Seattle (5-8) at LA Rams (8-4)
When: Tuesday, December 21st 2021
Where: SoFi Stadium,
Inglewood, CA
Time: 4:25 ET | TV: FOX
Opening Odds: Los Angeles -6.5/45
While nobody wants to see Covid running rampant in the sports world, we do tend to get an NFL game on odd days. Week 15 is no exception as three games had to moved because of Covid outbreak around the league and two of those games will be this Tuesday afternoon. The Seattle Seahawks will try and keep their faint playoff hopes alive when they visit the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif. Seattle has been one of the few teams to relatively avoid the outbreak, which is unfortunate for them having to play Tuesday and then again on Sunday. Head coach Pete Carroll wouldn’t mind his Week 16 game being pushed back to Monday. The Seahawks have won back-to-back games for the first time this season and would only be a game back of the final NFC wild card spot should they upset the Rams on Tuesday. The Seahawks’ much-maligned defense has gone eight straight games allowing opponents 23 points or fewer.
That defense will be tested against a high-powered Rams offense led by Matt Stafford and Cooper Kupp – both of whom are healthy as of Monday morning. The Rams are coming off a 30-23 win at Arizona on Monday night to pull within a game of the NFC West-leading Cardinals. Los Angeles was without five players in that game, including All-Pro cornerback Jalen Ramsey, running back Darrell Henderson Jr. and tight end Tyler Higbee. Los Angeles can tie the Cardinals with a win after Arizona was shocked on the road at Detroit on Sunday. By Thursday evening, the Rams had 25 players in Covid protocol which forced them to close their practice facility. There were four more additions to the list Friday to make it 29 total, including tight end Tyler Higbee, who was deemed to have a false positive last week, but is now considered positive again. L.A. has won seven of the last nine meetings including a 26-17 win in Seattle on Oct. 7.
Russell Wilson was clearly struggling in his first few games back from the finger injury but has led the offence to 30+ points in each of the last two games – both victories. The lack of a run game has really hurt Wilson’s production, but that changed last week in the 33-13 road win at the Houston Texans. Rashaad Penny broke loose for 137 yards and two touchdowns for Seattle’s second 100+ rusher all season. Seattle lost to the Rams at home back in Week 5, but that was the game Wilson injured his finger and could not finish. Before he exited the game, Wilson was 11-of-16 for 152 yards and a touchdown. The Seahawks have had several players sit out practice this week, including wide receivers DK Metcalf (foot/back), Freddie Swain (ankle) and Dee Eskridge (foot). The Seahawks are 11-4 against the spread in their last 15 games as a road underdog.
The Rams are really up against it with a limited roster, but can still get most of those players back in time for the game. Keep checking the injury/Covid reports. It is still unclear which players will be forced out for this game, but they won’t have a full squad. Henderson, who sat out last week’s win against Arizona, is now probable to play on Tuesday, as well as wideout Odell Beckham, Jr and Higbee. They still have Sony Michel, Van Jefferson, Kupp and Stafford, who tossed three touchdowns with zero interceptions and had 287 passing yards against the Cardinals. The Seahawks are the worst team in the NFL against the pass, as they are allowing 278.9 passing yards per game. The Rams have covered five of the last six games against Seattle.
Seattle is starting to play well as it seems Wilson is past his finger injury. The defense has also stepped up in the second half of the season. The Rams are too big of a favorite with all the question marks they have during their Covid outbreak. I don’t love the game, but I’ll take Seattle and the points.
Pick: Seahawks +7
Week 15 Staff Selections
