Flying high after last week’s Bet Builder win, this week’s Thursday Night Football takes us up to Lumen Field in Seattle for a massive NFC West showdown between the Rams and Seahawks. The Rams are coming off a disappointing beatdown from the Cardinals on Sunday night, where Matt Stafford had his first subpar outing of the season. The Rams led 10-7 after the first quarter, but in the second, Kyler and the run game took over and Arizona outscored LA 30-10, as Arizona out-rushed LA 216 yards to 121. On the other side of the house, Seattle got off to a slow start against the 49ers, trailing 7-0 after the first quarter, only to turn it on in the second and third quarters and power past the Bay Area team 28-21. Two different, recent form books entering into this Thursday’s clash – let’s look at the key insights for both teams.

Rams:

• Stafford has a completion % of 68.1, 305.5 passing yards per game and 11 TDs with 2 INTs on the season. One of those INTs came last week against the Cardinals.
• According to PFF, Kupp will line up across from Seahawk’s slot cornerback Ugo Amadi for 55% of his snaps Thursday Night. Amadi’s 38.6 coverage grade ranks second-to-last among all cornerbacks with at least 80 coverage snaps.
• Cooper Kupp is 1 of 3 players with 100+ receiving yards per game this season, with totals of 108, 163, 96 and 64 respectively. He has had some easy matchups however – Chicago (26th against WRs), Indy (18th), Tampa (32nd) and Arizona (28th). Seattle in 22nd.
• Van Jefferson is averaging 56.5 yards receiving per game, with totals of 80, 14, 42 and 90 yards. The 80 and 90 yard totals were against Chicago and Tampa.
• Robert Woods is averaging 43 yards receiving per game, with totals of 27, 64, 33 and 48.
• Darrell Henderson is averaging 70.6 yards rushing per game this season, with totals of 70, 53 and 89 respectively, all against defences ranked 11th against the run, or better. The Seahawks are ranked 31st.
• Against the Buccaneers, the 20th ranked defence, Stafford had 343 passing yards and 4 TDs with no interceptions.
• The Rams have the 20th ranked defence according to Football Outsiders DVOA, with the 22nd ranked run defence.
• The Rams have won 6/7 against the Seahawks and McVay is now 6-3 straight up and 5-4 against the spread.

Seahawks:

• Russell Wilson is 29-8-1 in his career in primetime games, the highest QB win % since 2000. This is among 39 QBs with 15+ such starts.
• Wilson is 8-11 vs Rams (incl. playoffs), the only team he has faced 4+ times in his career and has a losing record against.
• The Seahawks have averaged 350.25 offensive yards per game in the 2021 season.
• Wilson has a completion % of 72.5, 261.0 passing yards per game and 9 TDs with 0 INTs.
• Chris Carson has averaged 100.4 scrimmage yards per game in his career against the Rams.
• DK Metcalf is averaging 71.25 yards receiving per game, with totals of 60, 53, 107 and 65. He has 3 TDs so far this year.
• The Seahawks have allowed 444.5 total yards per game this season, which is the most in NFL.
• Alexander Mattison had 112 rush yards against Seattle in week 4, tied for the most in a game in his career. He also had 112 yards in week5 of the 2020 season, also versus the Seahawks.
• Derrick Henry had 182 yards rushing against the Seahawks in their week 3 match-up.
• Last week against the 49ers, Seahawks CB, Sidney Jones got skinned for 170 yards and 2 TDs on nine targets. Rams WR Robert Woods generally matches up against left corners, which Jones is.
• The Seahawks are 7-0 when wearing their action green jerseys…

While Seattle is entering into this match-up with a win and LA are entering with a loss, the Rams have been the better team so far this season. Last week against the Cardinals was Stafford’s worst game and with Kyler Murray and Arizona’s offence humming, it was a little too much for them on the day to get the W. In Seattle’s case, their defence has been up there with the worst in the league, in terms of both passing and rushing. The only reason they have been kept in games is from Russell Wilson’s genius. I’m not sure if that will be enough tonight, but they do have the 12th man at home to aid in their quest for victory. Looking at the data presented above, I like the positional matchups here for LA, so I’m going with the below Bet Builder. I am putting my record on the line here with a 10/1 shot, but I suggest you pick 1/2 parts of it, if you like them. This could be a really exciting game and end up being a shootout, so sit back and enjoy.

J.