Week 16’s Thursday Night Football matchup may be one of the biggest we see all year. The Los Angeles Rams and Seattle Seahawks fight for NFC West supremacy and the #1 overall seed in the NFC playoff picture with just three weeks to go in the season. Kickoff on Prime is set for 8:20 ET. Let’s jump into this Rams-Seahawks preview and make our Thursday Night Football picks and best bets.
The Los Angeles Rams come into this one tied with the Seahawks at 11-3, but by virtue of their week 11 win over Seattle they hold the NFC West lead. They also currently hold the #1 seed in the NFC with a better record than the Chicago Bears. Devante Adams hasn’t been ruled out with a hamstring injury, but it’s unlikely he plays. If he does, expect him to have a limited role.
The Seattle Seahawks, who play host on Thursday Night, have that equal 11-3 record. They are currently the #5 seed in the NFC, holding the best record of the Wild Card teams. A win on Thursday night would surge them to the top of the NFC leaderboard and into the #1 seed. Tackle Charles Cross is the only Seahawk who did not practice on Tuesday’s injury report.
Thursday Night Football Picks, Preview, and Best Bets: Los Angeles Rams at Seattle Seahawks
Kyren Williams Over 55.5 Rushing Yards (-114)
This line seems incredibly low for Kyren Williams. Yes, Seattle has a tough defense, yes the Rams have been using Blake Corum more. Neither of those things bother me. If they were “saving” Williams, it’s for games like this. The most important of their season. Adams is likely out, Puka is beat up. Kyren is the guy they can lean on Thursday night and I think they will do just that.
Kyren has hit this number in three straight games and six of the last seven. On the season, he’s hit this number in 11 games. In that earlier matchup against this Seattle team, it only took 12 carries to get 91 rushing yards for Williams. He’s gone over this number in the last two games against the Seahawks and has hit 52 yards in his last three against them.
Kyren Williams Anytime Touchdown (+115)
2+ Touchdowns (+800)
3+ Touchdowns (+5500)
It’s all about Kyren for me on Thursday Night. He’s found the end zone in three straight games and six of the last seven. He’s scored eight times in those seven games. With Adams out or at the least limited, Kyren goes back to the red zone role that he had before Adams showed up in LA. Last year Williams had three multi touchdown games, including hitting pay dirt three times in a game against the 49ers. I’ll ride this three touchdown ladder and give me his first touchdown at 7/1 as the icing on the cake.
Los Angeles Rams +0.5 (-113)
This is an easy Los Angeles pick for me. Sean McVay’s wife just had a baby, that always gives a bump to a guy like that. The Rams have won four of the last five against the Seahawks. The one loss was with Jimmy Garoppolo starting last January and they only lost 30-25. The Seahawks may have been looking ahead last week, but it took a last second field goal for them to beat Phillip Rivers.
Only the Minnesota Vikings have turned the ball over more than Seattle this year. Outside of a slip up to the Carolina Panthers (who might be good?) Sean McVay has this team firing on all cylinders. He’ll confuse Sam Darnold, and it’ll be a dogfight like it was in Week 11. But I’d rather have McVay, Stafford, and Kyren Williams in my corner. Give me the Rams. Matthew Stafford is 6-0 against Seattle, and the Rams haven’t lost in regulation in Seattle since 2020.
