Rams vs. Seahawks Preview: Spoiler in Season Finale?
With quarterback Baker Mayfield leading the team, the Los Angeles Rams have a chance to play spoiler in Seattle against NFC West division foe Seattle Seahawks on Sunday. Seattle is hunting the final NFC Wild Card spot and needs a win over the Rams, plus for the Detroit Lions to beat the Green Bay Packers, to reach the postseason.
Despite the Rams officially being eliminated from postseason contention, running back Cam Akers has been a bright spot, rushing for more than 100 yards in the last two games. In a 31-10 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday, Akers carried the ball 19 times for 123 yards.
After being decimated by injuries, a disappointing season will end for Los Angeles Sunday. Starting quarterback Matthew Stafford, three-time Defensive Player of the Year Aaron Donald and defending Super Bowl MVP Cooper Kupp all missed significant time this season. The Rams currently rank 31st in total yards, 28th in yards per pass attempt and yards per carry, and 26th in points.
This week the Rams' defense looks to contain quarterback Geno Smith. Smith is fresh off a solid outing in Seattle's 23-6 win vs. the New York Jets, completing 18 of 29 passes for 183 yards, two touchdowns and zero interceptions for a 103.1 rating.
Seattle won the last meeting between these two teams, 27-23 in Week 13 at SoFi Stadium.
NOT-SO-FUN FACT: The Rams' 11th loss set the NFL record for most losses by a defending champion. The 1999 Denver Broncos previously held the record with 10 losses, a year after the retirement of Hall of Fame quarterback John Elway.
RECORDS: L.A. Rams (5-11) vs. Seattle Seahawks (8-8)
ODDS: The Rams are 6.5-point underdogs vs. the Seahawks.
GAME TIME: Sunday, January 8, 2022, at 1:25 p.m. PT
LOCATION: Lumen Field (Seattle, WA)
TV/RADIO: FOX | ESPN LA 710 AM | 93.1 JACK FM | TU LIGA
THE FINAL WORD: Coach Sean McVay on a change of outlook this season:
“I think what I used to refer to as adversity is a very different thing now," McVay said Monday. "7-1 and then being at 7-4 as the biggest adversity faced last year, sure seems like some adversity that I would love.
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