One of the most important games of the 2025-26 regular season will take place tonight when the 11-3 Los Angeles Rams take on the 11-3 Seattle Seahawks. Not only will first place in the NFC West be on the line, but the winner will take control of the number-one seed in the NFC playoff picture.

Both of these squads are coming off massive Week 15 victories. The Rams beat the Detroit Lions 41-34, while the Seahawks defeated the Indianapolis Colts 18-16. After all the action from this past week, there are six NFC teams with at least nine wins under their belts.

“I think there's a lot of really good teams in this conference,” said LA head coach Sean McVay on December 12th. “I think that's safe to say, in terms of there's a lot of good, high-caliber teams.”

During the Lions game, both of the Rams' star wide receivers suffered injury scares. Puka Nacua had to leave the game early due to cramping, while Davante Adams reaggravated a nagging hamstring injury. Adams is considered week-to-week with his injury and is doubtful for tonight's matchup.

“He’s as tough as it gets,” McVay told reporters on Tuesday. “I want to see what it looks like with the time we have.”

In their second matchup against the Seahawks, the Rams will need to do a better job of containing Seattle wideout Jaxon Smith-Njigba. Though he didn't score a touchdown the first time these teams met, he still recorded nine catches for 105 receiving yards.

“He's a great player, and they do a good job moving him around,” McVay said of JSN during a November 17th edition of The Coach McVay Show. “[He’s] a guy that can win inside, outside. He's got great hands. He's strong at the catch point. Good transition, good RAC (Receiving yards after catch)... I've got a lot of respect, and seeing him in person, I think you can appreciate it even more than what the tape shows. And the tape is really impressive as well.”

Though these teams played each other not that long ago, a lot has changed for the Seahawks on both sides of the ball, according to Sean McVay.

“I see [a] great, ability to adjust, adapt, and then continue to do things at a high level while they've still added,” he said. “There's new layers and wrinkles to the things that they're doing, whether that be situationally or some of the normal down and distances. Whether that be offensively, defensively, or in the kicking game. I've just seen a team that's gotten better throughout the season.”

When these squads first got together, the story of the game was the mistakes made by Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold, who turned the ball over four times. Despite those errors, Seattle head coach Mike Macdonald doesn't want Darnold to veer away from what he and the rest of the team have been doing this season.

“I want Sam to play like I want our football team to play, [which] is decisive, shocking, and relentless,” Macdonald said to reporters on Monday. “Have it be really clear on what you want to do in the game, in that play, so go rip it. Shocking is like, ‘Hey, it's the execution.’ It's the beauty in the details. It's all the preparation that feeds into those basic fundamentals that make it come to life, and then just stick at it. We're just not gonna stop. And Sam's demonstrated those things.”

Darnold acknowledged that he could have been better the first time around. Regardless, he and the rest of the team are excited to get another chance to play a meaningful divisional game.

“We're excited about this challenge," Darnold said on Tuesday. “Obviously, it's a divisional game. Playing these guys, last time, obviously, wasn't my best effort. I feel like, as an offense, we’ve just got to continue to do what we've been practicing. Stay on the details.”

While most teams have to prepare for the Rams' wide receivers, LA also employs a specific type of offense scheme that utilizes one running back and three tight ends. With Davante Adams likely out, Seattle should expect a lot of "13" personnel, as it's called.

“You just have to look at how they're playing. How they're playing on early downs. How they're playing on different situations in the game, and kind of look at the averages and get ready for those situations and be ready to adapt as the game goes,” explained defensive coordinator Aden Durde. “He's (Davante Adams) an excellent player. So, if you lose an excellent player, we could say the same thing. We've had situations where we've lost excellent players, and players have stepped up in an excellent way. So, I assume they're well coached. They're guys are going to come to play. So, we’ve just got to play.”

Prediction for Los Angeles Rams @ Seattle Seahawks (-1.5)

Though Sam Darnold had an absolutely disastrous game against the Rams the last time these teams played, Seattle still managed to keep it close and was a missed 61-yard field goal away from winning! LA has an excellent defense, but it seems highly unlikely that the unit will be able to force four turnovers again. Plus, Seattle hasn't lost a home game since Week Five. As we mentioned previously, in the unlikely event Davante Adams plays, he'll probably be limited in his effectiveness, which will allow the Seahawks to focus on Puka Nacua and stopping their three-tight-end sets. It feels like the Seahawks will get revenge for their loss earlier this season at home on a short week in bad weather.

Prediction: Seahawks 23 - 21 Rams

How to watch Los Angeles Rams @ Seattle Seahawks (-1.5)

Rams @ Seahawks starts at 8:15 p.m. EDT at Lumen Field. You can watch it on Amazon Prime Video.

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