The Los Angeles Rams have their most important game of the regular season coming up as they travel to take on the Seattle Seahawks in Week 16.
The Seahawks are currently a game ahead of the Rams for first place in the NFC West, so the winner of this game could very well decide who wins the division and gets a home playoff game in the first round.
In their first meeting in L.A. earlier this season, the Rams’ defense found a way to slow down Russell Wilson, which not many teams have done.
The Rams defense has been great all year, ranking at or near the top of the league in every statistical category. They’re currently first against the pass, allowing just 192 yards through the air per game, and second against the run at 94.1 yards.
One person who has taken notice of how great the Rams’ defense has been is Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll, via Stu Jackson of TheRams.com:
“(You look at) their numbers, they’ve been in control for a long time (with their) rush numbers,” Carroll said on a conference call with Rams beat writers Wednesday, when asked for his evaluation L.A.’s defense since the first meeting. “And with the pass rush that they have, they’ve kept the passing game in check. So they’ve been very consistent.”
The Rams only had two players named to the Pro Bowl in Aaron Donald and Jalen Ramsey, although Carroll feels their defense deserved more recognition:
“Well, their whole defense is playing like a Pro Bowl defense,” Carroll said. “(Outside linebacker) Leonard Floyd had a great year. (Defensive lineman) Michael Brockers is always difficult. (Defensive lineman) Sebastian (Joseph-Day) is tough. I mean, their whole crew is tough to deal with. Their safeties play good, man. I mean, every part of their defense is playing well, so they should feel every bit that. It’d be frustrating to them because you can’t have much of a better year than they’re having.”
While the Rams defense was able to contain Wilson once, there is no doubt that he and Carroll will be making some adjustments this time around.
L.A. has been up for all challenges this season, so hopefully they can come out strong once again this weekend to take control of the NFC West heading into the final week of the regular season.
