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The Los Angeles Rams travel to face the Seattle Seahawks. A tense NFC West rivalry, the Rams look to avenge their split from last year with a hopeful sweep of their rivals in Seattle. With S Earl Thomas out due to a lower leg fracture, the Seahawks enter the game even more hampered.
The Seahawks are off a 2-2 start with victories against the Cowboys and Cardinals while dropping games to the Bears and Broncos. Here are some players to watch when the Rams face off with their opponent.
QB Russell Wilson
Wilson is off to another traditional slow start. Completing 62.8% of his passes, Wilson enters the game with a low 34.4 QBR and 7 TD - 3 INT ratio. With his offensive weapons like WR Doug Baldwin being out, Wilson has struggled, with only one game above a 50 QBR rating (“average”). Look for the Rams to continue to rattle Wilson, who has fumbled six times so far in this early season.
WR Tyler Lockett
If any player has benefited or played well this season for the Seahawks consistently, it’s Lockett, who has 17 receptions for 249 yards and three touchdowns for the season. Stepping up in place of the injured Doug Baldwin, Lockett has been consistent with at least 53 yards receiving in every game. Lockett is a shifty but smaller player and works most from the slot. Rams CB Nickell Robey-Coleman will have his hands full trying to slow Lockett down.
LB Bobby Wagner
Wagner missed the contest against the Bears but in the last two games, Wagner lead the defensive efforts to hold the Dallas Cowboys and Arizona Cardinals to 13 and 17 points respectively. Wagner has 19 combined tackles for the year with four passes defended. Wagner will likely have the tough responsibility of shadow RB Todd Gurley in the run and pass game.
CB Shaquill Griffin
One of the Griffin brothers, Griffin is the defensive back that was drafted by Seattle in 2017. Griffin has started the year strong with 17 combined tackles and two interceptions. Griffin also has three passes defended. Griffin will likely see all three Rams receivers at some point (Robert Woods, Cooper Kupp, Brandin Cooks).
S Bradley McDougald
In a bit of a small world scenario, McDougald is a player I’ve kept up with since 2005, when we played against each other in high school for 3 years. A ballhawking safety, McDougald has 22 combined tackles and two interceptions. With S Earl Thomas’s injury, McDougald will likely no longer leave the field and help ease the pain of losing the All-Pro.