This Thursday Night Football matchup is a massive NFC West showdown as the Los Angeles Rams (11-3) travel to Seattle to face the Seahawks (11-3) at Lumen Field.
The playoff stakes are obvious. These teams are tied in the standings, and this game can swing the division race and the tiebreakers in a hurry. Seattle is trying to protect home turf and keep pace in the West, while the Rams are looking to prove they are the team to beat down the stretch.
At quarterback, this is Matthew Stafford vs Sam Darnold. And the headline injury to track is Davante Adams, who aggravated a hamstring and is not practicing early in the week, though Sean McVay has not ruled him out for Thursday. On Seattle’s side, left tackle Charles Cross is dealing with a hamstring issue after last weekend, and his status is worth watching with the Rams’ pass rush coming to town.
From a betting perspective, the early market views this as essentially a coin flip. Major books have the Rams as a small road favorite (around -1.5) with the total around 44 points, which lines up with a tight, playoff-style game rather than a track meet. You will see similar numbers across betting apps that operate in most states, and this is exactly the kind of close spread where props can end up being the best angle on the board.
With all that in mind, here’s how I see this game playing out and what I’m eyeing for prop bets on Thursday night.
Game Pick: Rams -1.5
In their first matchup this season, the Rams won by just a field goal, despite Darnold’s many turnovers. Even though I expect a better performance from the Seahawks quarterback, I still think the Rams win this one. Seattle’s offense has struggled in few recent games, relying heavily on the defense and special teams. Meanwhile, the Rams have shown they can score with anyone, after a shootout vs the Lions last week. This will be a less explosive game, but overall I see the momentum favoring a Rams close victory on the road.
Sam Darnold Over 0.5 Interceptions Thrown (-140)
Last time these teams played, Darnold threw 4 interceptions. I expect Sam to be better this time around, but that isn’t saying much. The Rams generate a lot of pressure on the defensive side, so Darnold will have to get rid of the ball in a hurry and make some risky throws. Darnold has shown throughout his career, that big games get to him. He may be a better version of himself, but the quarterback who formerly was “seeing ghosts” is likely to make at least one costly throw in this one.
Puka Nacua Over 7.5 Receptions (-130)
With Devonte Adams likely out with injury, the Rams will lean on their superstat wide receiver in Puka Nakua. The wideout has established himself as a top 5 receiver in the league, and keeps putting up monster games like he did last week. The reason I like his receptions over yards, is because the Rams like to draw up plays specifically to get the ball in his hands. Screen passes, quick slants, and maybe even an end around where the ball is tossed forward can all go to his receptions line. Puka will be active in this one, and should get some cheap receptions early on.
Nick Emmanwori Over 5.5 Tackles + Assists (-136)
The Seahwaks hit big in the draft with the rookie safety Nick Emmanwori. His stock shut up during the NFL Combine, and his athletic ability demonstrated there has translated directly to playing great football. The hard-hitting rookie flies around the field, and can make plays in the run game. Since the Rams spread the ball out, Emmanwori will have to be very active in this game. I really like this line for him, and hopefully on multiple occasions he can be the one to tackle Puka and go towards 2 of our legs at once.
Total Odds on 3-leg SGP: +370
Odds via DraftKings Sportsbook
Running total:
Game Picks ATS: 7-3
Player Props: 11-7
Last Week’s Results:
Bucs -4.5 ❌
Rachaad White O 16.5 Rushing Yards ✅
Darnell Mooney O 2.5 Receptions ✅
Baker Mayfield O 1.5 Passing Touchdowns ✅
By Jake Koehler
Jake is a sports betting writer at BettingApps.com, covering the latest sportsbook news, app reviews, promos, and betting features across the NFL and beyond. For the rest of the season, he will provide weekly analysis, predictions, and updates to help readers make smarter bets and stay ahead of the game.
