Frequently Asked Questions About Rams vs Seahawks

The Seattle Seahawks hold the overall advantage in the modern NFC West era since 2002, with a 27-17 record through the 2023 season. However, the historical context matters significantly. During the Seahawks' most dominant stretch from 2002-2015, they went 21-7 against the Rams, taking advantage of Los Angeles' time in St. Louis and the franchise's rebuilding years. Since the Rams returned to Los Angeles in 2016 and particularly after Sean McVay became head coach in 2017, the series has been much more competitive. From 2017-2023, the Rams actually hold a slight edge at 9-5, demonstrating how coaching changes and roster construction have shifted the competitive balance. The playoff meeting in January 2021 further illustrated this shift, with the Rams winning 30-20 in Seattle.

The Rams and Seahawks have met only once in the playoffs during the modern NFC West era. This occurred on January 9, 2021, during Wild Card Weekend, when the Rams traveled to Seattle's Lumen Field and won 30-20. Despite playing 44 regular season games since 2002, the rarity of their playoff meeting reflects the difficulty of both teams simultaneously making the postseason in the same wild card position. Typically, one team wins the division while the other misses the playoffs or enters as a wild card in a different slot. The 2020 playoff matchup came about because Seattle won the division at 12-4 while Los Angeles secured a wild card spot at 10-6, then faced each other in the opening round due to the playoff seeding format.

Russell Wilson finished with a 16-4 record as Seattle's starting quarterback against the Rams from 2012 through 2021, making it one of his most dominant performances against any opponent. He threw 29 touchdowns against just 9 interceptions in those 20 games, maintaining a passer rating above 95.0. Wilson's success stemmed from his ability to extend plays with his mobility, exploit the Rams' aggressive defensive schemes, and deliver in crucial fourth-quarter situations. Three of his four losses came after Sean McVay became Rams head coach in 2017, including the 2020 Wild Card playoff game. His departure to Denver in 2022 marked a significant turning point in the rivalry's competitive balance, as the Seahawks went 2-2 against the Rams in 2022-2023 with Geno Smith at quarterback.

Seattle's Lumen Field (formerly CenturyLink Field and Qwest Field) has historically provided a more significant home-field advantage in this matchup. Since 2002, the Seahawks are 16-5 at home against the Rams, a 76.2% winning percentage. The stadium's design amplifies crowd noise, with sound regularly exceeding 130 decibels, and the Seahawks have leveraged this acoustic advantage to force false starts and disrupt opponent communication. In contrast, the Rams' home-field advantage has been less consistent, partly due to playing in three different stadiums during this rivalry period: the Edward Jones Dome in St. Louis (2002-2015), the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum (2016-2019), and SoFi Stadium (2020-present). The Rams are 11-11 in home games against Seattle across these venues, though they've shown improvement at SoFi Stadium with a 3-1 record through 2023.

The highest-scoring game in the modern Rams vs Seahawks rivalry occurred on October 7, 2018, when the Rams defeated Seattle 33-31 at CenturyLink Field. The game featured 64 combined points, 853 total yards of offense, and multiple lead changes. Jared Goff threw for 321 yards and three touchdowns for the Rams, while Russell Wilson countered with 198 passing yards and three touchdowns of his own. Todd Gurley rushed for 77 yards and a touchdown, and Greg Zuerlein's 44-yard field goal with 7:52 remaining provided the winning margin. The offensive explosion reflected both teams operating at peak efficiency during a season when the Rams finished 13-3 and Seattle went 10-6, both making the playoffs. This game exemplified the offensive evolution both franchises underwent during the late 2010s.

The Rams' return to Los Angeles in 2016 fundamentally transformed the rivalry's competitive dynamics and geographic significance. Before the move, during the St. Louis years (2002-2015), Seattle dominated with a 21-7 record as the Rams struggled through multiple rebuilding phases. After returning to Los Angeles and especially after hiring Sean McVay in 2017, the Rams have gone 9-5 against Seattle, including the crucial 2020 playoff victory. The geographic rivalry between California and Washington intensified, with both fan bases more engaged due to the restored West Coast identity. Additionally, the Rams' investment in SoFi Stadium and their 2022 Super Bowl victory elevated the franchise's profile, creating a more balanced power dynamic. The rivalry now features two consistently competitive teams rather than Seattle's previous dominance over a struggling opponent.