Coming off perhaps their most important victory of the 2021 season against the Arizona Cardinals, the Los Angeles Rams have a chance to run the table down the stretch and take control of their destiny in the NFC as they return home to play another NFC West rival, the Seattle Seahawks.
The Cardinals surprisingly dropped their first road game of the season earlier in Week 15 to the lowly Detroit Lions, which opened the door for the Rams to tie them atop the division standings, though it would be a mistake to overlook an underwhelming Seahawks team that lost several key players in the past week due to coronavirus (COVID-19).
Rams Offense vs. Seahawks Defense
The NFL and NFLPA agreed to postpone several games due to COVID-19 outbreaks, with the Rams and Seahawks now playing on Tuesday night. Los Angeles had a league-high 29 players on the Reserve/COVID-19 list, though reinforcements are finally on the way as Odell Beckham Jr. cleared protocols and will be available to play.
Darrell Henderson was also cleared and will make his return to the field as well, though it remains to be seen how head coach Sean McVay will utilize him given how well Sony Michel has been playing the past two games.
While Beckham Jr. and Henderson is obviously good news, the offense will of course run through Cooper Kupp, who is coming off a career-high 13 receptions. The two teams last met in Week 5, where Kupp was held to a modest seven receptions and 92 yards, though he will likely surpass those totals this time around.
While Seattle’s pass defense has perked up the past month, they will be without top cornerback D.J. Reed due to being placed on the Reserve/COVID-19 list. Matthew Stafford and the receiving corps should feast early and often against the Seahawks’ depleted secondary.
Rams Defense vs. Seahawks Offense
Fortunately for L.A., postponing the game allowed for Jalen Ramsey to also clear protocols and is expected to play against Seattle. The Rams had to make do with an inexperienced secondary in Week 14, so getting Ramsey back in a matchup against stud wide receiver D.K. Metcalf is ideal.
The extra time off also helped Aaron Donald who had been limited with a knee injury throughout the week, though he practiced in full and is set to play his normal allotment of snaps.
While the Rams have reinforcements on the way, the Seahawks will be without deep-threat Tyler Lockett and running back Alex Collins. Both have been staples in the Seattle offense, so Russell Wilson will likely need to hyper-target Metcalf if he hopes to move the chains. Wilson does have former Rams tight end Gerald Everett as a receiving option, though he might find it difficult to be productive as Los Angeles is great at covering tight ends.
However, the Rams will need to be careful in the run game as Rashad Penny broke out last week for 137 rushing yards and two touchdowns, showcasing his homerun ability. L.A.’s front has been good at limiting opposing ground attacks, but Penny presents a difficult challenge if he is able to find any space between the tackles.
Keys To Victory
1. Jalen Ramsey vs. D.K Metcalf
With Ramsey back in the fold, the Rams would be wise to utilize him in shadow coverage against Metcalf. Metcalf is in the midst of a slump but torched L.A. to the tune of 98 yards and two touchdowns in their last matchup. With Lockett out, Metcalf should be targeted more than usual so Ramsey and the rest of the secondary will need to be on high alert.
2. Contain Russell Wilson in the pocket
Wilson has historically struggled against the Rams front seven and that might be the case again with Donald reportedly healthy. However, the quarterback is still one of the best at extending plays with his leg, so keeping him in the pocket will be key to preventing any explosive plays through the air.
