Seahawks at Rams: How About Three?

To get you ready for week 12, FanHouse is previewing all 16 NFL games. Here is your Seattle Seahawks/St. Louis Rams preview.

2007 Records:

Seattle Seahawks: 6-4 (1st in NFC West)
St. Louis Rams: 2-8 (t-4th in NFC West)

Last Game(s):

Seahawks 30, Bears 23
Rams 13, 49ers 9

Why We Care: The Seahawks lead the worst division in football, and if anyone's catching them it won't be St. Louis. That being said, the Rams can still damage the Seahawks' chances at a division title with a loss, meanwhile taking another step towards respectability. Any and all wins, no matter how they come, are being played for morale in 2008 and a victory in particular over Seattle, long the team to beat in the NFC West, will make a statement about Scott Linehan's grip on his team.

When the Seahawks have the ball: Seattle's offensive balance is skewed more to the pass, which is understandable when your franchise back is running with all of the authority of a cardboard box. Enter Maurice Morris, but Seattle isn't relying on Morris like they did with Shaun Alexander. They might be better served sticking with Mo-Mo, however, against a Rams defense that is allowing 111.4 yards per game on the ground.

When the Rams have the ball: The Seahawks' defense lies pretty much entirely in the middle of the pack, but who knows what's going to happen with the Rams. Though their offense was sparked against New Orleans, last week against the 49ers they regressed, having been saved from a loss thanks entirely to a pass rush and an impotent opponent.

Seattle, however, is third in the league in sacks with 31 and the Rams are 30th in sacks allowed with 35. What this adds up to is a long day for Marc Bulger, who was dropped six times last week against San Francisco. The Seahawks are led by eight sacks apiece from Julian Peterson and Patrick Kerney, who will operate on and exploit both sides of the Rams' depleted offensive line. Getting back Todd Steussie will not help in that regard.

The Edge: I think it's nice that the Rams have won two in a row after starting out the season 0-8. I like Scott Linehan and I think he's been more a victim of circumstances. That being said, the Rams have set themselves up to depend on their offense. The offense always depends on the offensive line. And the Rams still don't have a ton of talent there. I think St. Louis has the pieces to match up with Seattle's defense at all the skill positions, but if the Rams are unable to stop Seattle's pass rush, what good will any of that do?

The Rams were lucky to have a large margin for error against the 49ers. But Seattle is a different beast . If St. Louis brings the same game they brought last week, they're not going to win again.