Seattle vs Los Angeles Rams: The Seahawks to get revenge on the Rams for last year’s playoff defeat

The Thursday Night Football series rarely shines with high-profile signings. However, Week 5 of the 2021 Championship is an exception. The next round of the regular season kicks off with a divisional clash of the biggest rivals as the Seattle Seahawks take on the Los Angeles Rams. Who will win? There are several options for betting at once.

Pete Carroll’s Seahawks are traditionally regarded as one of the season’s top favourites. That’s not surprising. The experienced 70-year-old has led Seattle since 2010, missed the playoffs only twice, and won the Super Bowl in 2013.

At the start of the 2021 championship, however, the Seahawks are having a rough time so far with two wins and two losses. In week 1, the Seahawks beat Indianapolis 28-16. Then they suffered two straight losses - at home to Tennessee in overtime 30-33 (30-30) and away to Minnesota 30-17. Fortunately, in Week 4, Seattle managed to cope in California with division rival San Francisco 28:21.

Despite the two losses, quarterback Russell Wilson is off to a great start with 1,044 yards passing, nine touchdowns, and no interceptions. It’s worth noting that Seattle had a change in offensive coordinator before the start of the league, replacing Brian Schottenheimer. The latter went to coach quarterbacks in Jacksonville, with Shane Waldron, formerly the offensive coordinator for the LA Rams. I wonder, when Wilson finally works out with the new coordinator, will his successes be even more impressive?

While Seattle started the championship with two defeats in their first three starts, the LA Rams have picked up three straight wins. At home, 34-14 over the Chicago Bears and 34-24 over reigning champions Tom Brady’s Tampa. Away, however, the Indianapolis Colts were outscored in earnest, 27-24.

What was surprising, after such a strong start, was their home loss in Week 4. The Rams lost to the Arizona Cardinals, 20-37. Not a good matchup, particularly for the Los Angeles defense. As for the team’s new quarterback Matthew Stafford, he wasn’t bad at all again - 280 yards, two touchdowns, though one interception. Overall, the former Detroit Lions playmaker and 2009 1st overall draft pick already has 1,222 yards passing, 11 touchdowns, and two interceptions in 4 games.

The Los Angeles Rams are the bookmakers’ favourites for the upcoming game, but a very slight one. Most bookmakers estimate even Seattle’s handicap (+3.5) to be only around 1.50-1.60. That is, if the Rams win, it will be by no more than one field goal. And will they win at all? The Seahawks have a grudge against the Californians for losing in the last playoffs. Russell Wilson and company probably won’t hesitate to take their chance for revenge. The possible absence of Seattle’s leading receiver DK Metcalf is a bit of a concern. But first, maybe Metcalf will play. And secondly, Tyler Lockett is definitely in good health so that Wilson won’t be without targets for assists anyway.

• W1 for 2.13;
• Handicap 1 (+2.5) for 1.90.