NFL: Rams at Seahawks
Thursday Night Football doesn’t usually give you a “game of the year” feel in Week 16, but Rams–Seahawks absolutely does. This is a heavyweight NFC West clash with real consequences at the very top of the conference: both teams come in playing like championship contenders, and the winner takes a massive step toward the division crown and the inside track for premium playoff positioning.
The first meeting already told us what the margins look like. The Rams won a tight, ugly one in Los Angeles, and Seattle’s offense never really found rhythm. Sam Darnold was baited into mistakes, the game swung on turnovers, and it still came down to the final kick. That’s the story of this matchup: two elite teams with answers for each other, where one or two high-leverage snaps decide everything.
When the Rams have the ball, it’s all about explosive efficiency. Matthew Stafford is still one of the best “big moment” quarterbacks in football, and the Rams’ passing game can overwhelm you when the pocket holds. Seattle’s counter is a defense designed to limit splash plays, keep receivers in front, and force long drives. If they can make Stafford live in third-and-medium and tighten in the red zone, they can keep this game in the low 20s and turn it into a possession battle. One key variable is the health and availability of the Rams’ top weapons—any limitation at receiver changes how aggressive Sean McVay can be in scoring territory.
For Seattle, the path is simple: protect the football and let their defense and special teams create hidden yardage. The Seahawks have shown they can win games even when the offense isn’t smooth—most recently leaning on a kicker who was automatic, drilling multiple field goals including a long game-winner late. Offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak has them productive overall, but the Rams have already shown they can muddy Darnold’s reads without blitzing themselves into trouble. If Darnold is decisive and avoids the one “back-breaking” mistake, Seattle’s balance and home-field energy at Lumen can flip the script.
The betting market reflects how thin the difference is: you’re essentially looking at a near pick’em with the spread hovering around a point either way and a total sitting in the mid-40s. That’s exactly right. This isn’t a blowout profile—it’s a razor game.
Prediction: Rams 20, Seahawks 21. These are our top two power-ranked teams in the NFL and they could very well square off three times this year, including the NFC Championship Game—this is the one of the three that the Seahawks squeak out.
