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The Seahawks head to Los Angeles this weekend for a Week 5 matchup with the Rams. Kickoff is set for 1:05 p.m. PT with television coverage on CBS (channel 7 in Seattle).
Here's a look at which team the national media is predicting to win this Sunday, October 8 at L.A. Memorial Coliseum:
Elliot Harrison at NFL.com sees a 23-17 victory for Los Angeles, "The Rams always play the Seahawks tough, and have actually won three of the last four in the series. The fun part of this rivalry will be seeing how Los Angeles' new-and-improved offense under Sean McVay fares against Seattle's defense. Last year, the Rams won a defensive slugfest. Yet, even though the defense improved against Dallas, Wade Phillips' group is still allowing 26.2 points per game (28th in NFL)."
Alden Gonzalez at ESPN.com predicts a 23-20 Rams win, "The Rams are feeling really good about themselves, coming off a big road win against the Cowboys. Their offense is clicking on all cylinders, and their defense finally showed signs of life in the second half Sunday, holding Dallas to a mere six points. They'll be energized, while at home against a tough division rival, and will sneak out another close win."
Brady Henderson at ESPN.com gives Los Angeles the advantage, 24-23, "The Seahawks are coming off one of the more dominant halves of football they've played under Pete Carroll, outscoring the Colts 36-3 and holding them to 32 yards in the second half last week. That was a reminder that their defense remains one of the NFL's best. The offense remains a question mark, however, and could be without starting left tackle Rees Odhiambobecause of a chest injury. Even at full strength, Seattle's offensive line will have its hands full against a Rams front four that has given the Seahawks all sorts of trouble during the past few seasons. Russell Wilson's QBR in five road games against the Rams is 48.6 compared with 71.5 in his 37 other road games. This has the makings of another close loss."
Pete Prisco at CBSSports.com takes the Seahawks to win 23-21, "This is an enormous game in the division. The Rams are 3-1 and playing good on offense, while the Seahawks are 2-2 and come in with that heralded defense that hasn't played up to expectations. This is always a close game, and it will be here. Seahawks win a close one."
Chris Simms at BleacherReport.com picks Seattle over Los Angeles, 20-16, "The Los Angeles Rams are definitely an improved team. There's no doubt about it. However, I'm not sold on them being a playoff team yet. This game against the Seattle Seahawks is going to tell us a lot about where the Rams really are. It's going to be difficult for the Rams to consistently move the ball on the Seattle defense, which is still one of the best in the NFL—even withoutCliff Avril. Points could be at a premium for L.A. The Seahawks seem to have found their formula for getting points too. Relying on Russell Wilson and the passing game is opening things up for the running game, and stopping the run has been an issue for the Rams. Seattle may have found something in running back J.D. McKissic, and if he can get going, watch out. Seattle is the more battle-tested team in this matchup, and that gives it the mental edge."
David Steele at Sporting News predicts a 24-19 win for the Rams, "The Rams' offense is only getting better every week … yet this is not the offense that will give the Seahawks defense the most headaches. The Seattle offense can't afford to be decimated any further, yet guard Rees Odhiambo and running back Chris Carson are either exiting or are about to. Again, the pressure on the defense to keep the offense in games will be fierce. This week, it will be too much."
Danny O'Neil at 710Sports.com previews Sunday's game, predicting a 22-17 Seahawks win, "It is only Week 5, but Sunday's game at the L.A. Coliseum has all the makings of one of those crossroads moments when the aspiring contender tests his chin against the reigning heavyweight and we find out whether the reigning champ still has the stomach for a 16-week fight."
Jim Moore at 710Sports.com explains why he thinks the Rams will win 30-17.
Michael David-Smith and Mike Florio at ProFootballTalk.com each take the Rams to win this weekend.
Three of eight contributors at SBNation.com pick the Seahawks to win, four of eight experts at CBSSports.com select the Seahawks, seven of 10 analysts at ESPN.com predict a Seattle victory, and three of five writers at USA Today feel the Seahawks get the win.
Take a look back through history at the Seahawks' matchups against the Rams as the two teams ready to face off during Week 5 at the L.A. Colesium.
