Rams at Seahawks TNF Preview

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Scott Bouska
Scott Bouska

After having to watch Tampa Bay haplessly blow a 14-point 4th quarter lead to the Atlanta Falcons last Thursday, this week on Prime we get one of the absolute best matchups of the year: Los Angeles (Rams, of course) at Seattle. Not only will this game likely decide the NFC West, it could very likely decide the 1-seed in the NFC.

This matchup is a classic NFC West knife fight in a phone booth. On a short week, the edges matter: efficiency, pass protection, early-down success, and which coaching staff drinks the least amount of Red Bull between Sunday night and Thursday morning (yes, these coaches are intense).

Rams Offense vs. The Seahawks Defense

  • The Rams are consistently top-10 in early-down EPA/play, meaning they don’t wait until 3rd-and-9 to start panicking.

  • Their play-action rate remains among the highest in the league, and defenses still bite.

  • Matthew Stafford’s time to throw is creeping up, but his EPA per drop-back under pressure is still surprisingly strong — a testament to “old man strength” and reckless confidence.

  • The Seahawks are top-12 in pressure rate without blitzing, which is bad news for a Rams offensive line that occasionally treats pass protection as a suggestion.

If Seattle can generate pressure with four, they can drop seven into coverage and force Stafford into his favorite hobby: throwing lasers into windows that technically do not exist.

Seahawks Offense vs. the Rams Defense

  • Seattle ranks much higher in explosive play rate than overall EPA — meaning when they hit, they really hit.

  • Their issue? Success rate on early downs. Too many negative plays lead to long third downs, and that’s when things get weird.

  • The Rams’ defense thrives on exactly that chaos, ranking near the top of the league in 3rd-down EPA allowed.

  • The Rams’ defensive front doesn’t always dominate the box score, but they: Disrupt timing, Force checkdowns, Make quarterbacks feel like the pocket is shrinking even when it technically isn’t

Translation: Seattle needs to stay on schedule, because asking your QB to repeatedly convert 3rd-and-8 against disguised coverages is how interceptions are born - and how Sam Darnold turns into a late-season pumpkin.

Key Matchups to Watch

  • Rams play-action vs. Seahawks zone discipline

  • Seattle’s early-down run efficiency vs. Rams gap control

  • Pressure without blitzing — whoever wins here probably wins the game

Prediction: Rams 21, Seahawks 20. These are two very good defenses, with two elite receivers. The difference? The Rams have Stafford, the Seahawks have Darnold. Advantage Rams, and we see Stafford making key throws late to seal the Victory.

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We'll keep it rolling in week 16. Look out for this week's best bets, as well as our predictions for all your primetime matchups. We look forward to the conversation, debate, and your feedback. Hit us up at @fieldvisionmi on X, @fieldvisionsports on Instagram, or on our website http://www.fieldvisionsports.com.