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Seahawks/Rams: My Prediction, My Hope, My Fear

Rams Zombie Garden GnomeWhat I Think Will Happen: The Seahawks’ Defense Dominates, The O Plays Ball Control, Hawks win 24-3.

  • Rams backup QB Kellen Clemens, who’ll start for the injured Sam Bradford, tries not to make mistakes despite being swarmed by the Hawks’ pass rush; he takes sacks and throws the ball away. The Rams get fewer than 12 first downs.
  • The Rams’ running game, which averages just 3.2 yards per attempt, 4th-worst in the NFL, gives Clemens no relief.
  • The Seahawks play conservatively on offense, avoiding the turnovers that let Arizona stay in last week’s game, and score a moderate number of points mostly due to outstanding field position.

What I Hope Will Happen: The Seahawks’ Defense Dominates, The O Exploits the Rams’ Weak Pass Defense, Hawks win 38-0

  • Clemens tries to force throws under pressure and the Seahawks corral numerous interceptions (Clemens has thrown 9 INTs in his 13 career starts).
  • The Hawks turn Russell Wilson loose against the Rams’ pass defense, which is ranked 30th in the league by Football Outsiders.
  • With the St. Louis Cardinals hosting Game 5 of the World Series at the same time as the Rams host the Seahawks, ecstatic Hawks fans make it feel like a home game.

What I Fear Will Happen: The Rams’ Top 2 Talents Have Career Games, Lead St. Louis to a 28-24 Win

  • Speedy rookie WR Tavon Austin gives the Hawks the same problems that Colts’ WR T.Y. Hilton did two weeks ago, getting open against the Hawks’ big corners and breaking a couple of long TDs early.
  • The Hawks, still playing with backups at both offensive tackle positions, can’t stop Rams defensive end Robert Quinn, who’s 7th in the NFL with 7 sacks and has forced 4 fumbles.
  • The Seahawks, with a conservative game plan against the offensively-challenged Rams, wait too long to get the passing attack going and run out of time to come back in the game.

The Rams and Seahawks play at 5:30pm PST tonight in St. Louis, the game will be televised on ESPN. You can buy that Rams’ zombie garden gnome for $17.80 on eBay, and connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for more gold like this. 

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Seth Kolloen

At-Large Sports Seth Kolloen, a fourth-generation Seattleite, has been obsessing over local sports since seeing his first Mariners game on Bruce Bochte T-shirt day. Former executive editor of Sports Northwest Magazine and contributing columnist to the Seattle P-I, he now writes Exit 164 at Sportspress Northwest. He's also written for the Stranger, Seattle Metropolitan, Deadspin, and every bathroom stall south of 85th St.