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Three biggest Seahawks worries versus Rams week 14

By Lee Vowell

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - OCTOBER 03: Tedric Thompson #33 of the Seattle Seahawks is pumped after a game changing interception in the fourth quarter of the game against the Los Angeles Rams at CenturyLink Field on October 03, 2019 in Seattle, Washington. The Seattle Seahawks top the Los Angeles Rams 30-29. (Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images)
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - OCTOBER 03: Tedric Thompson #33 of the Seattle Seahawks is pumped after a game changing interception in the fourth quarter of the game against the Los Angeles Rams at CenturyLink Field on October 03, 2019 in Seattle, Washington. The Seattle Seahawks top the Los Angeles Rams 30-29. (Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images) /
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The Seahawks need just one win to clinch a playoff spot in 2019. But the Rams are always a tough out for Seattle and here are three worries about week 14.

The Seahawks are 10-2 while the Rams are 7-5. Los Angeles is still in playoff contention and their defense has been playing well for most of the season, save for one week against the Ravens. Even in seasons when Seattle was clearly better on paper, the Rams defeated Seattle. So Sunday will not be an easy game and possibly Los Angeles should even be favored.

While 12s should be confident that Seattle will once again pull out a close victory, here are three quick reasons 12s have reason to worry as well.

Aaron Donald versus Joey Hunt and the interior of the Seahawks offensive line

In 11 career games against Seattle, Aaron Donald has 10.5 sacks and 29 quarterback hits. That is nearly 3 hits on Russell Wilson each game. So, yeah, that is a lot. Donald is stouter than a lot of defensive linemen but stronger and quicker. No offensive lineman can block him without help.

Joey Hunt has been pretty good since replacing Justin Britt when Britt was lost for the season with a torn ACL, Hunt isn’t big enough or strong enough to stop Donald. This means Hunt is going to get a lot of help and that could free Rams edge rushers to get to Wilson. If Seattle can somehow slow down Donald, they can win the game. If Donald goes crazy, Seattle will not get the win they need to make the playoffs on Sunday.

Russell Wilson versus Jalen Ramsey

So guess who doesn’t have any interceptions this year? Jalen Ramsey is the answer. That means he is terrible, right? Well, no. It means teams are afraid to throw in his direction. Ramsey has picked off Wilson before when Ramsey was with Jacksonville so Ramsey knows he can be good against Wilson.

Seattle has good receivers. They need to use Josh Gordon more and this could be the week. Gordon at his best is really good. Tyler Lockett just seems hurt and D.K. Metcalf has issues with drops or fumbles. Ramsey will probably play Lockett, though. Since coming to Seattle three games ago, Gordon has been targeted only 5 times. He has caught 4 of those. Gordon will be open and Wilson needs to target him quite a bit in week 14.

The Seahawks can’t run this time

Los Angeles has been good for the last three years and Seattle was no match for the Rams in 2017. But last year, when Los Angeles was on their way to the Super Bowl, Seattle came close to beating them. Twice. How? By running the ball. Seattle has no less than 167 rushing yards against the Rams in the last three games. Expect Seattle to run the ball a bunch on Sunday.

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But if the Rams stack up against Seattle and stop Chris Carson and Rashaad Penny from getting yards, that will force Seattle to be predictable. This will get Donald going and that is bad. If the Seahawks cannot run, they will lose.

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