Check out which side the local and national media are predicting to win when the Seattle Seahawks match up against the Los Angeles Rams this Sunday at CenturyLink Field.
Brady Henderson, **ESPN.com**: Rams 28, Seahawks 21
Henderson: Los Angeles leads the league by a fairly wide margin in yards per play at 7.38, and Jared Goff has the most completions of 20-plus yards of any quarterback with 23. Slowing down Sean McVay's offense would be a tough-enough task even at full strength. It's hard to imagine the Seahawks doing that now that their defense is missing its eraser on the back end in Earl Thomas, in addition to Pro Bowl linebacker K.J. Wright.
Lindsey Thiry, **ESPN.com**: Rams 32, Seahawks 21
Thiry: The Rams are 4-0 and sit atop ESPN's Power Rankings, but their matchup against the 2-2 Seahawks is not one they're taking lightly, in large part because of the noise at CenturyLink. And don't forget about Russell Wilson. "He can beat you himself," defensive coordinator Wade Phillips said. "Not many quarterbacks can do that. You have to cover him for a long time, and that makes it hard.
Pete Prisco, **CBSSports.com**: Rams 27, Seahawks 24
Prisco: The Rams are flying high on offense, and will be rested after playing last Thursday. The Seahawks are coming off a solid defensive game last week against Arizona, but this is a much tougher challenge. Seattle plays much better at home, and I think that will help them keep this one closer than expected. Rams take it, but it's tight.
Michael David-Smith, **ProFootballTalk.com**: Rams 30, Seahawks 20
MDS: The Rams have an opportunity to run away with the NFC West, and with a win here they'll be well on their way to doing just that.
Mike Florio, **ProFootballTalk.com**: Rams 27, Seahawks 21
Florio: Seattle has rebounded nicely since starting the year 0-2. But the Rams are one of the best teams we've seen in recent years, and it will be very hard for the Seahawks to overcome a team that isn't just balanced but great on both sides of the ball.
Elliot Harrison, **NFL.com**: Rams 35, Seahawks 17
Harrison: With (Earl) Thomas out for the Seahawks, there is no reason for Rams coach Sean McVay to pump the brakes on the most lethal passing attack in pro football. Noise could play a role -- if it does, turn around and hand the ball to No. 30.
Jim Moore, **710Sports.com**: Rams 27, Seahawks 24
Moore: I get it, the Rams have the superior team. They look like they're on the way up – or farther up than they already are – and the Seahawks are in transition to whatever's next. I suspect we'll see a lot of fight from the Seahawks before they're edged at the wire.
More Picks From Around The Web
Sports writers at the Seattle Times, as well as local hip-hop legend Sir Mix-A-Lot, this week's celebrity guesser, all pick the Rams to win.
- Sir Mix-A-Lot: Rams 35, Seahawks 23: I think the Rams are gonna win this game, just by how much, that's the key. I'm a Seahawks fan but I got to keep it real. I hope I'm wrong on this!
All eight experts at CBSSports.com are picking the Rams to win straight up.
Nine of the 10 analysts at ESPN.com take Los Angeles over Seattle.
All five writers at USA Today side with the Rams this weekend.
The Seahawks and Rams face off for the first game of the regular season on Sunday, Nov. 3, 2024. Kickoff is set for 1:25 p.m. PT. Take a look back through history at the Seahawks' matchups against the Rams.
