Seattle Seahawks vs. Los Angeles Rams Preview & Prediction | PFF

uh in what could be a preview of the NFC Championship game. Uh preview one of these teams representing the conference in the Super Bowl, the Seattle Seahawks take on the Los Angeles Rams. Uh this game is there are no shortage of storylines in this game. You’ve got two quarterbacks who are up there for MVP. You’ve got two head coaches that are up there for coach of the year. You got two great young defenses playing incredibly well. You’ve got elite receivers to be able to throw the ball to. It is all there for Seahawks at Rams. Which side of the ball do you want to start talking about, Dalton? You want to talk about the Seahawks or the Rams for this one? I’m taking Seattle’s offense and and these teams obviously with their records and the offensive production, the defenses have been so good. These two teams are so evenly matched, but I think the one distinct advantage I I believe for the Rams is going to be their defensive line, especially on the interior against this young Seattle offensive line that now Jaylen Sundell, who had been starting at center all season, got hurt last week. It’s going to be all with Timmy at center, which he started for them last year. He’s got experience. So, I think he has a chance to succeed in there. But the interior pass protection especially, I think, has been the weakest part of this Seattle team. So, I have some concern about that matchup with Kobe Turner and Puna Ford and Braden Fisk on the inside. Sam Darnold though has been able to work around it. He may be as impressive as the passing grades and the touchdowns and the big time throws and everything he’s doing. I I think to me it’s he’s doing all that and this year he’s got a career-l average time to throw. Last year he was right around 3.1 seconds in Minnesota. This year 2.64. That’s the sixth fastest in the NFL. So, he’s processing faster than ever and getting rid of the football faster than ever. And I want to focus on throws released in under two and a half seconds. Sam Darnold, 87.7 passing grade on these throws, second best in the NFL, 10th in yards per attempt, 6.1 yard average depth of target. Might not seem high, but when you’re getting rid of the football this quickly, that’s the fifth highest in the league. Still attacking downfield, still with the second most big time throws in the league in uh throws released under two and a half seconds. So, I think this is going to be a huge factor because he’s not going to have a choice in this game against this defensive line, especially Versen Young off the edge and those guys on the interior. Like I mentioned, Sam Darnold and the improvement in the processing and the quick release that he’s had this year along with the downfield explosiveness is going to be a major factor in Seattle’s offensive success this week. So, on the Rams side of things, on their offense side of things, I should say, I cannot wait for this chess matchup because the Seahawks when they got Nicki Men back and when they got him into the lineup, remember Devon Witherspoon was out with injury and so they put Nicki Meni in the slot and we all marveled at the the athleticism, the size combination, how well he played as a slot defender. But the thought still remained, well, what do you do with Devon Witherspoon when he comes back, right? Because he does so he she is so great in the slot because of how good of a run defender is, um the stop and start ability, how he can mirror and match guys when they have those two-way goes in space. What do you do? And the solution for them has been we’re going to keep them both out there. We’re going to play dime. Over the last two weeks specifically, the Seahawks have the sixth most defensive snaps in dime personnel. And when you rope in nickel as well, nickel and dime, they have the most of any team. So they like to keep their defensive backs on the field because the Seattle Seahawks are at their best when they have that speed and specifically when they are able to get those two superstars and Nikki Manoiri and Devon Witherspoon out there on the field in those slot situations to be able to play in space and be a mismatch neutralizer. Well, Dalton, in the chess match of offense versus defense, when the defense goes smaller with speed, what do you want to do as the offense? You want to go heavy, right? You want to be able to put heavy personnel out there. Well, it just happens the Los Angeles Rams have the second most snaps in 12 and 13 personnel. So, that’s two or three tight ends out there this season and they have a 95.6 offensive grade in heavy personnel. So, 12 or 13 personnel. I cannot wait to see this chess matchup because what’s the counter? Where do we go here? How do these coaches try to stay one step ahead of the other? Who is one step ahead of the other right off the bat? And then who’s able to adjust quicker? Is there any sort of catch-up or flip of the script? What happens? I that is the part of this matchup I cannot wait to see. It is two of the best units personnels on either side of the ball in the NFL. one is a major strength versus a major weakness when you look at the size versus speed because if Los Angeles very comfortable going heavier in their personnel and is Seattle willing to get more into their base formation are they are they willing to get more into their base and if they are is that effective knowing that hasn’t been what they have run over the last couple of weeks and then when the Rams naturally spread it out sort of as that next move to try to stay one step ahead is Seattle very quick and can they even determine some of the personnel ahead of time with being aggressive and getting Witherspoon and Nicki Men out there for this battle. I can’t wait to see this one. Ultimately, this one is in LA. Rams are playing hot. I’m going to go with the Rams here. I’m going to say the Rams win this game 28 to 23. But man, this is going to be a very fun one. I can’t wait for it. No, absolutely. This is going to be a fantastic football game and the personnel matching or maybe not matching in the case of Seattle’s defense is going to be fun. And I think you know the the because I was looking at this earlier too. I’m going to go on a rant about Kyle Hamilton with the Ravens with this later. The Seahawks for the season actually lead the NFL in their percentage of plays where they have five or more defensive backs on the field whether it’s nickel or dime or more than that. Right. And I think what this game is going to be I think if I had a prediction for it, Trev, I don’t think they’re going to adjust anything. I think what they’re going to do is just operate essentially with Nikki Nikki Manori as their third base linebacker. Right. And I think what you’re seeing out of the NFL in general, players like Nikki Manoi, Kyle Hamilton, um Shamari Connor, Derwin James, I think more and more teams are going to look at that as a very valuable position, right? That you know, for for a few years now, there’s been talked about the big nickel, right? It used to be just called the strong safety and it was the eighth guy in the box. Now you now they call it the big nickel or however you want to call it with these guys. Kyle Hamilton’s doing a similar thing in Baltimore. I’m going to talk about later where that’s essentially your third linebacker. It’s just it’s just built differently than it used to be. And they’re able to cover. Yes, they’re a little bit smaller. Yes, they have to be tough enough. But when you look at the size of some of these guys like Derwin James, like Kyle Hamilton, like Nick Manori, this is the role that they’re meant to play in. and Mike McDonald’s done a great job of assimilating Iman Warry into that to help his run defense because that’s really to me what I see from all of these guys is that they’re effective in run defense. It’s not the same as a nickel that’s 510 and 190 and you know their coverage first like a Michael Carter for some you know somebody like that for the Eagles or a Trent McDuffy even when he gets in there in a nickel. It’s a different animal when you have one of these guys in there. So I think Seattle’s going to stay right there instead of trying to mix and match all over the place when the tight ends get on the field. They’re going to rely on Eean Ward to try to stop the run. But I’m with you. I think the one advantage, the concern that I talked about with the Rams defensive line against uh the Seattle offensive line, especially with what that may do in the run game as well, I think the Rams have a little bit of a trench advantage here. I’m taking them 27 to

