Predicting every game of the 2021 NFL Playoffs

NFC Wild Card: Los Angeles Rams (6) at Seattle Seahawks (3)

Since the Seahawks’ loss to the Rams in Week 10, they’ve gone 5-1, including a redemption win against Los Angeles. While they haven’t been nearly as dominant as some of the other top playoff teams, you simply cannot ignore the swagger Seattle has right now.

Meanwhile, the Rams have been far less impressive. They’ve only won three of their last six games, which includes a loss to the miserable New York Jets. The Rams have limped into the playoffs, barely beating a largely Kyler Murray-less Cardinals to get in. Plus, Jared Goff is coming off thumb surgery and, even when healthy, is among the NFL’s most bipolar passers.

With Seattle’s defense getting better on a weekly basis, I’m predicting they get the best of the Rams. Although we don’t see a special performance from Russell Wilson, he does more than enough to keep the Seahawks ahead on the scoreboard while the defense does the rest.

The Los Angeles defense plays its part (mostly), but Goff’s inability to get the offense moving costs the Rams the ball game. The Seahawks get to move on, while the Rams start to wonder if serious changes are needed to get them back to the Super Bowl contender they were not long ago.

Prediction: Seahawks win 20-16