The Seahawks and Rams will meet for the third time this season, this time with an NFC title and trip to the Super Bowl at stake. To help you get ready for Sunday's game at Lumen Field and learn more about the Rams, we reached out to TheRams.com staff writer Wyatt Miller with five questions about this week's opponent.
Seahawks players have been saying since the Week 11 game in L.A that a playoff rematch seemed inevitable, is there the same feeling down there that Round 3 between these two teams was always in the cards?
Miller: The Rams have avoided looking beyond each week's opponent throughout the season. Head coach Sean McVay always preaches being present and focused on the task ahead, so players and coaches haven't speculated about a rematch with Seattle. After last week's divisional round victory, however, McVay said they were "hopeful" they'd get a chance to play Seattle again following the Thursday Night Football thriller in Week 16. "Thought this would be a scenario that could possibly set itself up, and here we are," he said.
The Rams have been good at forcing turnovers all season, including seven in two games against the Seahawks, and they have five more in two playoff games. What allows this defense to create so many turnovers?
Miller: It's a combination of coaching and schematic success. The Rams' coverage diversity on the back end combined with an ability to create pressure without sending all-out blitzes (and using frequent stunts) has wreaked havoc on opposing offenses over the past two seasons. It confuses quarterbacks and causes them to either hesitate or panic and force throws. Plus, defensive coordinator Chris Shula constantly emphasizes the importance of takeaways. Sam Darnold weathered the storm in Week 16, but Shula got the best of him in the two previous matchups. He will be sure to add some new wrinkles into the defense with the hope of forcing Darnold to hold the ball for a click too long or goad him into throwing into a disguised coverage.
The Rams offense hasn't looked quite as explosive and high scoring in recent weeks as it did in Week 16 in Seattle. Is that a cause for concern for Sean McVay, Matthew Stafford and company, or just the result of playing tough opponents on the road/game situations, etc.?
Miller: The players and coaches aren't concerned about the lack of production, but it's certainly been acknowledged. Both McVay and Stafford took some measure of responsibility for the offensive struggles last week, and have been the first to come forward and say they need to be better when the situation calls for it. While fans and media members may express concern about the offensive output in recent weeks, we've seen the highs and lows of this team and how quickly things can change. As McVay often says, every game "is its own separate entity" and Sunday is no different.
Aside from the obvious big names, what player or players could you see being an X-factor for the Rams in this one?
Miller: Right guard Kevin Dotson is someone to watch out for. An injury forced him out of the Rams' Week 16 game against Seattle in the first half, but his presence has been significant for the Rams in both the run and pass game. He's the second-highest graded guard in the NFL this season (89.2), including playoffs, according to Pro Football Focus, and the Rams' rushing attack is much more effective with him on the field. Seattle loves to play lighter groupings. So, although players like Nick Emmanwori are versatile enough to affect the run and the pass, Dotson brings an element of power and continuity to the Rams' front that could help them impose their will on the Seattle defense.
What matchup or matchups are you most looking forward to seeing play out on Sunday?
Miller: I'm looking at Emmanuel Forbes Jr./Cobie Durant against Jaxon Smith-Njigba. In their two previous matchups, Forbes allowed three receptions on seven targets against Smith-Njigba, which is about as much success as any individual defender has had against him this year considering that came over the course of two games. Forbes is fighting through a shoulder injury, but McVay said he doesn't expect that to impact his status for Sunday. Durant has three interceptions over the past two weeks and always shows up when it matters most. Containing Smith-Njigba will be one of the most important tasks for this defense, and Forbes and Durant are the ones who will be tasked with that more often than not.
The Seahawks and Rams face off for the third time in the 2025 season for the NFC Championship Game on January 25. Kickoff is set for 3:30 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.
