Week 11 NFL Prediction: Spoiler Seattle Seahawks Tackle Rams In St-Louis

Sunday, November 20, 2011

by Aengus Moorehead

Sam Bradford - Week 11 NFL Prediction: Spoiler Seattle Seahawks Tackle Rams In St-Louis

Analysis:
Wins haven't come at a rapid pace for either the St Louis Rams or Seattle Seahawks this season, but a meeting between the two NFC West afterthoughts will net one club consecutive victories for the first time in 2011.

Seattle aims for its second road victory of the season while St. Louis tries to win for the third time in four weeks since a disastrous start when the teams square off this Sunday at the Edward Jones Dome.

After enduring a 1-15 campaign just two years ago, the Rams got off to another tough start this season by opening with six straight losses. They finally found the win column on Oct. 30 versus New Orleans before a road loss to Arizona seven days later. St. Louis rebounded this past weekend, however. winning a field-goal battle with Cleveland by a 13-12 margin.

The Rams posted the lone touchdown of the game with Sam Bradford's seven-yard pass to Brandon Lloyd in the second quarter and Josh Brown hit his second field goal of the afternoon with 7:42 left in regulation, a 34-yarder.

Cleveland kicker Phil Dawson, who had already hit on four field goals, had a chance to put the Browns ahead with 2:10 to play, but missed a 22-yard attempt. The Rams then ran out the clock, picking up a poetic victory after a blocked field goal try cost them a chance at victory in Arizona the previous week.

St. Louis, which plays the first of two straight at home, hasn't won back-to- back games since Nov. 28-Dec. 5 of last year. At 2-7, the Rams are one game behind both the Cardinals and Seahawks for second place in the NFC West, which is led by 8-1 San Francisco.

Seattle snapped a three-game slide and won for the first time since Oct. 9 at the New York Giants with a 22-17 upset of Baltimore last Sunday. The Ravens pulled within five points with a touchdown with just under six minutes to go, but the Seahawks were able to run off the final 5:52 of the game.

Running back Marshawn Lynch ran for 109 yards with a touchdown for Seattle, picking up three critical first downs to finish out the contest.

The Seahawks haven't won back-to-back games in the regular season since Oct. 17-24, 2010, but did beat the Rams in Week 17 of last year before picking up a playoff win over New Orleans.

Time & Venue:
- 4:05 PM ET, Sunday, November 20, 2011. Edward Jones Dome, St. Louis, Missouri

Last Week's results:
- Seattle Seahawks (+6.5) beats visiting Baltimore Ravens 22-17.
- St-Louis Rams (+2.5) beats host Cleveland Browns 13-12.

Last week's ATS:
- Underdog Seattle Seahawks (3-6) wins outright
- Underdog St-Louis Rams (2-7) wins outright.

NFL Football Odds: Rams -3, O/U: 40.

Next up:
- Seattle home to Washington, Sunday, November 27
- St. Louis home to Arizona, Sunday, November 27

Seattle stunned nearly everyone last Sunday by ending their three-game losing streak with a 22-17 victory at home over the Baltimore Ravens. Kicker Steve Hauschka was the offensive star as he booted a career-best five field goals. Lynch has scored all three of the Seahawks' touchdowns over their last four contests. Two of Seattle's three wins this year have come against division leaders.


St. Louis has allowed 110 more points than it has scored, the worst net in the NFC and second-worst in the entire league. Only the Indianapolis Colts (-169) have a worse margin. After beginning the season with six straight losses, the Rams have won two of their last three games. Cornerback Al Harris and tight end Mike Hoomanawanui are both done for the season as they were placed on injured reserve this week with knee injuries. Quarterback Sam Bradford has tossed only five touchdown passes over his last 12 starts after throwing for 17 scores over his first 11 career outings.

Lynch is the first Seahawk to score a touchdown in five straight games since Shaun Alexander in 2005, but will be without two of his starting offensive linemen this weekend. Guard John Moffitt suffered a season-ending knee injury and will be replaced on the right side by Paul McQuistan, while fellow rookie and tackle James Carpenter was also placed on injured reserve after tearing his ACL in practice on Wednesday.

Bradford isn't lighting up the stat sheet like he did last season, but he should have time to make some plays in this game. While the Rams have allowed 32 sacks this year, the Seahawks have posted just 14 on the season.

Special teams could play a factor in this game, and a big play could come from Seahawks returner Leon Washington. He is averaging 23 yards per kickoff return and has taken 21 punts for an average of 12.5 yards. Seattle has also allowed three return touchdowns on the season, though.

Jackson has never gained 100 yards in 13 career meetings with the Seahawks, peaking at 93.

Lynch has a good chance of posting his third straight 100-yard effort on the ground as the Rams have allowed a league-worst average of 150.6 rushing yards per contest.

Seattle has dominated the all-time series with St. Louis of late, winning 11 of the last 12 meetings.

St. Louis is 1-7 ATS in its last 8 games when playing Seattle
St. Louis is 2-4 ATS in its last 6 games when playing at home against Seattle
St. Louis is 2-8 ATS in its last 10 games
Seattle is 5-17-1 ATS in its last 23 games on the road
Seattle is 11-1 SU in its last 12 games when playing St. Louis
Seattle is 5-1-1 ATS in its last 7 games

The season hasn't gone according to plan for either the Seahawks and Rams, so it is simply pride that will be on the line for these two rivals. However, both teams have been able to find the win column as of late and will try to keep the momentum going this Sunday. The two clubs figure to put the ball in the hands of their running backs a lot in this game, but the injuries to Seattle's offensive line could tilt the advantage into the favor of the Rams.

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NFL Football Pick: Take Rams.

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al harris - baltimore ravens - brandon lloyd - cleveland browns - edward jones dome - james carpenter - john moffitt - josh brown - leon washington - marshawn lynch

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