Los Angeles Rams at Seattle Seahawks: Five Seahawks to watch

The Seattle Seahawks have been trailing the Los Angeles Rams in the standings for the majority of the season. On Sunday, they have a chance to overtake the Rams in the standings and likely secure the NFC West.

If the Rams are to avoid a late season collapse, the need to focus on limiting the impact these players.

Russell Wilson

Wilson is a thorn in the Rams side - and that’s putting it lightly. Regardless of how well the Rams have played him in the past, he always finds some fourth quarter magic to make us bite our nails. It’s what has him in the MVP conversation.

If the Rams are going to win, they need to contain Wilson for all 60 minutes - a daunting task. I hope Wade Phillips and his defense are up for the task.

Jimmy Graham

Graham struggled finding chemistry with Wilson over his first few seasons in Seattle. That has been remedied this year. Before being shut out last week against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Graham had scored nine touchdowns in the Seahawks previous eight games.

Back in October, Graham led the Seahawks in receiving against the Rams. He caught 6 of 8 targets for 37 yards and a touchdown. I’d be OK with that stat line again - especially if he’s the team’s leading receiver.

Michael Bennett

I don’t know how Bennett is the Seahawks Walter Payton Man of the Year nominee after the shenanigans he pulled last week. Honestly, I’m shocked that he wasn’t suspended.

Things always get a little chippy in these divisional matchups, but the Rams will need to stay above the fray and remember that Bennett is still a helluva football player.

Bobby Wagner

Wagner is among the best linebackers in the NFL, if not outright #1. Similar to Wilson in that he always seems to give the Rams hell and makes plays when the Seahawks most need them. Simply put, he is a game changer and someone I’m sure Sean McVay is scheming around in his game plan.

Earl Thomas

Thomas has seemingly been around forever, but he’s still only 28 years old and very much in the prime of his career. The Seahawks like to let him play centerfield and he often flies solo on the back end of the defense.

I’m by no means saying that the Rams should try to target Thomas. That would be a very, very bad idea. But I think McVay is smart enough to realize that even Thomas can’t cover everything beyond 20 yards downfield.

Expect McVay to put Goff put in a situation where he can take schematically take advantage of a banged up Seahawks secondary.