NFL Thursday night game picks: Los Angeles Rams vs. Seattle Seahawks

Rams receiver Puka Nacua tackled by Seahawks defender Josh Jobe (2025)
Rams receiver Puka Nacua tackled by Seahawks defender Josh Jobe (2025)Harry How/Getty Images

Our NFL experts give their picks for Week 16's Thursday night primetime game between the Los Angeles Rams (11-3) and Seattle Seahawks (11-3)!

The Seahawks are 1.5-point favourites at home over the Rams with the over-under set at 42.5.

It'll be an all-out battle for first place in the NFC West division! Seattle will be debuting their Rivalries uniform for the game - the last team to do so this season.

So, let's take a look at who our experts picked before we break down the game.

Experts picks

Paul (140-68-1): Rams 23-19 Seahawks

This is an all-time TNF showdown for the top spot in the NFC. Off-field distractions this week have dominated the Rams' narrative, but I trust Sean McVay to keep running a tight ship.

The last meeting was somewhat of a slugfest going in the Rams’ direction. Thursday will see more action, but rain will make it difficult to make it as explosive as the Rams’ game against the Lions.

They have the MVP, however. Give me Poona Ford’s Rams!

Eric (139-69-1): Seahawks 26-24 Rams

The Rams bested the Seahawks in Los Angeles earlier in the season by a score of 21-19. But sitting on previous games in this league is futile, especially this season. The NFL is called a "week-to-week" league for one reason or a million. 

A battle for the division in one of the most hostile environments in all of American sports will see the NFL's favourite to win MVP in Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford and the No. 4 defence in the entire league with the Seattle Seahawks. 

It's a battle of juggernaut vs. juggernaut - both of these teams are prime Super Bowl contenders out of the NFC. The question is who will force more turnovers and commit fewer penalties?

Seattle only lost by two points despite turning it over four times in their first meeting this season. Since that game, the Seahawks forced nine turnovers in those four games. Can the league's MVP prove to everyone why he isn't to be doubted? 

I got the Seahawks taking this one at home in one of the best matchups of the season.

Miguel (131-77-1): Rams 27-21 Seahawks

It is difficult to predict the outcome of this match.

However, even though both teams have identical 11-3 records, I think the Rams are a slightly more complete team than the Seahawks, which will help them achieve that coveted top seed in the NFC.

Setting aside Stafford, the Rams have won eight of their last nine, including one against the Seahawks, and are nine points away from being the highest-scoring team in the league. 

I'm taking the Rams to get the win on the road.

Henri (120-89-1): Seahawks 23-20 Rams

The two best teams in the NFC will face off in an ultimate showdown on Thursday night.

While the Rams have won their last two games, the Seahawks have been on a four-game winning streak - I see that trend continuing tonight. 

Led by a magnificent Sam Darnold, who has tossed five touchdowns and thrown only one interception in his last four games, I think Seattle will secure an important victory in the battle for the NFC West crown in their head-to-head matchup against the league's MVP favourite in Stafford. 

Game breakdown

Both the Seahawks (No. 5) and Rams (No. 2) have a top-five scoring offence this season. Seattle has outscored their opponents 111-49 since losing to the Rams, going 4-0 in that span. 

Their No. 4 overall defence (No. 7 in passing, No. 3 in rushing) also racked up the fourth-most sacks (42) this season, surpassing even the Rams' pass rush that was atop the league with the Denver Broncos earlier in the year.

Their pass rush has put up 10 sacks in the last four games, but just two in back-to-back games. Only four teams have forced more turnovers than Seattle's defensive unit this season, which has put up 22. 

They're going up against a Rams offence that's arguably the best in the entire league alongside the Detroit Lions, a team they just outscored 41-34 last week. They average the second-most yards per game (383.6) and the second-most points per game (30.0). 

In six of their last eight wins, the Rams finished with at least 30 points, five of which they finished with over 330 total yards, including two 500-yard games.

They are just one of three teams to produce multiple 500-yard games this year, the other two being the Lions and New York Giants.

Stafford currently sits first in our NFL MVP tracker, and for good reason, but don't ignore the Rams' rushing attack either. In the past two weeks, the Rams have combined for 408 total rushing yards - both resulting in wins. 

The Seahawks do, indeed, pose one of the stoutest run defences in the league. At one point, they were the only team not to allow a rushing touchdown. They now sit in second with seven...behind the Rams' five. 

In six of their 14 games, the Seahawks have allowed over 100 yards on the ground - one of them being the Rams, who posted 119 during that game.

However, while the Seattle defence may not be the one to worry about, much like the Rams' 19th-ranked pass defence, the Seahawks find themselves in trouble on the offensive side of the ball, having committed 23 turnovers - the second most in the NFL. 

On top of that, the Seahawks will be facing a Rams defence that has forced one fewer turnover than they have this season. 

Should the Seahawks keep the turnovers to a low, maintain possession for the most part to keep Stafford and company off the field, they could be looking for their fifth straight win. 

Injury report

(LP = limited participant in practice / FP = full participant in practice / DNP = did not participate in practice)

Rams star wide receiver Devante Adams is listed as doubtful for Thursday night's game against the Seahawks as he deals with a hamstring injury that he sustained last week. 

Defensive end Braden Fiske (DNP) is listed as questionable after not practicing all week. 

As for the Seahawks, only offensive tackle Charles Cross (DNP) is listed as out for the game.