After a month at home, the Rams return to the road in Week 9 for an NFC West showdown with the Seahawks at Lumen Field. Kickoff on Sunday is scheduled for 1:25 p.m. PT on FOX.
In advance of the contest, here is your First Look at Rams-Seahawks.
Notable Seahawks additions
- Acquired LB Ernest Jones IV in a trade with the Titans on Oct. 24: A name Rams fans know well, Jones' arrival helps solidify the second level of Seattle's defense.
- Selected Texas DT Byron Murphy II 16th overall in this year's NFL Draft: Widely regarded as one of the top interior defensive linemen in this year's class, the former Texas standout's ability to destroy blocks has made him a major presence on the inside of the Seahawks defensive line.
Top performers in Week 8
QB Geno Smith completed 21 of 29 pass attempts for 212 yards with 1 interception in Seattle's 31-10 home loss to the Buffalo Bills.
Smith was also the Seahawks' leading rusher with 16 rushing yards on 5 carries; they had 32 total rushing yards as a team.
With leading receiver DK Metcalf sidelined by an MCL sprain, WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba led Seattle receivers with 6 receptions for 69 yards.
Defensively, Jones led Seattle with 15 total tackles in his debut.
On special teams, P Michael Dickson averaged 61.3 yards per punt across 4 punts, while K Jason Myers made his lone field goal attempt (38 yards) and extra point attempt.
Early storylines to watch, and what they mean for the Rams
Have you seen the NFC West standings?
Divisional matchups always carry added weight, but with the limited separation between each team, the results of Week 8 have set the stage for a big Week 9 for both teams.
The 49ers have a bye this week, while the Bears take on the Cardinals on Sunday in the same late-game window as the Rams. A Los Angeles win and Arizona loss would have L.A. in first place in the division by the end of the Week 9 because of the head-to-head tiebreaker from its Week 3 win over San Francisco.
Beyond division standings implications, the health of Metcalf again bears monitoring this week. The Seahawks have plenty of talent at receiver, but they're a different team when Smith doesn't have the 6-foot-4, 235-pounder to target in the passing game, as last Sunday against the Bills showed. Seattle head coach Mike Macdonald told reporters Monday that it's "looking optimistic" that Metcalf can return this week.
