The Seahawks host the Rams on Sunday, looking to bounce back from a tough loss to the Bills, while the Rams are looking to continue the momentum they've built by winning two straight after a 1-4 start. To help you get ready for this week's game, we reached out to therams.com senior writer Stu Jackson with five questions about this week's opponent.
The Rams have won two straight after a 1-4 start. How much different is the feeling/expectations around the team now than heading into the bye week as the Rams are getting healthier, winning, and staying close in an NFC West with no clear frontrunner?
Jackson: I wrote this in my recap last week, but overall, this is a lot closer to what it was supposed to look like, as far as what had been seen in training camp and when the team was healthier. Head coach Sean McVay on Monday said everyone's in a similar spot in the division, and there's still lots of football left to be played, so they have to do a good job of building off the momentum they've earned.
Probably an obvious question here, but just how different is the Rams offense with the return of Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua?
Jackson: The easiest answer to this is how Matthew Stafford performed against the Vikings – he had four touchdown passes in Week 8 alone after posting three through the Rams' first six games. One went to Kupp, two went to Demarcus Robinson and another went to Kyren Williams, but their presence – even on a snap count – opened things up and still got this offense closer to what McVay and this coaching staff envisioned back in training camp.
You covered Ernest Jones IV for three seasons, what are the Seahawks getting in the newly-acquired linebacker?
Jackson: Ernest is someone who sets the tone with his actions and his words. He has a strong work ethic and also plays with a ton of passion, both of which Seahawks fans will appreciate. A lot of his approach he took from observing former Seahawks linebacker Bobby Wagner when the two were teammates on the Rams in 2022. Beyond that, he's an attacking, downhill-playing linebacker that should fit into Seattle's defense very well.
Other than the obvious big names, what player or players could you see being an X-factor in this game?
Jackson: Rams cornerback Darious Williams, for one. The Rams' defensive turnaround in recent weeks can be attributed in part to having Williams healthy again after he missed the first four weeks of the season with a hamstring injury.
Running back Kyren Williams is also another potential X-factor to watch. He has recorded 89 or more rushing yards in four of his last five games and been a consistent producer for the offense, and he'll be going against a Seahawks defense that has allowed 116 or more rushing yards in each of its last five games.
The pass rush led by defensive end Kobie Turner, outside linebacker Byron Young, defensive end Braden Fiske and outside linebacker Jared Verse also could be an X-factor here, too. Especially if Seahawks wide receiver DK Metcalf ends up playing, Williams and those pass rushers will be critical to limiting the impact of Seattle's Geno Smith-led passing offense, knowing what it's been capable of when Metcalf, Tyler Lockett and Jaxon Smith-Njigba have all been healthy and on the field together with Smith.
What matchup or matchups are you most looking forward to seeing play out on Sunday?
Jackson: Kupp and Nacua versus Seahawks cornerbacks Riq Woolen and Devon Witherspoon. I'm really interested in seeing how Seattle deploys those two against L.A.'s top two receivers – those matchups could be another X-factor in Sunday's game.
The Seahawks and Rams face off for the last game of the regular season on Sunday, Jan. 5, 2024. Kickoff is set for 1:05 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.
