Ramsey last year, even getting into a shoving match.
“This is going to be a great chess match between these two guys, if they line up near each other,” Rams defensive coordinator Brandon Staley said. “This is what gets you excited about pro sports, is to see two elite players square off against one another.”
Air raid
In 2013, the Seahawks allowed 2,752 yards passing. In eight games this season, the Seahawks already have given up 2,897 through the air. They’re allowing a league- worst 362 yards passing per game, on pace to shatter the NFL record for most allowed in a season.