NFL Football
2025-01-05 - Seattle Seahawks at Los Angeles Rams
A Sports Betting Pick by FirstDown
United States : NFL Week 18
Sunday 5th January 2025 - Scheduled 4:25pm
9:25pm (British Time)
Preview
The NFC West Division crown has already been secured by the Los Angeles Rams (10-6) and they are either going to finish with the Number 3 or Number 4 Seed in the Playoff.
With that in mind, Sean McVay has made it clear that he will give some key players a rest before the Wild Card Round is played next weekend and that includes starting Quarter Back Matthew Stafford.
Jimmy Garoppolo is very assured as the backup, but he may be without some of the top Receiving options and the starting Running Back with the mentality already focused on the Wild Card rather than finishing the regular season with another victoy.
The Seattle Seahawks (9-7) still have plenty to play for, even if the season ends in Week 18.
An opportunity to win ten games in a single season would see the team surpass 2023, which is a boost, while there are players that have personal incentives to reach. Head Coach Mike Macdonald has made it clear that his Seahawks team are going to be playing to win, even if finishing with the same record as the Rams would see them miss out on a deep tie-breaker, and the fact that Los Angeles are going in with a host of backups helps.
You cannot really know what to expect from the Los Angeles backups and they are not likely to contain the run, although Geno Smith is going to take to the air to make sure the incentives are reached. The Quarter Back has been under duress behind this Offensive Line, but that should be eased in this final regular season game and Geno Smith should be able to hit his playmakers down the field.
The Seahawks are going to be motivated having lost the first of the regular season meetings in early November, despite being the better team, and the Rams may not be able to sustain Offensive drives in this one.
Improvements made down the stretch makes it tough for the Rams and the second string to have a lot of success and that begins with the challenges to run the ball against this Seattle Defensive Line.
Experience is not a problem for Jimmy Garoppolo, but playing behind the chains is tough and Seattle's Secondary have also shown enough down the stretch to offer the team some positives to take into 2025. The Seahawks can build some pass rush pressure and they may be able to force some errant throws from Garoppolo, which may just give Seattle the edge and the momentum to push through and cover this spread.
Los Angeles have won three in a row in the series, but the Seattle Seahawks might have the motivation to come through with a big road win.
Prediction
Lay the points with the road team.
The Pick :
Los Angeles Rams 13-24 Seattle Seahawks
