SEATTLE — Sean McVay would possibly really qualify as sleepless in Seattle.
After the Rams’ victory over the Detroit Lions on Sunday, the Rams coach left SoFi Stadium for the hospital and the start of his second son, who arrived Monday morning. Then McVay game-planned for Thursday evening’s showdown with the Seattle Seahawks at Lumen Area.
Requested this week if he had slept a lot within the aftermath of the new child’s arrival, the notoriously early-rising McVay chuckled.
“Not really,” he stated. “Even for me. … This is a good challenge.”
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Gary Klein breaks down what to look at for Thursday evening when the Rams face the Seattle Seahawks on the street.
McVay and the Rams, who maintain the highest seed within the NFC and have clinched a playoff spot, will face their largest and most necessary check of the season in opposition to the Seahawks.
Each groups are 11-3. The Rams are in first place within the NFC West and so they have the tie-breaker over the Seahawks due to their 21-19 victory over them at SoFi Stadium on Nov. 16.
However that may change if the Rams can’t maintain off a Seahawks staff that final week defeated the Indianapolis Colts 18-16 with six subject targets.
As if dealing with the Seahawks weren’t difficult sufficient, the Rams’ scheduled flight to Seattle was delayed just a few hours due to mechanical points with the aircraft.
When requested in regards to the magnitude of a matchup, Rams gamers sometimes default to the ‘no-game-is-bigger-than-any-other” line. However quarterback Matthew Stafford acknowledged the stakes.
“Yeah, it’s a big one,’ he said. “They all are at this point in the season. … This is what you love playing NFL football for. “
Because the teams have identical records, it “just puts a little more oomph” on the sport, Rams security Kamren Kinchens stated.
“Playing for the division, there’s a lot on the table,” he stated. “And ‘Thursday Night Football’ makes it that much more.”
The query nonetheless looming for the Rams, no less than publicly, is whether or not star receiver Davante Adams will play.
Adams, who leads the NFL in landing catches with 14, suffered a hamstring harm that compelled him to depart the sport in opposition to the Lions. McVay stated this week that Adams’ standing for Thursday evening wouldn’t be decided till recreation time. The Rams on Wednesday listed him as uncertain.
If Adams doesn’t play, that might imply a bigger position for rookie Konata Mumpfield, a seventh-round draft choose from Pittsburgh who has 5 catches for 42 yards and a landing.
“I feel like this season has gone well, just being able to be the best in my role, whatever that is that they hand me,” Mumpfield stated. “Whether that’s blocking, whether that’s going in on third down, whether it’s special teams.”
Adams, a Twelfth-year professional, has been a mentor and “like a big brother to me,” Mumpfield stated, including that he tries to “take bits and pieces of his game and add to mine.”
Puka Nacua, who’s second within the NFL in each receptions and yards receiving, is anticipated to be Stafford’s major goal, together with a good finish corps that options Colby Parkinson, Davis Allen and rookie Terrance Ferguson.
Parkinson, who scored 5 touchdowns in his 5 earlier NFL seasons — the primary 4 with the Seahawks — has six landing catches this season.
However with chilly and attainable wet situations throughout the recreation, McVay may rely closely on working backs Kyren Williams and Blake Corum, who’ve been particularly efficient the final three video games.
“Being able to run the football will be paramount and key,” Stafford stated.
5 weeks in the past, Rams cornerbacks intercepted 4 passes by Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold.
So they’re anticipating changes by the Seahawks.
And counter strikes by Rams coaches, together with sleep-deprived McVay.
“He’s obviously a dedicated family man, but he’s also dedicated to us, so he’s been doing a great job,” Stafford stated, including, “He’s ready to rock and roll.”
