The NFC West is a two-team race, and there could be a lot more clarity after Sunday’s titanic Week 15 matchup between the Los Angeles Rams and the Seattle Seahawks. Los Angeles has been the more impressive team this season and enters with a one-game lead, but the Seahawks won the first head-to-head matchup earlier this year.
If the Seahawks can take care of business at home, they will be in the driver’s seat down the stretch as they would have the tiebreaker for NFC West supremacy. It won’t be easy, as the Rams have been one of the better teams in the entire NFL this season.
This game has huge playoff implications for both teams and should help bring more clarity to the NFC playoff picture. The Seahawks could be hard-pressed to make the postseason if they can’t claim this win.
Watch this regular season Week 15 matchup live on Sunday, December 17, 2017, at 4:05 p.m. ET at CenturyLink Field.
Opening NFL Odds at BookMaker.eu
Los Angeles Rams +2.5
Seattle Seahawks -2.5
Over/Under 47.5
Odds Analysis
The Rams have the slightly better personnel but are still listed as the underdogs because of the location of this matchup. Seattle is getting more than 61 percent of the action, and this is an intriguing spread since a win by a field goal margin would currently result in a cover.
The scoring total is higher than a usual Seattle game, but that has to do with Los Angeles’ potent offense and the injuries the Seahawks have suffered on that side of the ball. Star defensive backs Richard Sherman and Kam Chancellor are out for the year, so the defense may not be as elite as it has been in past years.
The “over” is the more popular choice by the bettors.
Injury Report
Bobby Wagner — The Seattle star linebacker is battling a hamstring injury and his status is questionable for this contest. It would be a big loss as he is one of the best defensive players not only on the team but in the entire league.
K.J. Wright — Another Seattle linebacker is dealing with an injury issue. Wright isn’t as talented as Wagner but he is also a key piece, and Wright is dealing with a concussion and remains in the protocol. It is fair to wonder how many injuries the Seahawks’ defense can endure before finally crumbling.
Andrew Whitworth — Los Angeles’ star left tackle left last week’s game against the Eagles with a knee injury but was able to return. The Rams have had fantastic health on their line throughout the season and can’t afford to be without Whitworth in this one.
Last Meeting
The teams played in Los Angeles earlier this season and it came down to the very end of the game. Cooper Kupp dropped a potential game-winning touchdown in the end zone and the Seahawks squeaked away with a 16-10 victory.
The Seattle defense led the way on that night, as Rams quarterback Jared Goff was just 22-of-47 passing for 288 yards with two interceptions. However, that’s when the Seahawks had most of their defensive standouts.
Sherman, Chancellor and Wagner were big parts of the defense, and a major reason why it was able to hold up against a strong offense. The Rams led that game 10-0 but ended up turning the ball over five times in the loss. If they can exact revenge in this one, the NFC West should be theirs.
Free ATS Pick
The Seahawks have a star quarterback in Russell Wilson and the defense still has some standouts. However, it is their reputation that is contributing to the spread in this one. The Rams have been the better team throughout 2017, and even though they must go on the road, this should be more of a pick ‘em.
Take Los Angeles in the upset, while the “over” is the right choice in a game that will see a lot more points than the first matchup.
NFL Odds: Rams 27, Seahawks 23
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