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NFL writer expects Rams to (sort-of) quiet Seahawks star Jaxon Smith-Njigba

The Seahawks and Rams will battle for first place in the NFC West later today. One analyst says it could be a frustrating day for Seattle’s Jaxon Smith-Njigba.
Russell Baxter|
Nov 9, 2025; Seattle, Washington, USA; Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba (11) celebrates after scoring a touchdown during the first quarter against the Arizona Cardinals at Lumen Field. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Ng-Imagn Images
Nov 9, 2025; Seattle, Washington, USA; Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba (11) celebrates after scoring a touchdown during the first quarter against the Arizona Cardinals at Lumen Field. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Ng-Imagn Images | Kevin Ng-Imagn Images

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Seattle Seahawks

It’s another week, which means bold predictions from some of the numerous analysts of NFL.com. Senior staff editor Brooke Cersosimo set her sights on the biggest game of Week 11. It’s the NFC West showdown between the 7-2 Seattle Seahawks and 7-2 Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium.

There are plenty of star attractions in this matchup on both sides of the ball. Cersosimo’s focus is on the Los Angeles’ defense and how they will contend with Seahawks’ quarterback Sam Darnold’s favorite target.

"Jaxon Smith-Njigba leads the NFL in receiving yards (1,041)," explained Cersosimo. "and has posted six games of 100-plus yards. The Rams have a stout run defense but rank in the middle of the pack against the pass. Chris Shula's unit clamps down against Seattle's aerial attack and limits JSN to a season-low 75 receiving yards.”

In four previous games vs. Sean McVay’s club, Smith-Njigba has been targeted a combined 29 times. He’s totaled 17 receptions for 242 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Those are fairly pedestrian numbers. Of course, the 2024 Pro Bowler has been anything but ordinary in 2025.

As for that aforementioned middle of the pack Los Angeles’ pass defense, the club ranked 18th in the league in this category entering Week 11. Shula’s defense has given up only 15 offensive touchdowns in nine games, but a dozen of those scores have come through the air.

JSN
Arizona Cardinals safety Budda Baker (3) dives after Seattle Seahawks receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba (11) at State Farm Stadium in Glendale on Sept. 25, 2025. | Joe Rondone/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

It is interesting to note that Smith-Njigba’s two lowest games of the season in terms of receiving yards both came against the rival Arizona Cardinals. In Week 4 on a Thursday night in the desert, he caught four passes for a season-low 75 yards. Last Sunday at home in the team’s 44-22 victory, the third-year wideout caught five passes for 93 yards and a touchdown.

All told, this is quite a bold prediction in regards to keeping the league’s top wideout in 2025 in terms of receving yards under wraps on Sunday.

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Russell Baxter
RUSSELL BAXTER

Russell S. Baxter has been writing and researching the game of football for more than 40 years, and on numerous platforms. That includes television, as he spent more than two decades at ESPN, and was part of shows that garnered five Emmy Awards. He also spent the 2015 NFL season with Thursday Night Football on CBS/NFLN.