Our offseason opponent breakdown series on theRams.com concludes with us getting caught up on Los Angeles' Week 18 home opponent and Week 9 road opponent, the Seattle Seahawks (Nov. 3, 1:25 p.m. PST on FOX for Week 9; Week 18 date and kickoff time still TBD).
The Rams' 2024 schedule release is presented by Confirmed360.
2023
A 3-1 start set up Seattle nicely going into its Week 5 bye, and the success returning from the break – 3-2 over the following five games – put it at 6-3 going into a Week 11 matchup with the Los Angeles Rams.
However, that 17-16 loss to the Rams was the start of a four-game losing streak that put the Seahawks' playoff hopes in peril. While the Seahawks rebounded with back-to-back wins over the Eagles and Titans, a loss to the Steelers in Week 17 relinquished their control over their playoff destiny.
As a result, 8-8 Seattle needed to not only in Week 18, but get some help from other NFC teams to secure the No. 7 seed and final wild card spot in the playoff picture. The Seahawks defeated the Cardinals 21-20, but needed a Packers loss in each of their three clinching scenarios. Ultimately, Seattle was eliminated from playoff contention with the Packers defeating the Chicago Bears 17-9.
Key changes
The Seahawks removed Pete Carroll as head coach and moved him into an advisor role, hiring former Ravens defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald as his replacement. Macdonald, 36, is the youngest head coach in the NFL.
Macdonald made 15 additions to his staff, including hiring former Rams pass game specialist Jake Peetz as pass game coordinator and former University of Washington offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb to the same position.
In free agency, they released safety Jamal Adams, safety Quandre Diggs and tight end Will Dissly, and later acquired quarterback Sam Howell in a trade with the Commanders.
Head coach
Macdonald enters his first season as head coach of the Seahawks.
What to watch for
What the Seahawks' offensive line will look like, as well as its defense overall
Offensive line was a position Seattle knew it needed to address in the offseason. It then signed tackle George Fant, former Rams guard Tremayne Anchrum Jr. and veteran guard Laken Tomlinson in free agency.
Provided everyone stays healthy, the Seahawks will bring out a different combination compared to what the Rams faced in 2023.
On defense, Macdonald has been widely regarded as one of the most innovative minds on that side of the ball currently, so the back-and-forth between the Seahawks' defense and Rams' offense should be fun to watch.
