Russell Wilson

Rams show Seahawks NFC West will be slugfest this season

Published Sep. 13, 2015 4:44 p.m. ET

James Parziale

New year, same problems for the Seattle Seahawks.

The Seahawks needed a yard to keep the game against the St. Louis Rams going in overtime on Sunday, and this time, even though they gave the ball to Marshawn Lynch, they got stuffed.

It's a joke that writes itself.

At least they didn't throw it there. #Seahawks
— Gregg Bell (@gbellseattle) September 13, 2015

The Rams, by outlasting the Seahawks 34-31 in overtime in Week 1, also just gave everyone the blueprint for how to stop the defending NFC champs: attack that decimated offensive line and hit Russell Wilson. Oh, and go after the guy who is replacing Kam Chancellor.

To make matters worse, it looks like the Rams are angry.

Hey @DangeRussWilson, don't delete this... https://t.co/MJmLa9lUDW
— St. Louis Rams (@STLouisRams) September 13, 2015

Marshawn Lynch had problems running the ball for a majority of the game as Beast Mode ended up with 73 yards on 18 carries -- but 23 of those came on one play.

Marshawn Lynch gets the first down on 3rd & 2 despite no hole to run through. Rams just falling off him. #Seahawks O-line needs more push
— Gregg Bell (@gbellseattle) September 13, 2015

Marshawn Lynch makes 1 Ram miss, jukes 2 more. But no gain because so many STL defenders are in #Seahawks backfield
— Gregg Bell (@gbellseattle) September 13, 2015

The Rams sacked Wilson six times, too. At one point, this happened:

Russell Wilson has been sacked 15 times in last 3 1/2 games #Seahawks have played in St. Louis
— Gregg Bell (@gbellseattle) September 13, 2015

Not everyone has a front as ferocious as the Rams, but they harassed Wilson all day. The latter did have one big run for a first down inside the red zone that set up Jimmy Graham's first touchdown catch in a Seattle uniform on third down.

However, this game never really should have come to that. It was all going so swimmingly for the Rams.

The Rams were up 24-13 in the third quarter. The upset was in sight.

Then all kinds of shenanigans brook loose. Three second-half turnovers by the Rams let the Seahawks off the hook.

In addition, the Seahawks missed their all-world holdout safety Chancellor. His replacement, Dion Bailey, got burned for a game-tying touchdown with under a minute left in regulation.

Everyone has said the Rams have been a quarterback away from competing in the NFC West. And Nick Foles' regular-season debut on Sunday proved just that.