Jared Goff, Rams Win Crucial NFC West Matchup with Russell Wilson, Seahawks

With 90 percent of DraftKings bettors choosing the Seattle Seahawks to secure their place atop the NFC West standings on Sunday despite the Los Angeles Rams being favored, the Rams proved that they earned that line by battling to a 23-16 victory to even the standings at the top.  

Malcolm Brown's second-quarter touchdown capped a 93-yard drive. He added another touchdown in the third quarter that gave the Rams a 10-point lead, and the Seahawks could only muster three points the rest of the way.  

Seattle running backs Chris Carson and Carlos Hyde were absent for the loss. Running back Alex Collins scored the only touchdown for the Seahawks, a 13-yarder in the first quarter, but it wasn't enough for Seattle to take the win against its division rival as both teams moved to 6-3 on the year. 

The Rams lost left tackle Andrew Whitworth in the second quarter when the 15-year veteran was carted off of the field following a collision with Seattle linebacker K.J. Wright. 

The Arizona Cardinals picked up a dramatic 32-30 win over the Buffalo Bills shortly after the conclusion of the Seahawks-Rams game, creating a three-way tie atop the NFC West. 

Notable Performers

• Malcolm Brown, RB, Los Angeles: six carries, 33 yards, two touchdowns
• Leonard Floyd, LB, Los Angeles: five solo tackles, three sacks, fumble recovery
• Alex Collins, RB, Seattle: 11 carries, 43 yards, touchdown
• Jason Myers, K, Seattle: three field goals, extra point (10 points)

Russell Wilson Can't Do It All

With a defense that had allowed a league-worst 455.8 yards per game heading into this week, Russell Wilson has been forced to engineer every win for the Seahawks this season, and he struggled against the Rams, with 248 yards on 22-of-37 passing, two interceptions and six sacks taken.

The 31-year-old, coming off his third straight Pro Bowl season, entered this week as the leader among this season's active quarterbacks with an average of 317.6 passing yards per game (trailing only injured Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott) while pacing the league in touchdowns (28). Naturally, the Seattle offense led the league in passing yards per game with an average of 298.1. 

It's a poor defense that forces Wilson to throw so often, but Sunday's game was another instance that showed he needs help in the long run. On the second-quarter play that resulted in his first interception, Wilson had a lane to run for a first down. But he chose to force a pass to the end zone, and Rams cornerback Darious Williams was there for an interception, and he got another one in the fourth quarter.  

Leonard Floyd sacked Wilson twice in two drives toward the end of the third quarter to prevent the Seahawks from encroaching upon Los Angeles' 23-13 lead.

In last week's loss to the AFC East-leading Buffalo Bills, Wilson turned the ball over in the Buffalo end zone for his first of two interceptions, and he was sacked a season-high five times. He still managed to throw for a season-high 390 yards and totaled three touchdowns.

On Wilson's semi-off day last week, there was no hope for the Seahawks with a defense that allowed a quarterback to throw for at least 397 yards for the fourth time this season, with Josh Allen going 31-of-38 for 415 yards and three touchdowns.

"[Buffalo] made it look easy," head coach Pete Carroll said after the game, per Gregg Bell of the Tacoma News-Tribune. "They didn't even try to run the football."

The second straight loss for the Seahawks proves that unless Wilson is perfect, there's nothing keeping the Seahawks going, and that's just not viable long term. 

Josh Reynolds Has Arrived

When the Rams traded Brandin Cooks to the Houston Texans, head coach Sean McVay was sure in his decision, because he knew that he had Reynolds to fall back on. 

"We would not have made the move on Brandin Cooks had it not been for the confidence we have in Josh Reynolds," McVay said, per Gary Klein of the Los Angeles Times.

The 2017 fourth-round pick has appeared in every game for the Rams since he joined them out of Texas A&M, but he slotted in behind Cooks, Robert Woods and Cooper Kupp for much of his career. Naturally, that's changed this season, and he has appeared on 71 percent of the Rams' offensive snaps, compared to a previous high of 56 percent in 2018. 

While he didn't find the end zone in Sunday's victory, he posted a career-high eight receptions (10 targets) for 94 yards, another career best, to handily pace all offensive players. Tyler Higbee (three receptions on six targets, 60 yards) and Kupp (five receptions on seven targets, 50 yards) were the next-most productive for the Rams, while Tyler Lockett posted 66 yards on five receptions (nine targets) for Seattle.

What's Next

The Rams will have an extra day of rest as they move on to face the 7-3 Tampa Bay Buccaneers next Monday night at 8:15 p.m. ET., while the Seahawks' path back to becoming the lone team atop the NFC West standings won't get any easier, as they'll face the Cardinals on Thursday at 8:20 p.m. ET. 

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