Rams Vs. Seahawks: 2011 Sunday Night Football Predictions & TV Time

The 2011 NFL Sunday Night Football game between the St. Louis Rams and Seattle Seahawks (host) is set for Sunday January 2nd (8:20 PM EST) at Qwest Field. NBC Sports will broadcast this pivotal division contest. St. Louis is currently first in NFC West, enjoying a 7-8 record; Seattle ranks second in the division with a record of 6-9. This article provides TV time and predictions for the 2011 Rams-Seahawks game.

1) Rams-Seahawks Matchup

The winner of Sunday's primetime game between the St. Louis Rams and Seattle Seahawks will win the NFC West and earn a spot in the postseason. Since 2005, the division foes have met 10 times with the Seahawks enjoying a 9-1 advantage. Seattle has dominated the Rams both at home and on the road. The last meeting between the two teams was in October of 2010; St. Louis won that game 20-3.

2) Sam Bradford vs. Matt Hasselbeck

The final game of the NFL's regular season pits rookie quarterback Sam Bradford against veteran QB Matt Hasselback. Both players have struggled this year statistically. For the season, St. Louis' Sam Bradford has thrown for 3357 yards with 18 TDs and a QB rating of 78. Seattle's Matt Hasselback has been even more lackluster. The veteran quarterback has to date amassed 3001 passing yards, 12 TDs, and a poor QB rating of 73. As of this article, Hasselback remains doubtful to start in this game.

3) Steve Spagnuolo vs. Pete Carroll

It is quite fitting that the final game of the NFL's regular season will decide the final playoff spot. Some may lament the fact that a team with 8 or less wins will advance to the postseason. Yet, the winner of this game is unquestionably the best team in the NFC West, and that's all that matters. Statistically, the St. Louis Rams and Seattle Seahawks are pretty even in most aspects. The winner of this contest will likely be the one who has the best game plan and executes it well.

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The St. Louis Rams come into this game, having won three of the last five games. Unfortunately, most of their wins this season were against very weak teams--Arizona, Denver, Carolina, and San Francisco just to name a few. Steve Spagnuolo's team is in the middle of the pack in most categories. Offensively, the Rams rank 25th in points scored, 19th in passing, and 23rd in rushing. On the defensive front, St. Louis is a tad better placing 19th in points allowed, 21st in passing defense, and 15th in opponent rushing yards. Needless to say, Steve Spagnuolo's crew is an average team in a very weak division.

If the Rams get a C- grade for competitiveness, the Seattle Seahawks should get no more than a D. Pete Caroll's team ranks near the bottom of most statistical categories. The Seahawks is 23rd in points scored, 18th in passing, and dead last in rushing. Defensively, the team does not fare any better. Seattle ranks 29th in points allowed, 29th in opponent passing yards, and 22nd in rushing defense. Adding insult to injury is the fact that the team's starting QB might not be able to play in this game. Fortunately, Pete Caroll's team still has the home court advantage and its opponent is rather mediocre.

My prediction for the 2011 NFL Sunday Night Football game between the St. Louis Rams and Seattle Seahawks: the Rams win a sloppy contest 19-14. Kickoff time for the game is 8:20 PM EST. The game will be played at Qwest Field, and will be broadcast by NBC Sports.

Reference:
ESPN.COM