Keys to Victory: Rams vs Seahawks Week 10
by terrancespitz | 4 years ago | 0 Comments
Keys To Victory: Week 9
Rams (6-2) vs Seahawks (5-3) Seattle, WA
Salutations, extraordinary Men of Valor. Welcome to another segment of "Keys 2 Victory" with yours truly. We're live from the Emerald City in the beautiful Pacific Northwest, as the Seattle Seahawks host the Los Angeles Rams—pitied against each other in an old fashioned fisticuffs. Two teams vying for playoff contention—The Rams looking to stay atop the NFC West, in a tie with the 49ers, while the 'Hawks look to keep the position in the NFC playoff pecking order—both teams are surging at this juncture of this season, looking to pull away and build on a deep playoff run.
The Rams made a huge splash in the off-season, trading for Superstar Half-Back Christian McCaffrey. Run CMC is leading the Rams with 720 total yards from scrimmage along with 5 total touchdowns. The defense, led by Aaron Donald, Jalen Ramsey and Co, are playing stout defense and making it tough for opposing offenses—a key component to the Rams' 6-2 record. For the Seahawks, they made one of the biggest splashes, trading for the best Half-Back in the league in Derrick Henry, bolstering the offense and creating the best back field in the NFL, pairing Henry with Chris Carson and Rashaad Penny. The 'Hawks at 5-3, have one of the most formidable rushing attacks, and look to rely on that heavily against the strong defense of the Rams. When what is shaping up to be a stellar game, with playoff implications, here are my Keys 2 Victory for Week 10: Rams vs Seahawks.
Keys 2 Victory for LAR: Stack the box; Force the pass.
Seattle is 4th in the NFL in total rushing yards (1119), lead by Derrick Henry's 705 yards (3rd). Despite the success on the ground, the Seahawks are only averaging 22.3 points per game, which is 19th in the league—a factor to the lack of scoring is a underwhelming passing offense. Sitting at 29th in the league (1469 yards) the inability of the Seahawks to create plays in the passing game against single-high safety looks can prove costly—especially facing teams with elite man-to-man corners, such as the Rams. The way LAR can neutralize the running game of Seattle is by stacking the box with 8 and 9-man fronts, daring Seattle to throw. Rely on the man-coverage skills of Jalen Ramsey and Casey Hayward Jr to shut their man down, and let that front led by Aaron Donald to do the rest. If the Rams can force the Seahawks out of run situations and make them throw, the Rams have a great chance of moving to 7-2.
Keys To Victory for SEA: Defense Win 1st and 2nd Down
The Rams are built around a dominant defense. They are the heartbeat of the team. That statement is so unequivocal, in fact, the Rams forgot what offense is. Sitting at 6-2, the Rams are dead last in offense (1847 yards) and 15th in scoring (23.1 PPG). The most startling statistic is the Rams' inefficiency on converting 3rd downs. Trailing only the Dolphins, the Rams are an abysmal 33% (30/90) on 3rd down conversions on the season and 31st in the NFL in total 1st downs with 92. The gameplan is simple for the Seahawks' defense: Win early downs! If Seattle imposes their will and wins 1st and 2nd down, the analytics are in their favor to force punt situations and get the ball back for King Henry to tote the rock. If the find success in winning early downs and forcing 3-and-outs, they will enjoy the thrill of victory over the Rams.
Predictions: Seattle in a ugly game, 23-10
Seattle earns my Keys 2 Victory in their Week 10 matchup over the Rams. In the end, I think it's too much Derrick Henry, in conjuction with the offensive woes for the Rams. The Rams defense can only hold up so much, but with the Rams' inability to move the ball and convert 3rd downs, ultimately, Henry and company run to victory. Best of luck to both teams; can't wait to watch!
– Keyshawn Johnson, Twitter @RZ_Keys2DaCity