The Seattle Seahawks play their most important games in years on Thursday Night Football against the Los Angeles Rams. The game is a battle for first place in the NFC West, as well as the current top seed in the NFC. The positive part for Seattle is that the weather might be on its side.
Both teams have excellent defenses, and both are capable of running the ball well. The issue is that if one were a betting person, one might put money on LA rushing better in Week 16 simply because they use a lot of three tight end sets, and have shown they are far more consistent in terms of production.
It is the passing games that might be affected most. One thing is certain: Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold cannot throw four interceptions as he did when the teams met earlier this season in a 21-19 Los Angeles victory.
The Seattle Seahawks and Los Angeles Rams can expect a lot of wind at Lumen Field in Week 16
According to the Weather Channel, the rain shouldn't be too much of an issue with a 49 percent chance of Seattle drizzle diminishing throughout the game. The problem, hopefully mostly for the Rams, is the wind. From kickoff to the final whistle, winds are expected to stay at least around 15 mph.
In other words, a passing game could clearly be affected. While Los Angeles has run the ball consistently better than Seattle, quarterback Matthew Stafford has proven himself in big games. Darnold hasn't.
This means Seattle might need to win a low-scoring game, which might be helped by the wind playing a bit of defense on Stafford's throws.
That's obviously the hope, of course. 12s don't want to see a repeat of recent seasons, especially last year, when both teams finished with 10 victories and statistically tied atop the NFC West, but LA made the playoffs due to holding tie-break advantages against Seattle.
A win in Week 16 would put Seattle atop the division. The next two games against the Carolina Panthers and San Francisco 49ers clearly won't be easy, but getting over the Rams hump could boost the Seahawks' morale enough to give them confidence (and Sam Darnold confidence) for a deep playoff push.