The Seattle Seahawks did a great job of dissecting the film, learning from their mistakes, and making adjustments last season. After a disastrous, turnover-riddled performance and a narrow loss to the Los Angeles Rams, they bounced back to beat them in the next two meetings.
Of course, that included an instant classic in the NFC Championship Game, a matchup that was arguably much tougher and more competitive than the actual Super Bowl. Now, the Rams have gone to great lengths to get the last laugh in 2026.
Given how Matthew Stafford played in his MVP season, plus Sean McVay's already stellar reputation, it's not much of a surprise to hear national pundits gush about this team. That was the case with NFL Spin Zone's Lou Scataglia, who just ranked them as the No. 1 quarterback-head coach duo in the league:
The Seattle Seahawks need to focus on the Los Angeles Rams
"As of right now, Matthew Stafford is the best quarterback in the NFL, and Sean McVay is definitely a top-3 head coach. Stafford won the MVP this past season and had quite the season for the Rams. McVay leads the charge and has become one of the best head coaching hires any team has made in the 21st century," wrote Scataglia.
Usually, all eyes are on the defending champions. Everyone is aiming for their crown, and they try to either replicate what they did or analyze their flaws to take them down next season. This year won't be the exception to that rule.
Nevertheless, with Trent McDuffie, Myles Garrett, and maybe even Aaron Donald arriving in SoFi Stadium, the Rams may have stolen the Seahawks' thunder. They might be considered the team to beat now.
The Seahawks should be in a strong position to get back to the final game of the season, but their late-season matchups with the Rams may make or break their entire campaign. Those games will most likely settle divisional standings and potentially even the No. 1 seed in the NFC.
Sean McVay is a savvy tactician, but he can get on his own head at times. His aggressiveness can lead him to rash decisions, avoidable mistakes, unnecessary risks, and poor management of the game clock. Likewise, Matthew Stafford is one of the greatest and most talented passers to ever lace them up, but he can also be rattled.
Clearly, the Rams are trying to take down their NFC West opponents after such a tough blow last season. Admittedly, they can be a problem for any other team in the game, especially considering that all three meetings from last season came down to the wire and a single possession.
Even so, the Seahawks should like their chances against anybody. This team kept most of its core together, and Sam Darnold should only be better with another year with this supporting cast. It won't be easy, but as much as rankings may have the Rams ahead of them, the fact of the matter is that they're still the defending champions.
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