Seahawks versus Rams week 16: 3 bold predictions
By Lee Vowell
The winner between the Seahawks and Rams in week 16 will likely win the division.
The subheading above is a little misleading. If the Seattle Seahawks defeat the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday, Seattle will clinch the NFC West title for the 2020 season. This would be the first time since 2016 that Seattle will have won its division. But to do so Seattle must beat a Rams team that it is just 3-8 against since the beginning of 2015.
If the Rams defeat the Seahawks in week 16 then the Rams just need to win in week 17 to win the division. This would likely drop Seattle back into a playoff matchup against the Washington Football Team, a dangerous team in the playoffs because of their ability to play defense.
But what will happen in week 16? These three things beginning with bold prediction number 3.
The Seahawks defense makes a bigger difference than the Rams defense
Russell Wilson mostly struggles against the Rams and almost always has. (A lot of this has to do with the fact Wilson has been sacked 67 times in the 17 games he has played against the Rams.) Against the Rams, Wilson has a career record of 7-10 and is 2-5 against Rams coach Sean McVay. A lot of this is because of how much pressure Los Angeles can put on Wilson when he drops back to pass and that won’t change on Sunday.
Wilson will still be under pressure a lot and will get hit a lot. But the Seattle defense will be even better than Los Angeles’.
When the two teams played in week 10, Seattle was without Shaquill Griffin and it was the first game in a Seahawks uniform for Damon Harrison. Seattle’s defense was still learning to play together and they have finally seemed to figure that out. Since week 10, Seattle hasn’t given up more than 21 points in a game and have given up 17 points or less four times.
Seattle will get pressure on Jared Goff and force him into a couple of mistakes. Los Angeles will not score more than 20 points in week 16. But will it be enough for Seattle to win the game?