Watch Steve Raible’s Scouting Report on Saturday at 7 p.m. for a complete preview of Sunday’s game against the Rams. In last week’s win over the Cowboys, Zuerlein was a ideal 7/7 on field goals, while Hekker now ranks 7th in the National Football League with an average of 47.8 yards per punt.
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Russell Wilson has been running for his life from opposing defenses since last season. Russell Wilson bounced back from two early interceptions to finish 21 of 26 for 295 yards and two touchdowns. For the Seahawks, it has been their inability to stop the run consistently as they now rank 27th at 134 rushing yards per game allowed. He burst onto the scene in 2015 as an undrafted rookie stepping in when Marshawn Lynch was injured and electrified Seattle’s run game.
That the Seahawks were still in it at that point was thanks in large part to the fact they got an early break – or, more to the point, Thomas earned them an early break.
Richardson, who was acquired via a trade with the New York Jets in September, has certainly cemented his spot on Seattle’s defensive line. But the Seahawks figure to be challenged, especially with defensive end Cliff Avril out. He’s listed as out with a groin injury. They are 3-1 under coach Sean McVay, running back Todd Gurley is the stud-hoss running back everyone expected him to be coming out of Georgia and Goff has the second-best quarterback rating in the league behind only Tom Brady. The Seahawks will need strong performances from Odhiambo, center Justin Britt, and the whole line against what is one of the best pass-rushing units the team will face this season.
Rawls will be back in the rotation along with Eddie Lacy, J.D. McKissic and possibly C.J. Prosise for Sunday’s NFC West showdown with the improved Los Angeles Rams.
In a matchup of two evenly-matched teams, the game could be decided on special teams. How about Gurley, who has rebounded from an terrible sophomore season to thrive in new coach Sean McVay’s offense. The Rams defense struggled to contain Dallas but forced two turnovers and stopped a crucial two-point conversion attempt late in the contest. The leader is Rams kicker Greg Zuerlein with 56. Then in the second quarter, Johnson made a key takeaway that put the Rams in position to score.
Jared Goff faked a handoff and began to roll right, but his foot got caught in the turf and his body collapsed, a loss of 10 with the Los Angeles Rams charging against an unrelenting defense. He carved up the Cowboys with 21 of 36 passing for 255 yards and two touchdowns.
And now, he’s back in a prominent role with perhaps a chance to claim his place again as Seattle’s primary ball carrier. Seattle has throttled Gurley in three games against him.
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This is the kind of game that can flip the script on a season for either team. For whatever reason, they’ve also had plenty of success versus the Seahawks in recent years, covering the spread in seven of the last 10 meetings and five straight at home versus Seattle.
