Seahawks DL Leonard Williams gives detailed answer on struggling run defense

Seahawks DL Leonard Williams gives detailed answer on struggling run defense

The Seattle Seahawks are struggling to defend the run this season. Mike Macdonald’s inconsistent unit will enter Sunday’s Week 9 game versus the Los Angeles Rams allowing a 29th-ranked 148.4 rushing yards per contest. The challenge against Rams running back Kyren Williams will be sizable.

Seattle is allowing the fifth-highest yards per carry average (4.9) in the league. Veteran defensive lineman Leonard Williams met with the media following Thursday’s practice and faced questions about the run defense. Williams offered an incredibly detailed answer.

“When you’re trying to correct something [run defense] for a few weeks, there’s a lot of competitors on this team,” Williams began. There are guys who want to put it all [the blame] on their shoulders, which is respectable. Everyone is competitive, they want to be the one to make the play. In times like that, we end up [trying to] do other people’s jobs and that affects the rest of the defense. It goes back to consistency, just consistently do your job and we’ll eventually all come together as 11. It’s about us getting back to basics and trusting that your teammate is going to do his job,” Williams concluded.

The Rams are averaging a seventh-worst 101.3 rushing yards per contest. Their 3.9 yards per carry average ranks 30th in the league. That’s despite superstar running back Kyren Williams scoring a touchdown in every game this season. Seattle’s defense will attempt to remain disciplined against LA’s struggling ground attack on Sunday.

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3 Bold Predictions for Seahawks defense vs. Rams in Week 9

3 Bold Predictions for Seahawks defense vs. Rams in Week 9

The 4-4 Seattle Seahawks host the 3-4 Los Angeles Rams this weekend. It’s a critical game to further determine the standings in a tight-knit NFC West division. We’ve conjured up three bold predictions for Mike Macdonald’s defense against Matthew Stafford, Cooper Kupp and Co.

Seahawks keep Kyren Williams out of the end-zone

Rams running back Kyren Williams has scored a touchdown in every contest this season. LA’s Week 8 victory over the Minnesota Vikings marked the first game of the campaign that he hasn’t rushed for a touchdown, but the former Notre Dame standout was on the receiving end of a Stafford passing score. The Seahawks are struggling to defend the run, allowing a 29th-ranked 148.4 ground yards per outing. Preventing Williams from reaching the end-zone would qualify as a major victory.

Derick Hall records his 6th sack

Sophomore pass rusher Derick Hall leads the Seahawks in sacks with five quarterback takedowns this season. The No. 37 overall selection in the 2023 NFL Draft has gone ice-cold, failing to record a sack in three consecutive contests. Hall ends the recent drought on Sunday by recording his team-leading sixth sack, dragging Stafford down.

Riq Woolen intercepts Stafford

Seattle’s No. 1 cornerback Riq Woolen was a full participant at Thursday’s practice. Woolen continues to work through an ankle injury that sidelined him for two contests. He returned to a full workload versus the Buffalo Bills, and could continue rounding back into tip-top form by intercepting Stafford.

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Rams WR Puka Nacua injures knee, could miss Seahawks game

Rams WR Puka Nacua injures knee, could miss Seahawks game

The Seattle Seahawks have a critical game on the schedule this weekend. The 4-4 Seahawks will host the 3-4 Los Angeles Rams at Lumen Field in a potentially decisive NFC West showdown. The Rams may be short-handed following an injury at Thursday’s practice.

Superstar sophomore receiver Puka Nacua recently returned to the Rams’ lineup from a knee injury he suffered versus the Detroit Lions in Week 1. Nacua was sidelined for the Rams’ following five games. He returned in their Week 8 victory over the Minnesota Vikings, recording seven receptions on nine targets for 106 receiving yards.

Nacua was expected to keep that momentum going versus the Seahawks this weekend, but he may have suffered a setback at Thursday’s practice. Nacua exited the session with an injury to the same knee he injured earlier this season, according to multiple reports from media members in attendance. Rams head coach Sean McVay would miss his sophomore wideout. His availability against Seattle is certainly at risk this weekend.

Nacua has totaled 11 catches via 13 targets for 141 receiving yards in just two appearances this season. His absence would qualify as a big-time break for a struggling Seahawks defense. We’ll monitor Nacua’s status leading up to Sunday’s NFC West rival game.

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Seattle Seahawks vs Los Angeles Rams Prediction, Game Preview

Seattle Seahawks vs Los Angeles Rams prediction, game preview, and fantasy player to watch.

Seattle Seahawks vs Los Angeles Rams prediction, game preview, and fantasy player to watch.


