The Seattle Seahawks and Los Angeles Rams will meet for the third time this season. Their previous two meetings went down to the wire, with both teams winning one game and both games decided by less than three points.
Mike Macdonald and Sean McVay are 2-2 against one another, and this matchup will be for the ultimate bragging rights. Of course, the Rams have been in this position before, so they might feel like they have an edge.
Nevertheless, Coach McVay isn't going to overlook a divisional rival, much less one that's fresh off thrashing the San Francisco 49ers 41-6. When asked about his preparation for meeting the same team for the third time this season, he talked about the challenges of facing a team that knows your plays and tendencies a little too well.
Rams head coach Sean McVay opens up on his preparation versus the Seattle Seahawks
“You want to be careful not to chase ghosts,” McVay said, per ProFootballTalk. “It is about good execution, good fundamentals. They’re a great team. They’re great in all three phases. We’d like to think when we’re humming and we’re at our best we’re pretty good too. You are aware of those things, but you don’t want to do it at the detriment of allowing guys to be able to go execute and play the way they’re capable of...it’s going to be a great opportunity for us.”
As McVay mentioned, this isn't the first time he's been in this position. In 2020, he split the regular-season series with the Seahawks and then beat them in the NFC Championship Game.
Then, in 2021, he took down the Niners at that same stage after being swept in the regular season. This time, however, he might be facing the toughest opponent he's seen in that situation yet.
The Seahawks have the largest point differential in the league this season, and it's not particularly close (+226). They also have the best turnover differential since Week 11 when Sam Darnold threw four picks against them (+7).
Granted, that doesn't mean the Seahawks can overlook their divisional rivals, either. The Rams seem to have Darnold's number, as they've intercepted him six times in two meetings this season, not to mention that they sent him home in last year's playoffs as well.
Divisional games are always a toss-up. That being said, Lumen Field will be absolutely rocking in the biggest game of the season, and while the Rams are more than used to using silent counts and playing in hostile environments, Mike Macdonald's team must make the most of every edge they can get, as minor as it may seem.