PFF’s Dalton Wasserman and Trevor Sikkema preview the matchup between The Seattle Seahawks and The Los Angeles Rams.

Get 25% off your PFF Subscription!:
Code: PFFNFLSHOW25
Link: https://go.pff.com/nflshow25

Dominate your fantasy league: http://fantasy.pff.com/
Download the PFF App: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/pff-fan…
Join our newsletter: https://forms.gle/maqTaBKcmdPR5Vma6
NFL/NCAA Player Grades: https://www.pff.com/grades

Thank you to our sponsors. If you’re interested in supporting our shows, please reach out to sales@pff.com

31 comments

  1. ❤Sikkema Stat Stafford scary history of concussions & back pain -1 HIT by Big Cat D & MS on IR

    Like Hawks sent WC amazing QB JD (Jayden Daniels) to IR with a scary elbow iniury.

    Points Differential (PD) is one of the best predictors of SB success. Hawks hav top PD at 103.

    Return of the locomotive Robbie Oots has got the run game rolling like a big diesal train.

    As per Baldy to Huard &

    Middlekauf to Cowherd & Schatz to pretty Stacey

    LAR has weak DB's & 23rd ranked ST. Hawks special teams is v v special.

    Oooh baby 😍 guess who's licking thier lips versus LA's weak DB's.

