The Huge Image: Rams Prepared for Seahawks, the Workforce Jared Verse 'Dislikes the Most'

[ad_1] The rematch the Seattle Seahawks have been ready for has arrived, however the Los Angeles Rams are simply as prepared as they're for Thursday's heavyweight NFC West tilt.

5 weeks in the past, the Rams edged out the Seahawks in a nail-biter at SoFi Stadium as Seattle kicker Jason Myers missed a 61-yard discipline purpose on the buzzer. Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold had his worst efficiency since becoming a member of Seattle in that recreation, throwing 4 interceptions. However with the Seahawks nonetheless having a possibility on the finish, defensive gamers like Leonard Williams and Uchenna Nwosu mentioned afterward they couldn’t wait to face the Rams at their place for the rematch.

Effectively, the Rams cannot wait, both. Whereas the Rams-San Francisco 49ers rivalry may be essentially the most aggressive within the NFC West contemplating their current success, second-year edge rusher Jared Verse pointed on the Seahawks because the staff he dislikes essentially the most.

"I don’t just like the Seahawks they usually don’t like us," Verse mentioned in a current scrum. "That’s merely the best way it's. You'll be able to watch the sport again, you noticed we had been getting of their face they usually had been getting in ours. So, it’s going to be an excellent recreation.

"I don’t suppose there’s too many rivalries within the league which are for actual, however within the NFC West, that’s the staff I dislike essentially the most."

Each the Rams and Seahawks sit at 11-3 forward of Thursday evening's tilt. Not solely does the matchup give the successful staff a stronger likelihood to assert the highest spot within the NFC West, however they're going to even be within the driver's seat to get the No. 1 seed within the NFC and home-field benefit within the playoffs. The Rams have already clinched a playoff spot as they gained three of their final 4, whereas the Seahawks would clinch a playoff spot with the victory and have gained 4 straight since their loss at SoFi.

There's additionally one thing at stake within the all-time collection between the 2 NFC West rivals. The all-time collection is tied at 28-28 and 6 of the final seven video games have been determined by six factors or much less. Nevertheless, this rivalry has been a curler coaster for the reason that NFL realignment in 2002. The Rams and "The Best Present on Turf" dominated early, successful 4 of the primary six matchups within the newly fashioned NFC West.

The Seahawks then gained 10 straight and 16 of 18 throughout a stretch coinciding with Tremendous Bowl runs by Mike Holmgren and Pete Carroll. Nevertheless, Los Angeles has gained 4 of the final 5 video games since 2023. And since taking on in 2017, Rams head coach Sean McVay is 12-6 towards the Seahawks and 1-0 within the postseason.

The Rams have additionally gained 4 of the final six matchups at Seattle's Lumen Subject, which is taken into account to be one of many hardest environments within the league. Rams left deal with Alaric Jackson mentioned he seems to be ahead to enjoying in these hostile environments.

"I really like enjoying away video games," Jackson instructed me. "Going to your house, whipping your ass and shifting on. Yeah, I take pleasure in that."

Rams heart Coleman Shelton is aware of enjoying within the wet winter circumstances of the Pacific Northwest, having performed on the College of Washington. He expects a troublesome recreation from the staff’s NFC West rivals.

"You play each recreation within the NFC West twice a 12 months, so clearly you’re going to see them a bunch," Coleman Shelton instructed me. "You simply go on the market and play laborious. It’s going to be an excellent matchup, and we’re excited for it."

One of many prime storylines on this one shall be how Darnold rebounds towards the Rams' protection after his four-interception efficiency within the Week 11 loss. Since that recreation, Darnold’s manufacturing has leveled off after a sizzling begin to the primary half of the season. During the last 5 weeks, Darnold has accomplished 62.3% of his passes for 1,171 yards, 5 touchdowns and 5 interceptions, posting an 81.6 passer score.

Rams security Kamren Kinchens (26) had two interceptions of Sam Darnold within the Week 11 matchup towards the Seahawks. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Instances through Getty Photos)

One factor that might assist with Darnold’s manufacturing is an improved efficiency within the operating recreation. The Seahawks common 113 yards per recreation (No. 22 within the NFL) and simply 3.86 yards per carry, which is No. 28 within the league. Seattle’s lack of ability to persistently run the soccer, some extent of emphasis for head coach Mike Macdonald at the beginning of the 12 months, has put strain on Sam Darnold to hold the offense by throwing the soccer.

The Seahawks hope that strain doesn't result in one other turnover-prone effort by Darnold in a rematch towards their division rival, with the lead within the NFC West on the road.

"We’re enthusiastic about this problem," Darnold instructed reporters. "Clearly, it’s a divisional recreation, and enjoying these guys final time wasn’t my greatest effort. I really feel like as an offense we’ve simply acquired to proceed to do what we’ve been training, keep on the small print."

Eric D. Williams has reported on the NFL for greater than a decade, masking the Los Angeles Rams for Sports activities Illustrated, the Los Angeles Chargers for ESPN and the Seattle Seahawks for the Tacoma Information Tribune. Observe him on X at @eric_d_williams.

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