Seattle Seahawks vs Los Angeles Rams Broadcast

Date: Sunday, November 15
Game Time: 4:25 ET
Venue: SoFi Stadium, Inglewood, CA
Network: FOX

[jwplayer MfQRqIda]

All of the CFN Fearless Predictions

Seattle Seahawks (6-2) vs Los Angeles Rams (5-3) Game Preview

For latest lines and to bet on the NFL, go to BetMGM


Why Seattle Seahawks Will Win

The Seattle offense has been devastating, and the Rams are about to have a big problem their O isn’t more consistent.

Which Ram team will show up? Will it be the one that couldn’t score against Miami and San Francisco, or the one that can handle a shootout? For all the star power and coaching and the reputation, this isn’t a high-flying LA team.

Here comes the Seattle passing game that leads the NFL in touchdown passes, yards, and is among the best at hitting the deep shots. There’s a chance LA just doesn’t have that gear.

Why Los Angeles Rams Will Win

The Rams give up a whole lot of passing yards, but there aren’t enough of them deep – the D leads the NFL in yards allowed per attempt.

The Seattle running back situation is an injured mess, and now it’s more on Wilson and the passing game to keep bombing away against a rested team coming off a bye week. The Seahawk pass defense allowed close to 1,000 yards over the last three games, and Jared Goff is about to have a whole lot of fun.

Fantasy Football Player To Watch

WR Robert Woods, Los Angeles
Starting a WR against Seattle’s NFL-worst pass D is a must. So the question is, which Ram receiver do you go for? Considering that Cooper Kupp is nursing an oblique injury, the targets should flow to Woods.

Woods is hot, coming off a monster 85-yard, 2 TD performance before the bye against Miami, and his end-around runs have been automatic producers.

What’s Going To Happen

Seattle has hit a bit of a wall. It’s on its third road game in four weeks, and it lost the previous two aways games. LA might have been inconsistent before getting the week off, but look for an energized team that gets a massive day out of Goff, and an even better one from the Ram defensive front that doesn’t allow a thing against the run.

CFN Experts Picks: NFL

Seattle Seahawks vs Los Angeles Rams Prediction, Line

Los Angeles Rams 31, Seattle 27
Bet on Seattle vs Los Angeles with BetMGM
Los Angeles Rams -2, o/u: 53.5
ATS Confidence out of 5: 3

Must See Rating: 4

5: Alex Trebek
1: “Who are three people who have never been in my kitchen.”

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Seattle Seahawks at Los Angeles Rams odds, lines, picks and best bets

Previewing Sunday’s Seattle Seahawks at Los Angeles Rams sports betting odds and lines, with Week 14 NFL betting picks, tips and best bets.

With their playoff hopes on the line, the Los Angeles Rams (7-5) will host the red-hot Seattle Seahawks (10-2) in the Week 14 Sunday Night Football matchup at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Kickoff is set for 8:20 p.m. ET. We analyze the Seahawks-Rams sports betting odds and lines, with picks and tips for this matchup.

Seahawks at Rams: Week 14 preview, betting trends and notes


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  • The Seahawks are 4-1 against the spread during their five-game winning streak. The Rams are 3-2 ATS in their last five games.
  • The last time these teams met in Week 5, the Seahawks escaped with a 30-29 victory after PK Greg Zuerlein missed a game-winning field goal in the final seconds.
  • The total has gone Over in 14 of Seattle’s last 20 games but Under in six of the Rams’ last seven games.
  • The Rams are 4-1 ATS in their last five games against the NFC West, going back to last season.
  • Los Angeles is 1-4 ATS in its last five games following an ATS win. Last week, the Rams covered against the Arizona Cardinals.
  • Seattle is 6-1 ATS in its last seven road games and 6-2 ATS vs. teams with a winning record.

Seahawks at Rams: Key injuries

Rams TE Gerald Everett (knee) is uncertain to play after missing practice Wednesday and Thursday. OT Rob Havenstein (knee) is also questionable.

Seahawks LB Mychal Kendricks (hamstring) and TE Luke Willson (hamstring) are questionable.

Seahawks at Rams: Odds, betting lines and prediction

Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Friday at 1:10 p.m. ET.

Prediction

Seahawks 31, Rams 27

Moneyline (?)

Seattle is a very attractive bet here, considering it has been the better team all season and it is a slight road underdog. Bet the SEAHAWKS (-105) to win outright.

Against the Spread (?)

The line opened with the Seahawks being favored by 2.5 points, but it has since shifted to the Rams being 1.5-point favorites. Now is a good time to get in on this bet with the Seahawks being underdogs.

Bet SEATTLE (+1.5, -115) to cover the spread, as it could win outright.

Over/Under (?)

The total has gone Over in each of the last four meetings between the Rams and Seahawks. Seattle’s defense has struggled this season and while the Rams’ unit has improved, it got torched by the Baltimore Ravens. The projected total is set at 46.5.

Bet the OVER 46.5 (-115) with the scoreboard likely being lit up at the Coliseum.

Want action on this game? Sign up and bet at BetMGM. If you’re looking for more sports betting picks and tips, visit SportsbookWire.com.

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