A year ago the St. Louis Rams battled the Seattle Seahawks in a game that ultimately decided the NFC West division, with the Seahawks going on to clinch the division with a win despite a 7-9 record. With the emergence of the San Francisco 49ers as one of the top teams in the NFC, neither the Rams or the Seahawks will have a chance to battle for top spot, but for two teams with a lot to build towards heading in to the future, this showdown on Monday Night Football will be about much more than pride.
St. Louis Rams @ Seattle Seahawks
Monday December 12, 2011 – 8:30 PM ET
CenturyLink Field, Seattle, Washington
NFL Betting Picks: Seattle Seahawks
The Seahawks will play this game as 5.5-point sports betting favorites, but considering the Rams’ season so far that number should probably be higher. Despite being a young team that was supposed to be on the rise this year, injuries and inconsistencies have led to St. Louis winning just two of their first 12 games, which is tied for the worst record in the NFC.
Rams Seahawks Betting Preview: St. Louis Rams
The Rams are the only team in the division not to have scored at least 210 points this season. In fact, their 140 points scored is less than half of what the 49ers’ offense has compiled, and making matters worse is the fact that the defense has allowed a division-high 296 for the worst point differential in the NFC. With those kind of numbers it is hard to imagine that St. Louis was able to beat the New Orleans Saints earlier in the year, but they do have some talent in quarterback Sam Bradford and running back Stephen Jackson. Jackson has averaged just 41.6 yards per game during the Rams’ current three-game slide, and head coach Steve Spagnuolo will need to find a way to get him going.
Rams Seahawks Betting Preview: Seattle Seahawks
After an awful start to their season, the Seahawks have managed to slowly turn things around, and are technically still alive in the NFC playoff race. Seattle has won three of its last four and have outscored opponents 94-61 over that span, with much of the difference being on their renewed commitment to the ground game, which is led by running back Marshawn Lynch. Lynch has registered an NFL-high 591 rushing yards and five rushing touchdowns since week nine, and will continue to be the key to Seattle’s offensive success. The defense has held opponents to 17 points or less in each of their last three wins, and that number will be crucial as the Rams have scored at least that many only twice this year.
Rams Seahawks Betting Preview: Outlook & Pick
While neither team has a realistic shot at the postseason, the Seahawks have looked like a playoff team over their past four games, with three wins to show for it. A renewed commitment to their ground game has been among the biggest differences with Lynch carrying the load, and there is no reason to think that will change this week as 5.5-point favorites according to the sportsbooks odds.
Rams Seahawks Betting Pick: Seattle Seahawks