Bullz-Eye's NFL Game of the Week
10/12/2006
NFL Home / Sports Channel / Bullz-Eye Home
ALSO: Check out Anthony's NFL Preview. Got your own take on this week's game? Visit The Scores Report, the National Sports Blog.
We’ll be dissecting one big NFL match-up every week throughout the season, whether it's a long-standing rivalry, a divisional clash or a game with playoff implications.
Want to get in on the action? Visit our NFL Live Lines page to compare the spread from four major handicappers before picking your winner. Good luck!
This week’s match up: Seattle (3-1) at St. Louis (4-1)
Date: Sunday, October 15th
Time: 1:00pm ET Fox
RESULT: Seahawks 30, Rams 28
Why to tune in:
The general public of the NFL gets to see just how real the St. Louis Rams are this Sunday. Seattle will more than likely be without Shaun Alexander again this week as the reigning MVP continues to recover from a broken bone in his left foot. Even without Alexander, however, the Seahawks have a defense that can test the revamped Rams offense (10th overall in the NFL in total yards). At 4-1, there are still doubters who feel the Rams have benefited from a cupcake schedule, even though St. Louis downed Denver in Week 1. Coming into the season, many thought it would be the Arizona Cardinals that would provide the Seahawks their greatest test. But just a quarter into the season, Arizona is playing like Arizona, and St. Louis is once again battling Seattle for first place in the NFC West.
When the Seahawks have the ball:
Seattle, much like many teams that have played Chicago this season, was completely victimized on offense by the Bears’ stingy defense in Week 4. The Seahawks are going to have to live through the air again this week, because the Rams have played solidly against the run in ‘06. Defensive tackles Jimmy Kennedy and La’Roi Glover are getting pressure on the interior of offensive lines and are collapsing running lanes. The Seahawks’ line is still struggling without guard Steve Hutchinson, so now is not the time to commit to the run with Alexander out of the lineup. With a plethora of weapons in the passing game, Seattle would be better served attacking St. Louis’ banged up secondary. CB Fakir Brown is questionable because of a sprained ankle (he missed last week against Green Bay) and teams have been able to pick on rookie Ty Hill. Although QB Matt Hasselback hasn’t been as efficient as he was last year (six TDs, seven INTs), finding any one of Darrell Jackson, Deion Branch, Nate Burleson or Bobby Engram should be a less daunting task in St. Louis than it was against the Bears two weeks ago.
When the Rams have the ball:
Under rookie head coach Scott Linehan, the Rams are more balanced now on offense than they have been in years past with Mike Martz. Linehan and offensive coordinator Greg Olson have gotten the ball into RB Steven Jackson hands more than 20 times a game and Jackson has rewarded the coaches with a sparkling 4.1 yards per carry average. QB Marc Bulger is having his best season to date and hasn’t thrown an interception so far in five games. WR Torry Holt has been consistent as ever in providing Bulger a reliable target week after week. Seattle is loaded on defense, especially in the secondary. Bulger is going to have a tough time staying perfect while facing Ken Hamlin, Marcus Trufant and Kelly Herndon this Sunday. Jackson might not have much running room either as the Seahawks run defense is only allowing 79.8 yards per game.
Prediction:
Believe it or not, the Rams’ best option on offense might be through the air. Staying balanced is going to be tough against Seattle’s defense, but if St. Louis can feed the hot hand in Bulger, maybe the Rams can set up the run by throwing early. Hasselback has not played well thus far this season and St. Louis (other than last year when the Seahawks took both games against the Rams) has owned Seattle in the past.
Seattle might be the better overall team, but without their star player on the road with Hasselbeck not playing entirely too well, I just don’t have a lot of confidence in the Hawks: Rams 24, Seahawks 21.
Questions or comments on this game? Send them to astalter@bullz-eye.com.