Our offseason opponent breakdown series on theRams.com continues with Los Angeles' divisional matchups against the Seattle Seahawks in Weeks 11 and 16 (Week 11: SoFi Stadium, Nov. 16, 1:05 p.m. PT on FOX; Week 16: Lumen Field, Thurs. Dec. 18, 5:15 p.m. PT on Amazon Prime Video).
2024
First-year head coach Mike Macdonald led the Seahawks to a 10-7 record last season, but they missed the playoffs and placed second in the NFC West behind the Rams. 2024 was a breakout season for second-year receiver Jaxson Smith-Njigba, who caught 100 passes for 1,130 yards and six touchdowns. Seattle ended the year as the league's 11th-best scoring defense and 18th-best scoring offense, despite quarterback Geno Smith finishing fourth in passing yards with 4,320.
Key changes
The addition of longtime Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp was among Seattle's biggest moves this offseason. They also signed former Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold to a lucrative three-year deal to replace Smith as part of their new-look offense. The Seahawks' quarterback room is completely new, with veteran Drew Lock and rookie Jalen Milroe joining Darnold. They also signed wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling and drafted Miami tight end Elijah Arroyo in the second round along with offensive lineman Grey Zabel in the first.
Defensively, Seattle didn't make too many changes. Their biggest was the signing of veteran defensive end Demarcus Lawrence on a three-year contract. They also spent a second-round pick on the athletic safety out of South Carolina, Nick Emmanwori.
Seattle hired Klint Kubiak as its new offensive coordinator, bringing in a system similar to the one Darnold worked in last season.
Head coach
Macdonald is entering his second season as Seattle's head coach. He is currently the second-youngest coach in the NFL at 37 years old.
What to watch for
Sam Darnold versus Rams pass defense part 3
Darnold's Vikings lost to the Rams twice last season, including in the NFC Wildcard Round. He was sacked a combined 12 times, including nine in the postseason loss, and turned the ball over twice. The Rams' pass rush put Darnold through the ringer in Arizona, facilitating a strip-sack returned for a touchdown and an interception by cornerback Cobie Durant.
Darnold is now in an offense that was only marginally better at avoiding pressure (37.4% for Seahawks versus 40.2% for Vikings including playoffs), but both were bottom 10 in the league. Seattle also doesn't have the same caliber of players surrounding Darnold, and their defensive-minded head coach will not be as adept at aiding him as Kevin O'Connell was in Minnesota. Still, Kubiak will certainly help Darnold adjust to the new environment, and is emphasizing a run-heavy approach during OTAs.
How Darnold and the offense respond to the Rams' explosive front, which ranked fourth in the NFL in pressure rate generated last season (including playoffs), will likely determine the outcome of those divisional matchups in Weeks 11 and 16.
