One of the biggest games of the year takes place this week in a heated battle between two of the best teams in the entire league. Maintaining their excellence throughout the year, the Los Angeles Rams and the Seattle Seahawks have been near the top of the NFC West at 11 wins apiece.
A victory for either team could essentially guarantee a one-seed for the victor, while the other team has to battle it out through the Wild Card rounds. However, neither team is walking into the game fully healthy, so here is a breakdown of the players on the inactive list and the ones who will be starting for these two squads.
Inactive List for Rams and Seahawks
Los Angeles Rams
- CB Ahkello Witherspoon
- QB Stetson Bennett IV
- WR Davante Adams
- RB Jarquez Hunter
- OL Beaux Limmer
- OLB Nick Hampton
Seattle Seahawks
- LT Charles Cross
- QB Jalen Milroe
- WR Jake Bobo
- OL Bryce Cabeldue
- NT Brandon Pili
- OL Mason Richman
- LB Jared Ivey
Starters for Rams vs. Seahawks
Los Angeles Rams
Offense:
- QB Matthew Stafford
- RB Kyren Williams
- WR Puka Nacua
- WR Tutu Atwell
- WR Tutu Atwell
- TE Colby Parkinson
- LT Alaric Jackson
- LG Steve Avila
- C Coleman Shelton
- RG Kevin Dotson
- RT Warren McClendon Jr.
Defense:
- DE Braden Fiske
- NT Poona Ford
- DT Kobie Turner
- LOLB Byron Young
- LILB Nate Landman
- RILB Omar Speights
- ROLB Jared Verse
- LCB Cobie Durant
- SS Kam Curl
- FS Kamren Kinchens
- RCB Emmanuel Forbes Jr.
Special Teams:
- PK Harrison Mevis
- P, H Ethan Evans
- PR, KR Xavier Smith
- LS Jake McQuaide
For most of the year, the Rams have been considered the best team in football, with an MVP award seeming likely for Matthew Stafford, who may be having his best year yet. However, they have a few more hurdles to overcome.
A late-season dip could hurt their legitimacy at the top of the NFC, while the award could slip away from Stafford if they don’t close the year strong. A win over the Seahawks could go a long way in helping establish them as the class of the conference with just three weeks remaining in the season.
Seattle Seahawks
Offense:
- QB Sam Darnold
- RB Kenneth Walker III
- WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba
- WR Rashid Shaheed
- TE AJ Barner
- FB Robbie Ouzts
- LT Josh Jones
- LG Grey Zabel
- C Olu Oluwatimi
- RG Anthony Bradford
- RT Abraham Lucas
Defense:
- DT Jarran Reed
- NT Byron Murphy II
- DE Leonard Williams
- LOLB DeMarcus Lawrence
- LILB Drake Thomas
- RILB Ernest Jones IV
- ROLB Uchenna Nwosu
- RCB Devon Witherspoon
- SS Ty Okada
- LCB Josh Jobe
- FS Julian Love
Special Teams:
- PK Jason Myers
- P, H Michael Dickson
- PR, KR Tory Horton
- LS Chris Stoll
For all of his excellence all season long, as he’s ranking at number 7 on PFSN’s QB Impact, the last time Sam Darnold stared across the field from the Rams, he turned in one of his worst games all season, giving up five interceptions in the encounter.
As a result, the Seahawks had no chance to compete in the game. This time around, the hope is that he can deliver a significantly better performance, thereby enabling his team to wrap up what has been an excellent season so far.