Los Angeles Rams kicker Tom Dempsey (10) is seen in action during an NFL game against the Seattle Seahawks Oct. 31, 1976, in Los Angeles. (NFL Photos via AP)
Seattle Seahawks cornerback Cornell Webster (38) stops Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Drew Hill (29) during an NFL pre-season game Aug. 19, 1979 in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/NFL Photos)
Los Angeles Rams defensive end Jack Youngblood (85) sacks Seattle Seahawks quarterback Jim Zorn for a loss during the first quarter in this Aug. 28, 1982 photo in Anaheim, Calif. Youngblood was one of seven elected into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Saturday, Jan. 27, 2001. (AP Photo/Doug Pizac)
FILE - In this Aug. 13, 1987, file photo, Los Angeles Rams running back Eric Dickerson (29) breaks away from Seattle Seahawks' Joe Nash during an NFL preseason football game in Anaheim, Calif. On Tuesday, Aug. 29, 2017, Dickerson signed a one-day contract to retire as a member of the L Rams, reuniting the famous running back with his first NFL football franchise. Dickerson also became a vice president of business development with the Rams, who returned to Los Angeles last year after 21 seasons in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Lennox McLendon, File)
Seattle Seahawks defensive tackle Cortez Kennedy (96) topples a St. Louts Rams quarterback (16) during a pre-season NFL football game in 1991. (Al Messerschmidt via AP)
FILE - In this Sept. 10, 2000, file photo, St. Louis Rams' Devin Bush tackles Seattle Seahawks's Ricky Watters during the second half of an NFL football game in Seattle. (AP Photo/John Froschauer, File)
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Matt Hasselbeck makes a pass against the St. Louis Rams during the first half in Seattle, Sunday Dec. 22, 2002. Hasselbeck passed for 303 yards completing 20 in 32 attempts as the Seahawks win 30-10. Behind is Rams' Troyka Jackson and Seahawks' Walter Jones. (AP Photo/John Froschauer)
Seattle Seahawks' Alex Bannister (85) hits St. Louis Rams' DeJaun Groce after Groce caught a punt during the first quarter in Seattle Sunday, Sept. 21, 2003. (AP Photo/John Froschauer)
Seattle Seahawks receiver Jerry Rice leaps to make a one-handed catch against the St. Louis Rams at the Edward Jones Dome in St. Louis, Missouri on November 14, 2004. The Rams won 23-12. (AP Photo/G. Newman Lowrance)
St. Louis Rams quarterback Marc Bulger, right, is sacked by Seattle Seahawks' Lofa Tatupu in the third quarter, Sunday, Nov. 13, 2005, in Seattle. The Seahawks won, 31-16. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)
Seattle Seahawks' Delon Branch, right, catches a touchdown pass in front of St. Louis Rams' Travis Fisher in the forth quarter in an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 15, 2006, in St. Louis. The Seahawks won 30-28. (AP Photo/Bill Boyce)
Cornerback Marcus Trufant #23 of the Seattle Seahawks lends a leaping hand as teammate Deon Grant #24 intercepts a pass intended for wide receiver Travis Taylor #18 of the St. Louis Rams at Quest Field on October 21, 2007 in Seattle, Washington. The Seahawks defeated the Rams 33-6. (AP Photo/Paul Spinelli)
Members of the Seattle Seahawks line up one yard out of the end zone against the St. Louis Rams during the fourth quarter of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 14, 2008, in St. Louis. The Seahawks won 23-20. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
Seattle Seahawks' Julius Jones (22) runs with the ball as St. Louis Rams' David Vobora falls behind in the second quarter of an NFL football game on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2009, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)
St. Louis Rams running back Steven Jackson (39) is tackled by Seattle Seahawks linebacker Aaron Curry (59) and Seattle Seahawks safety Lawyer Milloy middle, during the first quarter of an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 3, 2010, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
Seattle Seahawks defensive back Brandon Browner breaks up a pass intended for Brandon Lloyd of the St. Louis Rams during an NFL game in Seattle on Monday, Dec. 12, 2011. The Seahawks won the game, 30-13. (AP Photo/G. Newman Lowrance)
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson runs from St. Louis Rams outside linebacker Jo-Lonn Dunbar during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 30, 2012, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Seattle Seahawks vs St. Loius Rams; Malcolm Smith
Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Jermaine Kearse, right, pushes Los Angeles Rams cornerback Lamarcus Joyner away as he runs the ball during the second half of an NFL football game at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Sunday, Sept. 18, 2016, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jae Hong)
Tyler Lockett's toe-drag touchdown reception from a Russell Wilson 13-yard looping-over-the-top-pass brought a feeling of poetic ballet to the skill of catching touchdown passes. The Seahawks defeated the Los Angeles Rams on Thursday Night Football, 30-29, at CenturyLink Field, October 3, 2019.
