How Rams, Seahawks compare

LAST YEAR:

The Rams swept the series last season. In their opener, they posted a 34-31 overtime victory at home that included a 75-yard punt return for a touchdown by Tavon Austin, and a game-clinching stuff of Marshawn Lynch on fourth down. The teams met in Seattle in Week 16, and the Rams ended the Seahawks’ five-game winning streak with a 23-17 upset.

WHAT’S CHANGED:

The big change is the Rams have returned to Los Angeles, and made a historic trade up in the first round to draft California quarterback Jared Goff. Four of the five projected starters on Seattle’s offensive line are new to their positions. Still, Coach Pete Carroll thinks this has the potential to be his best team. Some familiar players are gone from Seattle, with Lynch retiring, and other fixtures elsewhere: tackle Russell Okung (Denver), linebacker Bruce Irvin (Oakland), defensive tackle Brandon Mebane (San Diego). Cornerback Brandon Browner and defensive end Chris Clemons are back in Seattle after spending time with other teams.

MATCHING UP:

Even though they haven’t had a winning season since 2003, the Rams match up well against Seattle. Since Russell Wilson came into the league in 2012, he’s 4-4 as a starter against the Rams, and 42-14 against the rest of the league. Much of the Rams’ success is due to their strongest position group, their defensive line, which at times has had five first-round picks on it. That front knows how to get to Wilson, sacking him an average of 4.4 times per meeting, compared with the average of 2.3 sacks other teams have had against the Wilson-led Seahawks.

THIS SEASON’S GAMES:

The Seahawks play at Los Angeles on Sept. 18 in Week 2, marking not only the first regular-season game back in the nation’s second-largest market in 22 years, but Carroll’s return to the Coliseum. The teams meet again in Seattle on Dec. 15.