The back half of the NFL season has arrived, and for the Seattle Seahawks that brings a crucial division matchup against the Los Angeles Rams with sole possession of first place on the line.
Joining Field Gulls to preview the matchup is Evan Craig of Turf Show Times, and since everyone is here to read the questions and answers and not the filler, there’s little point doing anything other than jumping directly to those questions and answers.
**1\. Matthew Stafford was a giant question mark for most of training camp, but has simply been lights out during the regular season. Has there been any sign of the back issue that kept him out of training camp? And is there anything in particular that has him playing so well this season?**
It’s crazy how Matthew Stafford’s back was the talk of the offseason, and we’ve (thankfully) gotten crickets on that front. If Stafford is hurting in any way, he hasn’t shown it. Of course, he’s always been a tough dude, so it’s not surprising to see him thriving. However, I don’t think any of us at TST would’ve predicted him to be playing at an MVP level. Right now, MVP is a two-man race between Stafford and Jonathan Taylor, and maybe throw in Drake Maye as a dark horse contender.
The reason Stafford’s played so well is that the supporting cast is pulling their weight and playing at a high level. Swapping out Cooper Kupp for Davante Adams is the best possible thing to have happened to the passing game. Adams hasn’t produced jaw-dropping stats in the yardage department, yet he’s displaying excellent chemistry with his QB, as evidenced by his 6 touchdowns in the last three games. Puka Nacua doesn’t have to do it alone, and that dynamic duo has proven lethal to defenses. Also, the run game is strong too, as Kyren Williams and second-year back Blake Corum (more on him in a sec) have proven to be a powerful one-two punch. It’s not crazy to say this might be the best group Stafford’s ever played with, and that includes the Super Bowl team.
**2\. One of the hot topics for the media has been the use of heavy personnel on offense, with the Rams in particular using a lot of 13 personnel. Tell us about who Seahawks fans should expect to see in these situations and how McVay likes to attack defenses using multiple tight end packages.**
The switch to using 13 personnel is part of the reason the offense has been so good lately. Four of the Rams’ six touchdowns against the 49ers last week came with the usage of heavy personnel.
When L.A. gets into those situations, expect to see a mix of the team’s suddenly fearsome foursome grouping of tight ends in Tyler Higbee, Davis Allen, Colby Parkinson and Terrance Ferguson. Entering the bye, the offense was getting next to nothing from its tight ends, and over the last two weeks, their production has grown. They combined for 10 receptions for 114 yards and 2 touchdowns against New Orleans, and then all of them caught at least one pass in the Niners game. All of them are capable blockers in the run and pass game, so things will get quite physical the moment they take the field.
**3\. Most Seahawks fans know all the big names on the Rams roster, but who is someone Seattle fans may not know right now but will likely come to know over the course of the game?**
As I alluded to above, sophomore running back Blake Corum has really shone this season after barely seeing the field during his rookie campaign. The former Michigan star has 114 yards in two previous games against the Saints and 49ers. Additionally, he’s seen double-digit carries in his last three games, indicating that Sean McVay is gradually getting more comfortable with giving him an increased workload. Corum has shown flashes here and there of the player he was in college, and he complements Williams so well.
It’s about time that McVay allowed him to see the field more. Perhaps he’s been reading some of our stories complaining about it.
**4\. The Rams defense has seemingly taken a huge step forward this season and is near the top of the league in terms of points allowed per game. What has allowed for such a significant improvement for the group compared to years past?**
The Rams made an emphasis on addressing stopping the run this season, and it’s worked wonders this season.
L.A.‘s front office signed defensive tackle Poona Ford, who has been an excellent run stuffer. He is a big (both literally and figuratively) reason the team not only has a top 10 run defense, but has allowed just one 100-yard rushing performance through nine games. Adding linebacker Nate Landman has also helped, as the defense now has someone stout manning the middle of the field, a position largely neglected in the McVay era. Overall, being able to stop the run, something the team struggled with in 2024, helps a solid secondary by daring opposing offenses to pass on them. There is nothing special about the secondary besides the starting safeties, yet they’ve held up their end and do their jobs well enough that it’s not a major concern.
**5\. What is your prediction for the outcome of the game and why?**
This game has all the potential of being a shootout, which would help this game live up to the massive hype it’s generating. Well actually, I’m thinking this game will either be a shootout or be the ugliest thing you’ve ever laid your eyes on, but I’m leaning more towards a shootout like the Seahawks-Bucs matchup earlier this season. Since Seattle tends to play better on the road for whatever reason, given their 4-0 record so far, I’m going to pick the Seahawks in this one. Just a hunch I’m going with at the moment.
And now we’re on to the contest that will determine which team gets to claim first place in the NFC West while celebrating Thanksgiving.
See More:
* [Seattle Seahawks Analysis and Opinion](/seattle-seahawks-game-analysis)
* [Seattle Seahawks News](/seattle-seahawks-news)