So here’s what I’m thinking about right now. The winner of this game is going to get all the yappers anointing them as probable NFC Champions. That narrative can, and probably will change over the rest of the season, but that’s what we will get after the final whistle.

I haven’t seen Seattle play yet this year, but from all accounts, they are in the Super Bowl mix. And I think we are in for a tough game this week. We know that they are ranked highly on both sides of the ball, and their defense is tough.

But. The two games they lost were against SF and TB, both in Seattle. Those are two really good teams, both capable of making noise in the playoffs, but neither is widely seen as the likely NFC champion. That’s who Seattle lost to.

Their wins?

Arizona twice.
Jacksonville
Houston
Pittsburgh
New Orleans
and Washington.

Pittsburgh is the best of all those teams, and Pittsburgh is 5-4.

Seattle may be very, very good, but that resume isn’t impressive.

Why are the Cowboys/Raiders on Monday Night? The Has-Been Bowl? It’s been a spell since either of these teams earned national interest. Rams/Seahawks is the game of the week. And GOW isn’t MNF’s mandate, but seriously.

zn wrote:

Nate Atkins@NateAtkins_
Our @TheAthleticNFL playoff simulator set the stage for a *massive* Rams-Seahawks matchup:

The Rams are the current favorite for the No. 1 seed.

A win gives them a 78% chance of winning the NFC West and hosting a playoff game.

A loss drops that to 33%

They make it sound serious.

From a Seattle media outlet type of thing:

Can we start getting excited about Sunday’s game against the Rams now?
Yes, yes you can.

The game pitting two 7-2 teams that share the lead in the NFC West looms as at least the biggest for the Seahawks since the regular-season finale against the Rams in 2022, a game they needed to win to get to the playoffs.

But it feels bigger than that, especially for the Seahawks.

Win this one on the road and the Seahawks take control of the NFC West with the knowledge that the rematch will be at Lumen Field on Thursday night on Dec. 18.

Winning the West and staying in contention to get home-field throughout the playoffs — and possibly the No. 1 seed and the bye that goes with it — is obviously a realistic goal for the Seahawks.

While the Seahawks have shown to be an historically good road team under Macdonald, when it comes to the playoffs — and the unpredictability of the weather that could be encountered — it’s going to be a lot better for this team to be at home as much as possible, and the bye would make that all the better.

But first, yes, they have to get there, though it’s worth noting The Athletic’s playoff simulator has the Seahawks at 96% odds to make the postseason. Those go up to 99% with a win Sunday.

Related What national media says about Seahawks’ Super Bowl chances
The game also looms as an appetizing matchup on the field regardless of stakes.

As The NFL Network noted Sunday might, the Seahawks and Rams are the only two teams in the league that are each top five in points scored and allowed — the Seahawks are third and fifth and the Rams fifth and second.

Each also comes in on a heater, winning four in a row — the Seahawks all by eight points or more and the Rams all by 14 points or more.

Get your hype machines started.

zn wrote:

James n@Jamesn266743340
What happened to the pass rush? So glad we won but a little concerned. It’s been bad past 2 weeks

J.B. Long@JB_Long
Mac Jones time to throw Week 10: 2.8 sec
Tyler Shough time to throw Week 9: 2.4 sec
They’re playing point guard against the Rams, my friend.

AI Overview

The average time to throw for an NFL quarterback is around 2.78 seconds, though this figure can vary by season and is often slightly lower or higher depending on the source. Quarterbacks with quicker times, such as those under 2.5 seconds, are often praised for their ability to get the ball out fast.

League Average: The general average is approximately 2.78 seconds as of late 2023.

Varying Statistics: Some sources report slightly different averages, such as 2.6 seconds.

Quick Throwers: The NFL has a benchmark where many highly efficient quarterbacks get rid of the ball in 2.5 seconds or less. Examples of quarterbacks with quick times include Tua Tagovailoa (2.37s) and Mac Jones (2.67s).

The 49ers are not done causing problems, btw. They should win their next 4 games, and if they do, they will be 10-4.

Cardinals
Panthers
Browns
Titans

Colts, Bears, and Seattle to close.

They’re probably going to make the playoffs.

Seattle killing AZ 21-0 in the first quarter.

I’ve continued thinking about this question, and when I post the question to myself if there was ever a 49er that I actually liked, I came up with Steve young. He was signed by the LA Express of the usfl when I was living in Los angeles, and I got season tickets to the games for $99 for the season. So I always liked Steve young.

I went to San Francisco yesterday, and just got back. The flagship station of the 49ers absolutely thinks the 49ers are going to get rolled by the Rams. No question in their minds.

wv wrote:

Stafford. “everyone’s all-american” as they call him on First Things First. Makes it to the top of Mahommes Mountain.

It’s alarming that Darnold (and Seattle) is doing so well. They could win 7 or 8 of their final games if they are as good as I’m starting to hear they are. I haven’t seen them yet, but I guess I’ll get a chance in a couple of weeks.

The Rams may have to win both games against Seattle to win the division.

zn wrote:

From what I saw, that whole unit is a problem, it’s not just Karty. On the missed FG there was both penetration from the outside and a leaping blocker at the line, and he tried and failed to kick around the interference, which of course was a doomed effort.

I would like to see someone explain why that unit is such a mess. And again it’s not just Karty.

I’m wondering why nobody is pointing the finger at the ST coach.

wv wrote:

Looking at the old Martz (2000-20005) drafts, makes me appreciate McSnead.

Their drafting was fantastically terrible.

The 1970s, though.

1971
1 Isiah Robertson
1 Jack Youngblood
3 Dave Elmendorf

1973
2 Cullen Bryant
2 Ron Jaworski
2 Jim Youngblood

1975
1 Mike Fanning
1 Dennis Harrah
1 Doug France
2 Monte Jackson
4 Rod Perry
7 Pat Haden

1976
1 Kevin McLain
2 Pat Thomas
3 Jackie Slater
5 Carl Ekern

1977
1 Bob Brudzinski
2 Nolan Cromwell
2 Billy Waddy
3 Ed Fulton
3 Wendell Tyler
4 Vince Ferragamo

Atlanta and San Francisco lost.

I’ll take it.

zn wrote:

Rodrigue basically said that Shula’s superpower is isolating then fixing problems. Rams have been poor tacklers for ages now, but evidently or obviously he addressed it this year.

This is one thing I’ve never understood about football, though. I understand that players might need to be taught how to react to certain motions and formations, and so on.

But why the hell does a coach have to emphasize tackling. Like…that’s your job. That’s the main thing. That’s what your paycheck is for. Get to the man with the ball, wrap him up, and throw him down.

And yet… it really appears that when a coach emphasizes tackling, teams improve in that area. It’s just that… how did you make your varsity team in high school if you can’t get after the ball carrier.