RAMS (3-4) at SEATTLE SEAHAWKS (4-4)
When: 1:25 p.m. Sunday
Where: Lumen Field, Seattle
TV/Radio: Fox (Ch. 11)/710 AM; 93.1 FM; 1330 AM (Spanish); Sirius 382, 227
Line: Seahawks by 1.5
Notable injury designations
Rams: OUT: DT Neville Gallimore (stinger), P Ethan Evans (illness); QUESTIONABLE: WR Puka Nacua (knee), WR Jordan Whittington (shoulder), CB Charles Woods (toe), S Kam Curl (knee).
Seahawks: OUT: WR D.K. Metcalf (knee), TE Noah Fant (groin), OT Abraham Lucas (knee), NT Cameron Young (knee); QUESTIONABLE: LB Ernest Jones IV (neck).
What’s at stake? How about positioning in the crowded NFC West? Hard as it is to believe after their 1-4 start to the season, the Rams have thrust themselves back into contention for the division title with two consecutive wins. The Seahawks, 49ers and Cardinals are all tied with a 4-4 record, a half-game ahead of the Rams in the standings. A win over Seattle would give the Rams the inside track on the tiebreaker between the two teams and potentially put the Rams into first place in the division, pending the outcome of the Cardinals-Bears game Sunday.
Who’s better? If Nacua can play, the Rams’ offense is the best unit in Sunday’s game. The Seahawks’ defense is still working to find its identity under new head coach Mike Macdonald, while the offense tends to fluctuate in its effectiveness. And while the Rams enter on a two-game winning streak, the Seahawks have lost four out of five.
Matchup to watch: Seahawks WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba vs. Rams CB Jaylen McCollough. With Metcalf out, Seattle will need their second-year receiver to help carry the load on offense. He typically lines up in the slot, so he’ll see a lot of McCollough on Sunday. The Rams will need their undrafted rookie to help keep the former first-round pick in check.
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Rams win if: They limit the Seahawks to below 75 yards rushing and force Geno Smith and the passing game to beat the Rams defense. … They convert at least 45% of their third-down opportunities. … They take advantage of the beleaguered Seattle offensive line with three sacks.
Fantasy sleeper: QB Matthew Stafford. Stafford hasn’t been a reliable fantasy option this season, but with Cooper Kupp back and Nacua still having a chance to play Sunday, the offense’s outlook is a lot different, and so is Stafford’s in fantasy.
Prediction: Rams 28, Seahawks 20. Beat reporter’s record: 5-2 for the season; 3-4 against the spread.