Rams (3-1) at Seahawks (2-2)
Thursday, 8:20 p.m. ET, Lumen Field, Seattle
TV: Fox
Tipico Sportsbook line: Rams
⁄2
1
Rams’ keys to victory: No team got a bigger upgrade this offseason at the game’s most important position than the Rams, who traded in Jared Goff for QB Matthew Stafford. LA should have no trouble airing the ball out against what’s been a mostly lax Seattle defense, especially on the back end. Stafford should continue targeting über-productive WRs Cooper Kupp and DeSean Jackson deep to test Seattle’s unproven group of cornerbacks.
Seahawks’ keys to victory: Seattle has no trouble scoring points with new offensive coordinator Shane Waldron calling the plays. Extending drives and time of possession have been major issues, though. If Seattle can find the right balance between letting QB Russell Wilson loose and taking the dink-and-dunk plays it needs to move the chains, this offense will be pretty close to unstoppable. Defensively, it must generate more pressure up front. Giving more snaps to guys like under-the-radar DE Darrell Taylor wouldn’t hurt.
Matchup to watch: Seahawks offensive line vs. Rams DT Aaron Donald. The Rams have exceptional weapons on both sides of the ball – none bigger than Donald, a future Hall of Famer who belongs in the same stratosphere as Lawrence Taylor. Blocking Donald usually requires more than one guy. It will take a team effort from the interior of Seattle’s offensive line to contain him – and probably an extra chip block or two.
Who wins? Who can stop LA, now that McVay has his QB upgrade. Seattle with defensive issues doesn’t stand much chance.
Rams, 33-27