There’s not much separating the Seattle Seahawks and Los Angeles Rams.
Both have top-five scoring offenses. Both have top-five scoring defenses. And both are 7-2 heading into their highly anticipated NFC West showdown on Sunday afternoon in Los Angeles.
It’s the type of matchup where the advantages for either team seem razor-thin.
But as ESPN’s Mina Kimes and NFL Network’s Steve Wyche both detailed on Seattle Sports’ Bump and Stacy, there might be an edge the Seahawks’ offense can capitalize on.
Seattle has one of the most explosive passing attacks in the league, with quarterback Sam Darnold averaging a league-high 9.9 yards per pass attempt and wideout Jaxon Smith-Njigba on a record-setting pace with a league-high 1,041 receiving yards.
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And the Rams’ cornerbacks, meanwhile, have been inconsistent since veteran Ahkello Witherspoon landed on injured reserve early in the season.
“I do not think there’s a corner right now who can handle Jaxon Smith-Njigba,” Kimes said. “I think (the Rams) know that. So I suspect we’re going to see a lot of bracket coverage on JSN.”
In turn, that could free up opportunities elsewhere.
Kimes specifically pointed to speedy wide receiver Rashid Shaheed, who will be playing in his second game with the Seahawks since they acquired him from the New Orleans Saints on Nov. 4 prior to the NFL’s trade deadline.
“This is why you go get Shaheed, right?” Kimes said. “When you play a defense that knows it’s outmanned, that does not trust any of its corners against JSN, there will be opportunities for the other pass catchers.”
Wyche also thinks Shaheed could be an X-factor.
“I think the big question mark is can (the Rams’) corners hold up?” Wyche said. “That’s where Rashid Shaheed, his speed is going to have everybody on high alert. You’re going to have to play a safety or somebody over the top of him, because he can get loose and take a defender completely out of the play, because you just don’t want him to go deep.
“Well, that’s going to open up other areas. Now, the Rams’ safeties are very good. They’re very good. But their corners, … I think that’s an area that Seattle can exploit.”
Listen to the full conversation with ESPN’s Mina Kimes at this link and hear the full conversation with NFL Network’s Steve Wyche at this link. Tune into Bump and Stacy weekdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. or find the podcast on the Seattle Sports app.
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