The Los Angeles Rams and Seattle Seahawks meet Thursday night in a crucial NFC West divisional matchup between two 11-3 teams. With the division title and NFC No. 1 seed implications on the line, the game carries high stakes despite injuries to key players like Davante Adams and Charles Cross. Expert predictions favor a close contest, highlighting defensive battles and player props.
Thursday Night Football features a heavyweight NFC West clash as the 11-3 Los Angeles Rams visit the 11-3 Seattle Seahawks at Lumen Field. The Rams hold a 53% chance of securing the conference's top seed entering Week 16, which could jump to 90% with a victory. A Seahawks win would give them a game lead in the division, positioning them to host a playoff game, while a loss likely relegates them to a wild-card spot on the road.
Injuries loom large for both sides. The Rams will be without wide receiver Davante Adams, one of the league's top pass-catchers, forcing reliance on younger talents. Seattle's offense faces challenges with left tackle Charles Cross sidelined, complicating protection for quarterback Sam Darnold. Darnold has struggled against the Rams' defense, throwing four interceptions in their prior meeting and enduring two turnovers plus nine sacks in a playoff loss to them last year while with the Vikings.
CBS Sports expert Will Brinson anticipates a defensive slugfest, predicting a nail-biter and recommending the Rams +1.5 as the top straight bet. He notes the Rams' effective use of 13 personnel with multiple tight ends and running back Kyren Williams' strong ground game. Matthew Stafford, described as the MVP, is expected to perform well against Seattle's defense, with Sean McVay's teams scoring 20+ points in every matchup against Mike Macdonald's defenses dating back to his Ravens days.
Player props highlight opportunities amid the low total. Brinson likes Puka Nacua over 7.5 receptions, citing increased targets without Adams and Nacua's elite short-yardage routes. For Seattle, Jaxon Smith-Njigba over 6.5 receptions and Kenneth Walker over 10.5 receiving yards are favored, given Walker's recent target spike and the need for short passes against the Rams' pressure. Anytime touchdown bets include Rams tight end Colby Parkinson, on a six-game scoring streak, and Seahawks tight end A.J. Barner for his red-zone and tush-push roles.
This matchup underscores the NFC West's competitiveness, with both teams vying for playoff positioning in a conference where six clubs remain in the No. 1 seed hunt.
