There’s an area of Rams’ offense Seahawks can exploit

The Seattle Seahawks will be looking to avenge one of their rare rough defensive performances in Sunday’s NFC Championship against the Los Angeles Rams.

Schlereth: Seattle Seahawks playing a style that wins in playoffs

When the Seahawks and Rams met back in Week 16, Seattle pulled out a wild comeback win in overtime after trailing by 16 in the fourth quarter. But the Rams’ offense did plenty of damage, piling up 581 total yards against the league’s No. 1 scoring defense, the most allowed by the Seahawks in franchise history. That included MVP candidate Matthew Stafford throwing for 457 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions for the Rams.

Slowing down Stafford and the Rams’ high-octane offense this weekend will be no easy task, but Seahawks Radio Network analyst Dave Wyman sees one area Seattle can take advantage of to do so. He explained during Seattle Sports’ Wyman and Bob on Tuesday.

“The numbers don’t bear it out, but what I saw in that Thursday night game where we beat the LA Rams (was) Stafford does not like pressure at all, and he just becomes a totally different player,” Wyman said. “And I’m probably going to hammer this to death as this Rams game approaches that when he gets anybody even close around him, he’s looking to throw it away, he’s looking to dirt it – he just looks totally different.”

Stafford had a big day in the Seahawks’ overtime win, but the difference between his numbers when pressured and when kept clean was stark. Stafford completed just 9 of 21 throws for 137 yards and a TD when pressured. When kept clean, he was 20 of 28 for 320 yards and two TDs.

“The Seahawks did not sack him in that game that we end up beating them in overtime, but still, there were so many times where I’m like, I’ve never seen a quarterback worse under pressure as opposed to when he’s got a clean pocket,” Wyman said.

Stafford’s struggles under pressure have been on display during the Rams’ two playoff games. When pressured, he’s 9 of 23 for 119 yards, no touchdowns and an interception with a 13.8% turnoverworthy-play rate, per Pro Football Focus. For comparison, he’s 35 of 61 for 443 yards, three TDs and no interceptions with a 3.1% turnoverworthy-play rate when kept clean. He’s also last among quarterbacks with a 24.8 passer rating under pressure, according to NFL Next Gen Stats.

So Wyman would like to see the Seahawks put an emphasis on an area he feels they can clearly take advantage of.

“I think they can get pressure with four (defenders rushing the quarterback), and that’s something that they’ve done all year long,” Wyman said. “But man, if I was Mike Macdonald and looking at that stat, I would think about, all right, let’s send five, let’s see what happens.”

“Obviously every game is different and I’m sure they’ll have some answers and I’m sure they’ve self-scouted and all that … but that was something I think that could be a huge advantage, especially with the Seahawk defense,” Wyman added. “You talk about an excellent defense. Everybody pretty much recognizes them as the best defense in the league.”

Hear to the full conversation at this link or in the audio player near the top of this story. Listen to Wyman and Bob from 2-7 p.m. weekdays or find the podcast on the Seattle Sports app.

More on the Seattle Seahawks

• Do Seahawks’ hopes in NFC Championship hinge on Sam Darnold?
• Seven Seattle Seahawks earn postseason honors from PFWA
• Why Seahawks-Rams is historically great playoff matchup
• Daniel Jeremiah’s key for Seahawks to beat Rams in NFC Championship
• Brock: Where Seattle Seahawks will miss RB Zach Charbonnet most

Related

Wyman & Bob react to Seahawks’ Terrion Arnold signingRick Rizzs ‘still walking on a cloud’ after Mariners HOF revealMorosi: The missing piece Mariners’ offense needs‘The ninja’: Seahawks players, coaches rave about Byron Murphy II‘Hungry’ for a Year 2 leap, Arroyo drawing buzz at Seahawks campM’s GM: Where things stand with top prospect Kade Anderson