Rams Insider Myles Simmons provides a closer look at Seattle's Week 15 opponent:
1. What will Rams interim head coach John Fassel bring to the team?
Simmons: Two of Fassel's best qualities are his energy and passion. In his Monday press conference regarding the coaching change, Rams C.O.O./E.V.P. of football operations Kevin Demoff praised Fassel for those traits and his ability to get the most out of his players on special teams. With three games left in the season, the Rams would like to have a renewed sense of energy and urgency, and they feel that's something Fassel can help with.
2. With it being such a short week, how are the Rams preparing for a quick turnaround against the Seahawks?
Simmons: It's always tough on a short week, and a coaching change likely makes it that much tougher. But if there is an advantage for this iteration of Thursday Night Football, it's that the Rams and Seahawks are very familiar with one another. As defensive tackle Aaron Donald said in the locker room on Monday, it's usually a dog fight when these two teams get together. Given that both teams are coming off rough losses, we'll probably see a pair of hungry teams on Thursday.
3. How have the Rams managed to have success against the Seahawks in previous matchups where they have won four out of the last five?
Simmons: I think a lot of it comes down to that same familiarity. When two teams know each other as well as the Rams and Seahawks do, games usually come down to who can make the fewest errors. If one can get a takeaway and capitalize on it with points, that's often the difference. But it's also been clear that the Rams can get after quarterback Russell Wilson well. Obviously, his mobility was limited in the Week 2 matchup between the two teams, so we'll see how that will be different on Thursday night.
4. As he prepares to make his fifth career start, how would you assess Jared Goff's performance thus far?
Simmons: Goff has had some up and down performances in his first four NFL games — kind of like you'd expect from any rookie. He's shown he can stand in the pocket, take a hit, and deliver an accurate throw. He's displayed a nice ability to move out of the pocket, find a throwing lane, and make a downfield pass. But he's also made some mistakes, such as last week's pick-six. Going up to Seattle for a primetime game in one of the league's most hostile environments will certainly be a good challenge for the rookie signal-caller.
5. What area do the Rams need to improve on the most in the final three games?
Simmons: Their offense. It's been a rough year for the Rams offensively, as the club is either at or close to the bottom for most major statistical categories. Scoring only 14.9 points per game overall, L.A. has scored 10 points or fewer in seven of 13 games and reached 20 points only three times. With three NFC West contests to finish the season, these last three games all have a chance to be low-scoring. But if the Rams are to come out on top, they'll need to score points more consistently.
