Seahawks versus Rams week 16: 3 bold predictions
By Lee Vowell
The Seahawks will run for 200 yards
The Rams are great against the run. Los Angeles is second in the NFL in allowing just 1,317 yards rushing to opposing teams, 94.1 yards a game. (For the record the Seahawks are third in the league at 94.6 yards a contest.) The Rams also allow just 3.8 yards a carry, also second in the NFL. So how can Seattle run against this Rams team?
Well, for one, because Seattle has all their best backs available and that is a great thing this late in the season. Seattle can throw Chris Carson, Carlos Hyde and Rashaad Penny out there and any one of them can be productive. The Seahawks will rely on all three to be good on Sunday and will keep the backs fresh by rotating them out.
Carson has played in three games against the Rams, has gone over 100 yards twice and averages 5.08 yards a carry. He missed the week 10 game this year and his absence was huge. So Carson will come into the game with confidence that he can be very productive against a great defensive front.
Hyde hasn’t played against the Rams since 2017 but has 6 touchdowns in his last four games against them so he won’t see the Rams uniforms and simply give up.
Penny has sort of played against the Rams four times but only had more than one offensive snap in two of those games. In week 9 of 2018, Penny had 12 carries for 108 yards against Los Angeles. In his 18 career rushes against Los Angeles, he averages 7 yards an attempt.
It is important to remember that Seattle’s running backs in week 10 against the Rams were Alex Collins (seriously) and DeeJay Dallas as Carson, Hyde and Penny were all out with injuries. Yes, Los Angeles has a great defensive front, led by Aaron Donald, and is very good against the run, but in week 16, Seattle will be better.