LOS ANGELES – The Rams' offense and defense both had reasons to be confident after Sunday night's 28-12 win over the Seahawks.
Here are five instant takeaways from the matchup:
1) OFFENSE FINDS AN EARLY RHYTHM
Despite the Seahawks' offense opening with an 11-play, 54-yard drive that took nearly six and a half minutes off the clock and led to the game's first points, the Rams' offense remained unfazed once it got its turn.
A six-yard run by running back Todd Gurley, 19- and 15-yard completions from quarterback Jared Goff to wide receiver Robert Woods, plus a 33-yard completion from Goff to Higbee had Los Angeles in business on the way to an 8-play, 75-yard drive that took less than three and a half minutes and led to a one-yard touchdown run by running back Malcolm Brown.
By halftime, Gurley, Goff, Woods and Higbee all looked comfortable, and it showed in the 21-3 Rams lead at intermission.
2) WILSON CONTAINED
Russell Wilson's performances this season have the Seahawks quarterback in the conversation for the NFL's MVP award. Part of that case was stated in the first meeting with he Rams this season, when he went 17 of 23 for 268 yards and four touchdowns – including one that had a 6.3 percent chance of being completed – in Week 5.
It was a different story in Week 14.
Wilson was held without a passing touchdown for the first time all season. Coincidentally, it was also a Week 14 when he last failed to toss a touchdown in a regular season game – Week 14 of the 2018 season against the Vikings.
3) MILESTONES FOR FOWLER, DONALD
Rams linebacker Dante Fowler and defensive tackle Aaron Donald each finished with 1.5 sacks and achieved statistically significant feats along the way.
For Fowler, his performance moved his season total to nine for a new career-high. Donald's moved him to 11 on the year, guaranteeing a third consecutive season with a double-digit sack total.
All told, the duo accounted for three of Los Angeles' five sacks on the night, contributing to the fourth game this season in which the pass rush has notched at least five sacks.
4) HIGBEE, WOODS IN SYNC WITH GOFF
It was touched on in takeaway No. 2, but for the second week in a row, Goff had a strong connection with both Higbee and Woods.
Both players surpassed 100 yards receiving for the second straight game. Higbee had a catch on every Rams scoring drive, while Woods got his first touchdown catch of the season and posted his fourth straight game with at least six catches and at least 95 receiving yards.
Overall, 14 of Goff's 22 completions went to the duo, who finished with seven each to share the team lead. They also accounted for 214 of Goff's 293 passing yards after accounting for 279 of 424 against the Cardinals in Week 13.
5) HILL HAULS ONE IN
An early drop did not deter Rams cornerback Troy Hill from making a play against the Seahawks.
On a deep Wilson pass intended for Lockett, Hill timed his jump perfectly but was unable to secure the interception. He would make up for it with 1:36 left, making the game-clinching interception by picking off a 51-yard endzone heave by Wilson intended for Lockett.
Why was Hill able to make the play? He recalled to theRams.com the moment when he had a chance to make a play against Ravens wide receiver Miles Boykin in Week 12 but was unable to because he thought the ball would just come to him – Boykin instead made a 39-yard catch. Hill said he didn't want to make the same mistake again.
