Los Angeles Rams @ Seattle Seahawks, CenturyLink Field, 8:20 PM, FOX/NFLN (Seahawks -1.5, O/U: 49.5)
The talk of the town has been how the Rams might have the super bowl hangover. Goff is 6 TD’s to 6 picks and only just passed for 300+ yards just last week in a shootout with the Buccs of all teams. Goff finished with 517 yards and threw 68 passes mainly because Todd Gurley has been in a massive decline. Gurley has steadily declined in yards each of the first 4 games of the season and only carried the ball 5 times due to lack of effectiveness and because they were behind big early. Goff has had trouble in his career against the Seahawks, averaging less than 200 yards and averaging 1 TD and 1 pick in 6 meetings. but the defense has kept them in all of their games as they’ve recovered 3 fumbles, picked 4 passes and added 10 sacks.
What can I say about Russell Wilson? Everyone wrote this team off before the season and after nearly losing to the Bengals in week one but Wilson has protected the ball and made this offense work with a bunch of no name guys and rookies. Completing 73% of his passes with 8 TD’s and zero picks while still pushing the ball down the field averaging 9.8 yards per attempt/11.8 yards per completion. has lead the team to a 3-1 start. Russell doesn’t usually throw for a ton of yards because they do like to use the power run game and he likes to scramble a bit so his averages in 14 games doesn’t really matter but the record does. He’s 2-4 against Goff and 6-8 overall against the Rams. The defense has also been a turnover machine with 2 picks (including Jadeveon Clowney’s pick 6) and 7, yes count them, 7 fumble recoveries. They’ve been average everywhere else on pass and rush yards allowed. Keep an eye on rookie standout D.K. Metcalf who has 10 catches for 223 yards and a TD. He’s only averaging about 5 targets per game but only had 1 catch for 6 yards last week. They may need to air it out more than usual and he’s a big time deep threat.
Expect the Seahawks to defend the 12th man better than their previous 2 home games. Take the Seahawks to win in the over, Seahawks 27-24.
Necessary Roughness 