The matchup between the Los Angeles Rams and Seattle Seahawks is one of two meetings between division rivals in the Wild Card round. Both regular-season games between these teams were defensive struggles, with each team winning on their home field. This week’s rubber match’s key question is if Rams quarterback Jared Goff is healthy enough to move the offense down the field effectively. Or, will the Seahawks defense get to face backup quarterback John Wolford in his first-ever playoff appearance?
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Details
- Opening Lines: DraftKings had the odds open as Seahawks -5; O/U 42
- Location: Lumen Field, Seattle, WA
- Start Time: 4:40 pm ET
- Television: FOX
- Last Meeting: December 27, 2020 - Seahawks 20, Rams 9
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LAR
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+3
-104
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o42
-113
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+150
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SEA
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-3
-118
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u42 -108
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-175
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View consensus odds, picks, and matchup notes from top betting experts for the Rams vs. Seahawks >>
Overview
With regards to the latest on Jared Goff’s injury, Ian Rapoport reported this on Twitter.
On the #Rams & QB Jared Goff: While no one has ruled Goff out for Saturday vs. the #Seahawks, it's expected to be challenging for him to play. He was able to throw Sunday, which is good. But 12 days after thumb surgery, in the cold, it'll be difficult. Could be more John Wolford.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) January 4, 2021
Goff has one less day to heal as this game will be played on Saturday afternoon. Thus, we will proceed with the thought that John Wolford will start for the Rams until otherwise corrected. In their win against Arizona last week, Wolford did exactly what was expected of him in that he did not lose the game for them. Things got off to a rocky start as Wolford was intercepted on his first pass attempt, which subsequently led to Arizona’s only seven points. However, Wolford settled down and led the team on a 16-play drive that chewed up nearly eight minutes of the clock. He showed an element of his game that Goff lacks, as his 56 rushing yards are more than Goff has had in any game in five seasons. While Wolford gets credit for the win in his first start, the Rams would not have won the game without a superhuman effort from their defense. Los Angeles’s defense directly contributed to nine first-half points, with a safety and a pick-six with 20 seconds left in the second quarter. They held Arizona to 166 total yards, and the Rams held the ball for almost 38 of the 60 minutes.
The Seattle Seahawks enter Wild Card weekend winners of four straight games and six of their last seven. However, they would be the first to admit they have not played the best football in that stretch and that they will require a much better effort over the next three weeks to reach the Super Bowl. Outside of a 40-3 thrashing of the Jets, four of Seattle’s last five wins have come by seven points or less. After ending the first half of the season as a legitimate MVP candidate, Russell Wilson has cooled off lately. Wilson has topped 250 yards passing just once in the last eight games and has thrown for more than two touchdowns just once since Week 9. Seattle has won most of their games lately on the heels of a much-improved defense that has allowed more than 20 points just once in the last six games. Entering Week 17, Seattle’s defense had allowed a league-low 13.7 PPG since Week 11, which is a vast improvement over the 29.6 PPG they allowed over the first 10 games of the season.
Trends
- Seattle is 10-0 SU in their last 10 home playoff games.
- The under is 7-1 in Seattle’s last eight games.
- Los Angeles is 11-3 ATS in their last 14 road games against NFC opponents.
Bottom Line
No matter if Jared Goff or John Wolford is under center for the Rams, the easiest bet for this game is the under. The two regular-season games between these teams had 39, and 29 points scored, respectively, with a healthy Jared Goff playing in both games. Now that Los Angeles’s quarterback situation is a mess, that will likely play a huge part in how Seattle approaches this game. Head coach Pete Carroll knows they do not have to gamble or take too many chances given the Rams’ inability to put up big points. Thus, with a conservative game plan likely, it will be tough to convince me that these teams will combine for 43 or more points in the rubber match given the circumstances.
Los Angeles’s defense has proven that they can negate Seattle’s biggest weapons. The third meeting of two of the best in Los Angeles cornerback Jalen Ramsey and Seattle wide receiver D.K. Metcalf is worth the price of admission in itself. Metcalf’s two-game average against the Rams this season is four catches for 43.5 yards and no touchdowns. Similarly, Tyler Lockett has averaged just four catches for 55 yards with no touchdowns in their two meetings as well.
Experience matters in the playoffs and Russell Wilson’s 15 playoff starts and Super Bowl-winning experience is too hard to ignore. This game can change on one big defensive play, and I trust Wilson and the Seahawks to take care of the football more than I do Wolford and the Rams. Even if Goff can gut it out, head coach Sean McVay will likely not ask him to do much by way of throwing the ball downfield. Look for Seattle to stack the box against the running game while sitting on short passing routes and not honoring Los Angeles’s ability to throw the ball downfield. Seahawks safety Jamal Adams is a game-time decision, but the short-handed Rams will not be able to capitalize on his potential absence. Instead, the Seahawks are the better bet to win an old-fashioned slugfest.
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