Preview, prediction, odds for huge TNF game

Preview for Los Angeles Rams @ Seattle Seahawks

The Seattle Seahawks and Los Angeles Rams face off in a mouthwatering Thursday Night Football clash that will go a long way to determining who finishes the regular season as the number one seed in the NFC.

Seattle and Los Angeles are each 11-3, tied for the second-best record in the NFL, with the Rams holding the tiebreaker in the fight for the NFC West title and top spot in the conference following their narrow victory over the Seahawks in Week 11.

However, a win for the Seahawks would see them take control of the race for the lone first-round bye in the NFC and homefield advantage throughout the playoffs.

Seattle’s offense was frustrated by the Rams’ defense in that 21-19 defeat, with quarterback Sam Darnold’s excellent season interrupted as he was intercepted four times.

The Seahawks’ attack enters this game coming off an underwhelming display in last week’s 18-16 win over the Indianapolis Colts, in which Seattle did not find the endzone, winning behind six Jason Myers field goals.

Despite the high-powered nature of both offenses, another defensive struggle would be no surprise, especially with Rams wideout Davante Adams doubtful because of knee and hamstring injuries.

His likely absence is a huge blow to Rams quarterback and MVP frontrunner Matthew Stafford, though Darnold will also have to cope without a key player, with left tackle Charles Cross ruled out because of a hamstring issue. Josh Jones is set to deputise.

A factor that could hinder both teams is the weather, with a 90 percent chance of rain forecast in the Seattle area on Thursday evening.

But Stafford is undaunted by the prospect of facing Seattle in such conditions.

“Both teams have to play in it,” he said on Tuesday. “So you just got to adjust as you play.

“You just got to call the game, play the game as the weather allows you to, and for me personally, just try to do everything I can to continue do what I always do, throw it in a good spot and let those guys go make plays.”

Should Stafford and Co. handle the conditions and make enough plays to prevail, it would mark their second sweep of the Seahawks in three seasons, and put them in an excellent position to ensure the road to the Super Bowl in the NFC goes through their SoFi Stadium home.