Seattle Seahawks linebacker Ed Bradley (38) runs in pursuit during an NFL game against the Los Angeles Rams in Los Angeles, Oct. 31, 1976. The Rams defeated the Seahawks 45-6. (AP Photo/NFL Photos)
Quarterback Dan McGwire (10) of the Seattle Seahawks manages to get the pass off in time to avoid the sack as Jim Skow (68) of the Los Angeles Rams applies the defensive rush during the fourth quarter of their pre-season NFL game, Aug. 7, 1992, in Seattle. Los Angeles beat Seattle, 21-7. (AP Photo/Bill Chan)
Seattle Seahawks's Ricky Watters is turned on his side by St. Louis Rams' Devin Bush during the second half in Seattle Sunday, Sept 10, 2000. The Rams won 37-34. (AP Photo/John Froschauer)
St. Louis Rams running back Marshall Faulk tries to hurdle Seahawks defenders to gain more yardage on Sunday, Dec. 22, 2002, at Seattle Seahawks Stadium. Bringing down Faulk are Seattle defenders Antonio Cochran, bottom, Chad Eaton (90) and Rocky Bernard (99). Seattle beat St. Louis, 30-10. (AP Photo/Jim Bryant)
St. Louis Rams Orlando Pace (76) during a game against the Seattle Seahawks on September 21, 2003 at Seahawks Stadium in Seattle, Washington. The Seattle Seahawks beat the St. Louis Rams 24-23.(David Durochik via AP)
St. Louis Rams' Grant Wistrom sacks Seattle Seahawks' Matt Hasselbeck in the second quarter Sunday, Dec. 14, 2003, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Tom Gannam)
Seattle Seahawks cornerback Ken Lucas intercepts a pass intended for St. Louis Rams wide receiver Torry Holt (81) in the first quarter Sunday, Oct. 10, 2004 at Qwest Field in Seattle. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)
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' Marshall Faulk (28) is taken down by the Seattle Seahawks' Niko Koutouvides (53) and Ken Hamlin (26) in the first quarter of their NFC wild card playoff game in Seattle, Saturday, Jan. 8, 2005. (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma)
Seattle Seahawks running back Shaun Alexander (37) picks his way through the St. Louis Rams defense in the first quarter, Sunday, Oct. 9, 2005, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/James A. Finley)
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Matt Hasselbeck passes under pressure from St. Louis Rams defensive end Leonard Little in the second half Sunday, Nov. 13, 2005 at Qwest Field in Seattle. The Seahawks beat the Rams 31-16. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)
St. Louis Rams quarterback Marc Bulger (10) is sacked in front of Seattle Seahawks' Bryce Fisher (94) during the fourth quarter of an NFL football game on Sunday, Oct. 15, 2006, at the Edward Jones Dome in St. Louis. The Rams lost to the Seahawks 30-28. (AP Photo/Kyle Ericson)
Seattle Seahawks' Nate Burleson (81) scores on a 90-yard punt return against the St. Louis Rams in the fourth quarter of their NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 12, 2006, in Seattle. The Seahawks defeated the Rams 24-22. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)
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)
Seattle Seahawks defensive end Patrick Kerney (97) sacks St. Louis Rams quarterback Gus Frerotte during the fourth quarter of an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 25, 2007, in St. Louis. The Seahawks won 24-19. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Courtney Taylor pushes off St. Louis Rams cornerback Fakhir Brown as he runs after catching a pass during an NFL football game on Sunday, Sept. 21, 2008, in Seattle. (AP Photo/John Froschauer)
St. Louis Rams defensive end Chris Long (72) keeps Seattle Seahawks running back T.J. Duckett (42) out of the end zone during an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 14. 2008, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Tom Gannam)
Seattle Seahawks' Julius Jones, right, runs 62 yards for a touchdown while pursued by St. Louis Rams' Oshiomogho Atogwe (21) and Rams' James Butler (37) in the third quarter of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 13, 2009, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)
Seattle Seahawks running back Justin Forsett, left, runs past St. Louis Rams safety Oshiomogho Atogwe, right, and Chris Long, center, on his was to a 26-yard gain during the fourth quarter of an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 29, 2009, in St. Louis. Seattle won 27-17. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Matt Hasselbeck (8) is sacked by St. Louis Rams George Selvie during the second quarter of an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 3, 2010, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Tom Gannam)
Seattle Seahawks' Tyler Polumbus blocks St. Louis Rams' C.J. Ah You (99) in the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Jan. 2, 2011, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)
Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Doug Baldwin (15) jumps over Seahawks' Ben Obomanu, bottom left, and St. Louis Rams cornerback Roderick Hood, bottom right, in the second half of an NFL football game, Monday, Dec. 12, 2011, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)
Seattle Seahawks tight end Anthony McCoy (85) is tackled by St. Louis Rams cornerback Janoris Jenkins (21) during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 30, 2012, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Seth Perlman)
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson (3) passes under pressure from St. Louis Rams defensive end Chris Long (91) in the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 30, 2012, in Seattle. The Seahawks defeated the Rams, 20-13. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)
Seattle Seahawks outside linebacker Bruce Irvin (51) runs against St. Louis Rams tight end Jared Cook (89) after intercepting a pass during the first half of an NFL football game, Monday, Oct. 28, 2013, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Dec. 29, 2013 - Seattle, Washington, U.S - December 29, 2013..Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Golden Tate #81 scores on a 47 yard touchdown catch in the 4th quarter against the St. Louis Rams at CenturyLink Field in Seattle, WA..Seahawks defeat the Rams 27 - 9 .George Holland / Cal Sport Media. (Cal Sport Media via AP Images)
Seattle Seahawks tight end Luke Willson (82) is tackled by St. Louis Rams linebacker James Laurinaitis in the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 28, 2014, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)
Seattle Seahawks' Tyler Lockett, left, catches a pass as St. Louis Rams running back Isaiah Pead defends during the third quarter of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 13, 2015, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/L.G. Patterson)
St. Louis Rams running back Todd Gurley (30) leaps over Seattle Seahawks free safety Earl Thomas (29) during an NFL football game on Sunday, Dec. 27, 2015 in Seattle. (Peter Read Miller via AP)
Seattle Seahawks running back Alex Collins (36) in action during the second half of an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Sunday, Sept. 18, 2016, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Kelvin Kuo)
Seattle Seahawks tight end Jimmy Graham (88) heads downfield during an NFL game against the Los Angeles Rams on Thursday, Dec. 15, 2016, in Seattle, Wash. The Seahawks won the game, 24-3. (Greg Trott via AP)
