The Seattle Seahawks are entering Week 11 as one of the best teams in the NFL. Sitting on a 7-2 record after nine games, Seattle would be the No. 2 seed in the NFC if the playoffs started now. Clicking on both sides of the ball, Mike Macdonald has quickly proven he was the right head coach hire, and Sam Darnold is proving he was the perfect quarterback signing.
However, despite how good the Seahawks have looked this season, a few critics still question the validity of their record. The reason is that Seattle hasn’t played the toughest of schedules.
While the team has easily handled opponents, some people are still wondering how the Seahawks will fare against other good teams in the league. With the Los Angeles Rams next on the schedule, Seattle will be able to answer that question on Sunday.
Seahawks could make a bold statement with a win over the Rams
While it’s annoying for a team and it’s fans to hear they haven’t played anyone, there is some merit to that observation with the Seahawks.
Seattle has only played four teams who currently have a winning record: the 6-4 San Francisco 49ers (Seahawks lost 17-13), the 5-4 Pittsburgh Steelers (Seattle won 31-17), the 6-3 Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Seahawks lost 38-35), and the 5-4 Jacksonville Jaguars (Seattle won 20-12).
The Seahawks represented themselves well in those matchups, going 2-2 and being competitive in the losses, but they still haven’t done enough to silence the noise. That could change on Sunday when Seattle takes on a 7-2 Rams team, which is respected as a quality team throughout the league.
Los Angeles has won its last four games and is coming off a 42-26 win over the 49ers, so the Rams are feeling themselves.
That means they will be ready to keep the train rolling against Seattle, giving the team a good challenge. Beyond playing for respect, this game will have massive ramifications on NFC West standings. Both the Rams and Seahawks are currently 7-2, and San Francisco isn’t far behind at 6-4.
All three teams will be fighting for the division crown, and the higher seed in the playoffs. Of course, a lot of football still has to be played before that’s all decided, but the Seahawks can demand their respect with a strong performance on Sunday.