The 6-3 Seahawks head south in Week 11, facing the 3-6 Los Angeles Rams, as they look to avenge their Week 1 loss. Here are six things to know about their NFC divisional foe ahead of Sunday's Week 11 matchup.
Puka Nacua: Rookie Sensation
Rams rookie wideout Puka Nacua made his presence felt in his debut against Seattle in Week 1, catching 10 passes for 119 yards. The Brigham Young alum has posted three 100-yard receiving games since, recording 64 receptions, 827 yards and two touchdowns across nine games.
With a healthier secondary—Devon Witherspoon and Jamal Adams both missed that Week 1 game—the Seahawks will hope to limit the damage done by Nacua this time around.
Byron Young: Immediate Impact
Nacua isn't the only Rams 2023 draft pick making a difference as a rookie. Byron Young, a third-round pick out of Tennessee, has quickly risen to become a focal point of the Rams' defense, and a leader amongst the rookie class. Through nine games, Young ranks in the top five amongst all rookie defenders in defensive snaps (493), sacks (5.0), pressures (31), forced fumbles (2) and quarterback hits (15).
Aaron Donald: Extending the Streak
In Week 9, defensive tackle Aaron Donald recorded sack No. 5 on the season, marking 10-consecutive years of recording five or more sacks. It serves as the longest-active streak amongst all pass rushers league-wide. The 10-year veteran recorded half a sack in L.A.'s Week 1 win at Lumen Field, giving him 15.5 sacks in 17 career matchups against Seattle.
Matthew Stafford: Thumbs Up for Week 11
After spraining the ulnar collateral ligament in his right thumb during his team’s Week 8 loss to the Dallas Cowboys, quarterback Matthew Stafford is set to return after sitting out in Week 9. Stafford discussed feeling ready to return following Wednesday's practice.
"I feel pretty confident in my ability to go out there and play at a pretty high level," said Stafford. "It's good to be out there, I haven't been out there, obviously, in a couple weeks, so it was kind of nice to just get back out there and get my feet wet again."
Through eight games in Year 15 for the Georgia alum, Stafford has completed 166-278 passes for 2,070 yards and eight touchdowns.
Ahkello Witherspoon: Next Man Up
Seventh-year cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon leads the way for the Rams' secondary through nine games, recording two interceptions, six pass deflections and two fumble recoveries. The Colorado alum leads a stingy Los Angeles secondary that ranks No. 9 league-wide in passing yards allowed (1,955).
The grandson of renowned blues singer Jimmy Witherspoon, briefly spent time with the Seahawks, signing as a free agent in 2021, but was traded to Pittsburgh before the start of the regular season.
Jordan Fuller: Ironman
Fourth-year safety Jordan Fuller is the only Rams defender to play every snap this season, totaling 58 combined tackles, two passes defensed and an interception. The Ohio State alum has forced three fumbles this year, a career-high total that is tied for fourth league wide.
The Seahawks and Rams face off for the first game of the regular season on Sunday, Nov. 19, 2023. Kickoff is set for 1:25 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.
