The Los Angeles Rams kick things off on Sunday against the Seattle Seahawks, aiming the start the season with a win on the road against a division rival. Both teams will be a little bit shorthanded in the opener, with Cooper Kupp out for the Rams and Jamal Adams sidelined for Seattle, but both quarterbacks are healthy and ready to roll.
Looking beyond just the battle of Matthew Stafford vs. Geno Smith, there are five key matchups that could decide the outcome of Sunday’s game at Lumen Field. Unsurprisingly, they’re in the secondary and in the trenches, which is where this game could be won or lost.
1
WR Van Jefferson vs. CB Tariq Woolen
Even with Cooper Kupp out, Jefferson is expected to line up primarily on the outside. That puts him in Woolen’s area, the Seahawks’ top cornerback. No one should expect Jefferson to put up huge numbers the way Kupp probably would have but he’s a big-play threat who can stretch the field vertically.
Doing so against the 6-foot-4 Woolen, who has 4.26 speed, will be a challenge. That being said, Jefferson catching a deep pass or two in this one will go a long way toward helping the Rams pull off the upset against Seattle.
2
CB Cobie Durant vs. WR Tyler Lockett
Durant figures to be the Rams’ slot defender this year, replacing Jalen Ramsey at that spot. Lockett plays inside and out for the Seahawks, which means he’ll line up just about everywhere on offense, but expect Durant to be matched up with him a lot on Sunday no matter what.
Lockett is one of the most underrated receivers in the game and he knows how to create separation better than most wideouts. Durant will have to be on top of his game and limit Lockett’s production while Ahkello Witherspoon and Derion Kendrick deal with DK Metcalf on the outside.
3
LT Alaric Jackson vs. OLB Uchenna Nwosu
Nwosu plays on the left and right side for Seattle but it’s reasonable to think the Seahawks will try to get him matched up with Jackson on the left side as much as possible. Jackson is far less proven than Rob Havenstein is at right tackle, so this is a big matchup for the first-year starting left tackle.
One of the Rams’ many undoings last season was their inability to keep Matthew Stafford upright and they can’t have a repeat of that this year. Jackson has to get off to a good start against Nwosu on the edge.
4
LG Steve Avila vs. DT Jarran Reed
Fortunately for Avila, he won’t have to block Aaron Donald in this one like he has all summer in practice. But even still, Reed is a tough matchup on the interior and the first real test for the rookie left guard.
Similar to Jackson, Avila needs to be on top of his game so that the left side of the line doesn’t collapse and allow consistent pressure on Stafford. And in the running game, he’ll need to clear out the big bodies inside to open up lanes for Cam Akers.
5
OLB Michael Hoecht vs. LT Charles Cross
The biggest concern for Los Angeles in this one has to be the pass rush, as it has been all offseason. Hoecht will be the Rams’ primary edge rusher and on Sunday, he’ll line up across from Cross at left tackle most often.
As a rookie last year, Cross had a respectable grade of 63.9 in pass protection, but he did allow an average of almost three pressures per game so there will be opportunities for Hoecht to get after Geno Smith.
