The Los Angeles Rams and Seattle Seahawks met twice during the regular season, and the combined total margin was three points, each winning once.
The Los Angeles Rams and Seattle Seahawks met twice during the regular season, and the combined total margin was three points, each winning once. The rubber match is today in Seattle, with the winner set to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl.
At 14-5, the Rams finished as the No. 5 seed in the NFC, while the Seahawks (15-3) are the top seed in the conference.
Los Angeles is in search of its third Super Bowl appearance since 2018 (SB LVI win & SB LIII appearance).
Seattle is seeking its fourth Super Bowl appearance in franchise history and its first since back-to-back appearances in 2013 (SB XLVIII win) and 2014 (XLIX).
Here's a quick glance at Sunday's game:
TV: FOX
LAST TIME OUT: Rams won in overtime at Chicago, 20-17, in last week's divisional round; the Seahawks beat the 49ers, 41-6, also last week.
LAST MEETING: The Seahawks won 38-37 in overtime on Dec. 18.
VEGAS LINE (courtesy Westgate, as of Wednesday): Seahawks -2.5 -108, O/U 45.5
BETTING TRENDS: The Rams have won three straight, but have failed to cover three of their last four games. The Rams were 1-1 ATS as an underdog this season. Los Angeles has gone over in seven of its last eight games. Seattle comes in riding an eight-game win streak and has now covered three in a row and 11 of its last 13. Seven of the Seahawks' last 12 have gone over.
RAMS KEY PLAYERS: Quarterback Matthew Stafford has 3,558 yads passing and 25 TDs (22 pass, 3 rush) with a 98.2 rating in 12 career postseason starts. He just led the NFL with 4,707 yards passing and a career-high 46 TD passes this past regular season. He's aiming for his fourth straight against Seattle with two or more TD passes. ... Running back Kyren Williams had 117 scrimmage yards and two rushing TDs in last week's win over Chicago. He is aiming for his sixth straight in the postseason with 70 or more scrimmage yards. ... Wide receiver Puka Nacua has 489 yards receiving (97.8 per game) in five career postseason starts, the third most by any player under age 25 all-time. Nacua led the NFL with 129 receptions, ranked second with a career-high 1,715 yards receiving and tied for sixth with 10 TD catches this season. Nacua turned in a career-high 225 yards receiving and had two TD catches in the Week 16 meeting with Seattle.
PROP TO WATCH: Williams over 15 receiving yards (-110)
This is a relatively easy accomplishment for a running back who's been getting consistent involvement in the passing game of late.
Williams has 15 or more yards receiving in five straight, an average of 24.4 in those games. Seattle was one of the worst teams in allowing heavy RB passing volume this season, including the fight-highest yards receiving (640) to opposing running backs. Opponents have caught on, too, as Seattle allowed the most targets (127) and receptions (97) to opposing running backs this season.
The pace of this game should help, too, as the Rams could find themselves playing from behind against the defensive-minded Seahawks, and that will create passing situations for Stafford, who will look for a quick answer in pressure and tight coverage.
SEAHAWKS KEY PLAYERS: Quarterback Sam Darnold had a TD pass and a 110.9 passer rating in last week's win over the 49ers, his ninth game this season with a 110-plus rating. Darnold ranked fifth with 4,048 yards passing during the regular season, and became the fifth QB all-time to record 13 or more wins in consecutive seasons and the first to do so with different teams, also with Minnesota in 2024. Darnold has 270 yards passing and two TDs in the Week 16 meeting. He now aims for his third in a row in the postseason with a TD pass. ... RB Kenneth Walker had 145 scrimmage yards (116 rushing, 29 receiving) and three rushing TDs in last week's win over the 49ers. He also had 164 scrimmage yards (100 rushing, 64 receiving) in the Week 16 meeting. He now aims for his fourth in a row with 100+ scrimmage yards against the Rams. ... WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba had a TD catch in last week's win over the 'Niners. He led the NFL with a career-high 1,793 yards receiving, ranked fourth with 119 receptions and tied for sixth with 10 TD catches during the regular season. He could turn in his third straight game with 95 or more yards receiving against the Rams.
PROP TO WATCH: RB Velus Jones Jr. anytime scorer (+2000)
Ever notice in games like this - conference championships or the Super Bowl - the most unlikely of names steps up to produce some interesting touchdown results? Especially when both defenses are good, it's when the matchups can be tight, and an unexpected name that wasn't part of the key scouting report emerges.
With Zack Charbonnet out, Jones could find himself in the mix as a rotation piece behind Walker. He's the perfect answer in the RB2 role today, like, on a goal-line play after Walker does the blue-collar work to get the Seahawks in the red zone and suddenly needs a breather.
Jones saw six carries (10 yards) last week after Charbonnet got hurt, and with the value he carries into this one, it's worth the investment at this price.
Category: General Sports