    JSN = J.Rice 2.0

    Cooperman

    Sammy D = Montana 2.0

    V v fast Rasheed Flash-eed &

    5x TD rookie Tory Holt.

    5x TD TE Barnyard Barner

    Kings of the Road will soon be 12-0 on the road under HC Mac = Joe Gibbs 2.0

  3. Hoping Olu is Klint Kubiak's secret weapon in waiting. If Seattle's O-line is up to the task, Sam Darnold has an array of targets at his disposal. Blocking will be key. This would definitely be a good time for the run game to step up. Mike Macdonald's defense is going to be on full display. Go Hawks!

  5. Issue for Seattle is the rams use of 13-personnel, coupled with pre-snap motion. They can pass out of 13 and running with be a mismatch for seattle. Watch LA run for 100-150yds on sunday. Problem with 13 personnel for defenses (with 3 Athletic tight ends (top three are 6'5, 6'6 and 6'6…they are a matchup nightmare….plus you have to worry about puka or davante…will force you to stay in base

  8. Defence smaller with speed? nick emmonwari is bigger then some line backers 😂 that’s what makes them good then don’t have to go into base when teams go big.

  11. I feel good this year round Devante Adam’s hurt defense playing lights out and us getting to the quarterback has Been great and just getting better every week Ernest jones comes back it’s light out for the rams

  12. It's taken over half a season, but Terrance Ferguson is ready to go. Wish it had been sooner, but last week showed why he was drafted. By the end of the season, Stafford to Ferg will be as potent as Stafford to Puka. A TE who can also run routes and stretch the field. The Rams in 1-3 personnel will be able to run the ball and eat clock, and/or complete short, quick tosses to the TEs which are almost like handoffs. Meanwhile, as mentioned, the Rams showed last season in the playoffs how to get to Sam Darnold. I'm expecting a relatively low scoring game; I don't gamble, but if I did I would take the under. I'm also expecting the Rams to play a clean game, while Darnold is good for at least one turnover; whether it be a strip sack or an INT. More likely two. The Rams' new kicker will be a factor. 23-16, Rams.

  17. The key to the Seahawks Defense is/was really Demarcus Lawrence. When he was out, they gave up 38 pts to Tampa Bay…. With him back and healthy, they can get great pressure with just their front 4, thus keeping full coverage on the back end.

  18. Some of the rams fans are severely underestimating the Seahawks and San darnold in my opinion. They think they own and are in the head of Sam darnold but it was just one season and one playoff game, we’ll see how it plays out but I think this is the upgraded Sam darnold. Some of the Seahawks feel a little too confident that they will beat the rams. Should be good, should be close but the Seahawks have the advantage in special teams and could be the difference. The rams might have just fixed the special teams issue with a new kicker but we’ll see if that’s true

  20. Cooper kupp revenge game, I’m sure he’s heard of all the great things Devante Adams has done replacing him in this new rams offense 😢 I won’t judge Adams or kupp completely until I see how they perform in the playoffs. Oddly enough, kupp has been healthy for the Seahawks this far, I guess they aren’t asking of him to block as much as the rams were or maybe he isn’t out there blocking like a tight end and instead like an actual wide receiver and it is keeping him healthy. We’ll see if their is such a thing as playoff kupp but that was just a fluke based on his total history and Adams does play great or good In the playoffs

  21. Great analysis on the Rams going with the "13" personnel and can the Seahawks counter that. What I'm seeing is that the Seahawks defensive front is killing it… manhandling just about every team… so I think the question is: Can Stafford get rid of the ball before he gets creamed. Actually, I think there's a good chance Stafford gets banged up in this game. I don't think the Rams' strength is their O-line — which is why they're going to that 13 package? Assuming Macdonald shuts that down… then what?

  24. Am thinking one of these teams is going to have an off night/day. Am thinking Matt is going to be brought back to earth and have four sacks and two interceptions with the Seahawks special teams making a MAJOR dent in this game, (run back for 6). Sam will do what Sam does, with a Shaheed twist, giving the Seahawks the final win over the Rams.

  28. I wish this game got flexed! Instead, I have to go to a “Harvest Festival” at a family gathering. White guilt type of thing, f”’k!
    I’ve had Covid a couple times, and I want it again before this weekend!

Leave a Reply