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Seahawks vs. Rams: Preview, score prediction for Week 5

By Nick Sparrow

SEATTLE, WA - OCTOBER 1: Quarterback Russell Wilson #3 of the Seattle Seahawks hands off to running back Eddie Lacy #27 of the Seattle Seahawks in the fourth quarter of the game at CenturyLink Field on October 1, 2017 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images)
SEATTLE, WA - OCTOBER 1: Quarterback Russell Wilson #3 of the Seattle Seahawks hands off to running back Eddie Lacy #27 of the Seattle Seahawks in the fourth quarter of the game at CenturyLink Field on October 1, 2017 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images) /
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Seattle Seahawks vs. Los Angeles Rams

Week 5 features an important NFC West matchup on Sunday as the Los Angeles Rams get ready to welcome the Seattle Seahawks. The Rams enter this game at the top of the division, one game ahead of rival Seattle, a stark turn from how things have been in recent years.

Los Angeles appear to be a team rejuvenated by first-time head coach Sean McVay. McVay is now only one win away from matching the Rams total wins last season. Meanwhile, the Seahawks are looking to overcome a slow start to the season and ride the momentum from their 46-18 victory over the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday Night Football last week.

What happens as these divisional foes clash? Let’s take a look.

Keys to Victory

The key to victory for the Seahawks is to limit the success of Jared Goff and Todd Gurley. The Rams are entering this game with the top-ranked offense in the NFL, just one year removed from having the worst offense. While it has only been four games, it doesn’t appear that the Rams offense is any kind of fluke.

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Gurley currently ranks second in the league in rushing yards and has seven total touchdowns already, which leads the league. Goff ranks eighth in the league in both completion percentage and yards per game, as well as first in yards per pass attempt. The Seahawks are not a team built to win a shootout, so limiting the Rams offense is the first step towards a win.

The Rams will need to get after quarterback Russell Wilson to throw off the Seattle offense. The Seahawks have already allowed Wilson to be sacked ten times through the first four games of the season. With running back Chris Carson placed on IR, the Seahawks might have trouble running the ball meaning that Wilson may be relied upon even more than usual.

Seattle’s offensive line has been a unit in transition for a few years and still has major problems. The Ram’s Aaron Donald is one of the best defensive players in the league and he is primed to wreak havoc on Seattle’s offensive line.

Betting Odds

Point Spread: Pick ‘Em
Moneyline: Seattle -107, Los Angeles -113
Over/Under: 46.5

All betting odds provided by BookMaker via the Sportsbook Review

Next: NFL: 5 Teams on upset alert in Week 5

Prediction

While the Rams have looked great through the early part of this season, the Seahawks have been in this situation before. Seattle has struggled through the first month of the season for the last few seasons, but have been able to perform much better as the season goes on.

Goff is playing well but there are still a few problems in his game; he is terrible under pressure, immobile and holds the ball too long at times. In the end, I think Seattle can get to Goff and prove they are still an elite NFC team.

Final Score: Seattle Seahawks: 24, Los Angeles Rams: 20

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