Seahawks host Rams in key NFC West matchup

(AP) -- The Seattle Seahawks host the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday in an important NFC West showdown. Rams receiver Puka Nacua returned against the Vikings after missing five games because of a knee injury and had seven receptions and 106 yards, but he is questionable to play after aggravating the ailment in practice Thursday.

The one-two punch of Nacua and Cooper Kupp helped the Rams offense have its highest-scoring game of the season, keeping Los Angeles in the division race.

The Seahawks will look to rebound after losing 31-10 to the Bills last week.

Los Angeles Rams (3-4) at Seattle (4-4)
Sunday, 1:25 p.m. PST, Fox
BetMGM NFL Odds: Rams by 1 1/2 points.

Series record: Seahawks lead 27-26.

Last meeting: Rams beat Seahawks 17-16 on Nov. 19, 2023 in Inglewood, Calif.
Last week: Rams beat Minnesota 30-20; Seahawks lost to Buffalo 31-10.
Against the spread: Rams 2-5, Seahawks 2-5-1.

Rams offense: overall (20), rushing (26), passing (14), scoring (23).
Rams defense: overall (21), rushing (23), passing (16), scoring (22).

Seahawks offense: overall (T9), rushing (29), passing (1), scoring (13).
Seahawks defense: overall (22), rushing (29), passing (T13), scoring (T19).

Turnover differential: Rams even, Seahawks minus-4.

Rams player to watch

WR Puka Nacua returned against the Vikings after missing five games because of a knee injury and had seven receptions and 106 yards. The one-two punch of Nacua and Cooper Kupp helped the Rams offense have its highest-scoring game of the season, putting Los Angeles back in the mix for the NFC West. However, Nacua left practice Thursday after aggravating the ailment, putting his availability to play in question.

Seahawks player to watch

WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba should be the focus of the passing game for the season straight week with DK Metcalf still hurt. He was the top target against Buffalo with six catches for 69 yards in Metcalf's absence. Outside of a Week 2 win over New England when he posted 12 grabs for 117 yards, setting career highs in both categories, it's been a frustrating sophomore season for Smith-Njigba. He has the potential to breakout against an iffy Rams secondary.

Key matchup

Rams RB Kyren Williams vs. Seahawks run defense. Williams has eight rushing scores and two more as a receiver. The Rams as an offense have 15 total touchdowns through seven games, so keeping Williams in check has to be a priority for the Seahawks. Through eight games, the Seahawks rank 29th in the NFL with 148.4 rushing yards per game allowed. They showed promise by allowing just 39 yards in the second half against the Falcons, but allowed 164 rushing yards last week against the Bills, with James Cook gaining 111 yards on 17 carries.

Key injuries

Rams P Ethan Evans (illness) won't play, meaning either Ty Zentner or Ryan Sanborn will be called up from the practice squad. Evans also is the holder on field goals and extra points, so there could be carryover to other areas of special teams. ... Swing OT Joe Noteboom (ankle) will miss his seventh straight game despite practicing all week. It looks like he could come off injured reserve next week. ... Nacua was listed as questionable.

Metcalf is out for the second straight game because of an MCL sprain. … Seahawks TE Noah Fant, OT Abraham Lucas and DT Cameron Young were also ruled out. ... WR Laviska Shenault (knee) and CB Devon Witherspoon (foot) are good to go after sitting out Wednesday’s practice. … LB Ernest Jones was a late addition to the injury report because of a neck injury and is questionable to face his former team.

Series notes

The Rams and Seahawks played for the first time on Halloween 1976. The Rams won, 45-6. … Los Angeles has won five of the past seven matchups, including each of the past two. … The Seahawks beat the Rams 10 consecutive times between 2005 and 2009. … Seattle is 6-11 against the Rams since the team moved back to Los Angeles from St. Louis. … The Seahawks won both games against the Rams in the 2022 season, but dropped both matchups in 2023. … In the previous meeting on Nov. 19, 2023, in Los Angeles, Jason Myers' 55-yard field-goal attempt sailed wide right with late in the 17-16 loss. … The Rams and Seahawks have played twice in the postseason: in the wild-card round in the 2004 and 2020 seasons. The Rams won both games.

Stats and stuff

The Seahawks need four more wins to reach 400. … Jones made 15 tackles last week in his Seahawks debut, matching his career high he set last year with the Rams. … P Michael Dickson set a franchise record last week with an average of 61.25 yards per punt against Buffalo. … CB Josh Jobe intercepted Bills QB Josh Allen last week, snapping Allen’s streak of 301 pass attempts without a pick. … QB Geno Smith needs one more 300-yard game to tie Matt Hasselbeck for second for most 300-yard games in a single-season in franchise history with four. … Smith also needs 45 attempts to pass Rick Mirer for fifth on Seattle’s passing attempts list with 1,524, and ranks in fifth in franchise history in completions, passing yards (10,838) and passing touchdowns (63). … RB Kenneth Walker III needs two touchdowns to pass Chris Carson for sixth on Seattle’s rushing touchdowns list with 25. … WR Tyler Lockett needs one 100-yard game to tie Darrell Jackson for second in franchise history with 19, and needs three touchdowns to pass Marshawn Lynch for third on Seattle’s touchdowns list with 67. … Metcalf needs 142 receiving yards to pass Largent for the most in a player’s first six seasons in franchise history with 6,042. … Metcalf also needs one receiving touchdown to pass Largent for the most in a player’s first six seasons in franchise history with 47 and ranks first in franchise history for the most receptions in a player’s first six seasons with 407. … Williams didn’t score a rushing touchdown for the Rams against Minnesota, ending a streak of nine regular-season games going back to last season. He did catch a touchdown, giving Williams a score from scrimmage in 10 consecutive games. … Rams rookie OLB Jared Verse had 1 1/2 sacks of the Vikings' Sam Darnold for his first career multi-sack game. Verse ranks second in the league in pressure rate (22.3%), trailing only Houston’s Danielle Hunter (22.4%) among all defenders with at least 150 pass rush snaps according to NFL Next Gen Stats. … Rookie ILB Omar Speights made his first career start and had four tackles. … Los Angeles has tightened up in the red zone, allowing two touchdowns in six trips over its past two games. … QB Matthew Stafford threw four touchdown passes against Minnesota. It was his 16th game with four or more scoring throws in 213 appearances.

Fantasy tip

Williams has scored at least 15 fantasy points each of the past six weeks. As one of the most productive backs in the league, Williams could be in for a big game against a Seahawks defense that has struggled to stop the run.

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