Rams vs. Seahawks 2016 picks and predictions: Seattle is big favorite on Thursday night

The Los Angeles Rams will travel to CenturyLinkField to take on the Seattle Seahawks in a NFC West showdown on Thursday Night Football. Both teams are coming off of blowout losses in Week 14.

Following its 42-14 loss against the Atlanta Falcons in Week 14, Los Angeles fired head coach Jeff Fisher. Rams owner Stan Kroenke said Fisher was let go because the team’s performance has not lived up to fans expectations.

The Rams will be heading to Seattle with special teams coordinator John Fassel as their interim head coach. At 4-9, Los Angeles has been pretty horrible this season. Its defense has played well for most of the season, but the unit is starting to give up too many points.

On the other hand, the Rams’ offense is struggling to gain traction. Todd Gurley isn’t running with the same burst as he did in his rookie season, and the Rams’ offensive line cannot create lanes for their star runner.

Rookie quarterback Jared Goff has showed promise over the last few weeks, but he is still making a lot of mistakes. Los Angeles’ receivers cannot get open and struggle with dropped passes.

However, Los Angeles always play well against Seattle. In fact, the Seahawks have not defeated the Rams since Week 17 of the 2014 season. If Los Angeles wants to come away with a victory, it must find a way to get Gurley involved. The offensive line has to do a better job of carving out space for him, while Goff needs to make a couple of plays, avoid turnovers, and convert on third down.

As for the Rams defense, they have to stop surrendering big plays and create turnovers.

Seattle is 8-4-1 in the NFC West, and it can clinch the division with a win against the Rams. The Seahawks are coming off a 38-10 loss against the Green Bay Packers. In their first game without star safety Earl Thomas, the secondary gave up too many big plays.

Quarterback Russell Wilson threw five interceptions and did not look comfortable throughout the entire game. Even though the Rams have lost four straight games, the Seahawks can’t overlook them.

If Seattle wants to win this game, it must contain Gurley and make Goff beat them. On offense, Wilson has to avoid back-breaking turnovers and start making more plays with his legs. Also, Seattle must establish the run game early.

This should be a knock-down-drag-out type of game, even though almost everyone is picking the Seahawks to win. All of the experts at CBS Sports and ESPN predict that Seattle will defeat the Rams at home.

Here at SB Nation, our panel unanimously thinks the Seahawks will come away victorious.