Ever since 2012, the year in which Seattle ascended to the top of the NFC West, there has been a challenger within the division. It started with San Francisco, then Arizona. The Rams have always seemed to have the Seahawks’ number but struggled against everyone else they played. The question came up year after year, as they accumulated top-10 draft picks, what would it look like if the Rams were effective against everyone else?
This year, we got to find out – and they look really good. The Rams come into Sunday’s NFC West battle 9-4, after just losing to the Eagles. They have struggled against playoff-level competition though, with three of their four losses come to teams with at least eight wins. But the Rams have also beaten the Jaguars, Cowboys and Saints, so it’s safe to say they are finally having the season they have chased for so long.
Can the Rams do what they need to do to get over the hurdle that is the Seahawks and on the road?
CenturyLink Field isn’t the intimidating place it used to be – two home losses are unheard of in the modern Seahawks era. Nor is the Seattle defense as fearsome as it was, depleted by injuries to superstars and key players. Young players have stepped up and they are not without hope, but in recent years, no one really expected to come into Seattle and leave with a victory. The chink in the armor is there, can the Rams exploit it?
Quarterback Russell Wilson will, as always, have something to say about that. He has nearly 3,600 passing yards this season, plus 482 yards rushing, and has accounted for all but one of the Seahawks touchdowns. Wilson is on the MVP shortlist this year, and he’ll need every bit of it this week. With the defense ailing, the offense will need to do better than the 241 total yards and 16 points they mustered in Week 5 in Los Angeles. Wilson only managed 198 yards on 37 attempts for a touchdown and an interception in Seattle’s win in early October.
This team loves being the underdog, the Seahawks love being scrappy. Sunday will be another test for the 2017 squad, and it may be one that determines the fate of the entire season. Win, and they are likely in the playoffs. Lose, and there is a good chance they are off a month earlier than have been in years.
