Seattle Seahawks (2-1) at St. Louis Rams (1-2)
Time & Place
Sunday, October 3, 2010
Edward Jones Dome
St. Louis, Missouri
10:00 am PT
Regular Season Series: The Seahawks are 14-9 all-time against St. Louis, and are currently riding a 10-game winning streak in the series. Since joining the NFC West, the Seahawks are 12-4 in the regular season against the Rams.
Notable Newcomers
St. Louis: WR Mark Clayton, LB Na’il Diggs, C/G Hank Fraley, DT Fred Robbins, G John Greco, T Renardo Foster, LB Bryan Kehl, RB Chauncey Washington
Seattle: Head coach Pete Carroll, OT Stacy Andrews, TE Chris Baker, DL Kentwan Balmer, DE Chris Clemons, OT Tyler Polumbus, RB Michael Robinson, RB Leon Washington, WR Mike Williams
2010 NFL Draft Class
St. Louis
1.1 – QB, Sam Bradford, Oklahoma
2.33 – OT, Rodger Saffold, Indiana
3.65 – CB, Jerome Murphy, South Florida
4.99 – WR, Mardy Gilyard, Cincinnati
5.132 – TE, Michael Hoomanawanui, Illinois
5.149 – DE, Hall Davis, Louisiana-Lafayette
6.170 – TE, Fendi Onobun, Houston
6.189 – DE, Eugene Sims, West Texas A&M
7.211 – CB, Marquis Johnson, Alabama
7.226 – DE, George Selvie, South Florida
7.254 – LB, Josh Hull, Penn State
Seattle
1.6 – OT, Russell Okung, Oklahoma State
1.14 – S, Earl Thomas, Texas
2.60 – WR, Golden Tate, Notre Dame
4.111 – CB, Walter Thurmond, Oregon
4.127 – DE, E.J. Wilson, North Carolina
5.133 – S, Kam Chancellor, Virginia Tech
6.185 – TE, Anthony McCoy, USC
7.236 – DE/LB, Dexter Davis, Arizona State
7.245 – TE, Jameson Konz, Kent State
Stats & Rankings (2010)
St. Louis
Offense
Total: 24th (300.0 yards)
Passing: 20th (202.3 yards)
Rushing: 20th (97.7 yards)
Scoring: 17th (19.0 points)
Defense
Total: t-24th (377.0 yards)
Passing: 24th (243.3 yards)
Rushing: 25th (133.7 yards)
Scoring: 9th (16.3 points)
Turnover Ratio: t-11th (+1)
Seattle
Offense
Total: 29th (284.0 yards)
Passing: 21st (199.3 yards)
Rushing: 24th (84.7 yards)
Scoring: t-8th (24.0 points)
Defense
Total: 28th (383.3 yards)
Passing: 30th (315.7 yards)
Rushing: 5th (67.7 yards)
Scoring: t-14th (19.0points)
Turnover Ratio: t-14th (Even)
Injury Report
St. Louis
Out: TE Billy Bajema (knee), LB Chris Chamberlain (toe), TE Michael Hoomanawanui (ankle), DT Clifton Ryan (migraines), DT Darell Scott (ankle)
Doubtful: WR Laurent Robinson (foot), S Darian Stewart (hamstring)
Questionable: S Oshiomogho Atogwe (thigh), RB Steven Jackson (groin)
Probable: S Craig Dahl (head), RB Keith Toston (shoulder)
Seattle
Doubtful: DE E.J. Wilson (knee)
Questionable: T Sean Locklear (knee), DT Brandon Mebane (calf), CB Marcus Trufant (ankle)
Probable: DE Chris Clemons (ankle), LB Aaron Curry (hamstring), G Ben Hamilton (knee), T Russell Okung (ankle), WR Mike Williams (shoulder)
Vegas Says: Seahawks -1 (o/u 40)
Seahawks’ Keys to Victory
Justin Forsett – As the chairman of Seattle’s RB committee, Forsett leads the Seahawks with 32 carries for 147 yards. The third-year running back from Cal had a career-high 130 yards on the ground against the Rams last November, and with the Rams banged up at defensive tackle, Forsett could eclipse his previous mark on Sunday.
Avoid Turnovers – Through Seattle’s three games this season, it’s pretty obvious that there’s a direct correlation between wins and turnover ratio. The Seahawks, particularly quarterback Matt Hasselbeck, needs to protect the football on Sunday. This is winnable road game for the Seahawks, but not if they’re careless with the football.
Rattle the Rookie –Sam Bradford is showing why the Rams spent the first pick of the 2010 NFL Draft and $50 million guaranteed on him. But with Steven Jackson expected to miss Sunday’s game with a groin injury, the Seahawks’ stout run defense should force the Rams into 3rd-and-long situations, at which point Gus Bradley and Pete Carroll need to put some heat on Bradford.
Prediction
The Seahawks have dominated this series in recent seasons. Second-year head coach Steve Spagnuolo has the Rams headed in the right direction, but there is a talent gap the Seahawks can use to their advantage to get the first road win of the Pete Carroll Era.
The Pick: Seahawks 24, Rams 9
In addition to writing for NorthwestFootball.net, Brian McIntyre blogs daily at Mac's Football Blog. You can follow Brian on Twitter, and if you’d like to e-mail him, you can always do so by clicking here.
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