Rams Vs Seahawks: PFF Grades Breakdown

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Post on Jan 07, 2025

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Rams vs. Seahawks: PFF Grades Breakdown – A Deep Dive into Week 18

The final game of the regular season for both the Los Angeles Rams and the Seattle Seahawks brought a clash of playoff aspirations and contrasting performances. While the Seahawks secured a playoff berth, the Rams concluded their season with a loss, leaving much to be analyzed. This deep dive uses Pro Football Focus (PFF) grades to dissect the key performances and pivotal plays that shaped the outcome of this crucial matchup. We'll examine both offensive and defensive units, highlighting individual standouts and areas needing improvement for both teams.

Offensive Breakdown: Rams Struggle, Seahawks Soar

The Rams' offense, plagued by injuries and inconsistency throughout the season, struggled to find its rhythm against a determined Seahawks defense. Their PFF grades reflected this struggle, with several key players significantly underperforming.

Rams' Offensive Woes:

• Matthew Stafford's Inconsistent Performance: Stafford's PFF grade likely reflected a game filled with both brilliant throws and critical mistakes. While he might have had flashes of brilliance, potentially highlighted by a few deep completions or clutch throws, the overall grade likely suffered from interceptions or sacks in crucial moments. Analyzing the specific PFF grade will pinpoint the exact areas where he excelled and faltered. Perhaps pressure from the Seahawks' defensive line disrupted his timing, impacting his accuracy and decision-making.

• Running Back Inefficiency: The Rams' running game failed to establish consistency. Low PFF grades for the running backs likely indicate struggles with broken tackles, poor vision, and an inability to gain significant yardage. The Seahawks' run defense, known for its physicality, likely played a significant role in suppressing the Rams' ground game. Examining the individual PFF grades for each running back will unveil who struggled most and why.

• Offensive Line Breakdown: The Rams' offensive line continued to battle injuries and inconsistency. A low average PFF grade for this unit suggests struggles in pass protection and run blocking. A detailed breakdown of individual offensive linemen PFF grades would pinpoint specific weak links, highlighting who struggled most with pass rushes and creating running lanes. This information is crucial for understanding why the Rams struggled to effectively move the ball.

Seahawks' Offensive Success:

• Geno Smith's Efficiency: Geno Smith's PFF grade should showcase his impressive performance, likely indicating high accuracy, excellent decision-making, and an ability to manage the game effectively. A strong grade here would reinforce his status as a rising star and a key player in the Seahawks' playoff hopes. Analyzing the specific plays rated highly by PFF will pinpoint the key factors contributing to his success.

• Strong Running Game Performance: Seattle’s running game likely had a high PFF average due to efficient running back performances and strong offensive line play. Their ability to gain consistent yardage would be reflected in high run-blocking grades for the offensive line and strong rushing grades for the backs. This sustained success on the ground would have controlled the clock and kept the Rams' offense off the field.

• Effective Pass Protection: The Seahawks' offensive line likely performed well in pass protection, allowing Smith ample time to make throws. High PFF grades for the linemen in this area would explain Smith's ability to execute efficiently. A closer look will reveal if there were any specific pass rushers the line struggled against.

Defensive Breakdown: Seahawks Dominate, Rams Show Flaws

The defensive side of the ball further illustrated the disparity between the two teams. The Seahawks' defense performed admirably, while the Rams' defense struggled to contain the Seahawks' offensive attack.

Seahawks' Defensive Prowess:

• Pressure on Stafford: The Seahawks' defensive line and linebackers likely generated consistent pressure on Stafford, resulting in high PFF grades. A high pressure rate, reflected in sacks, hurries, and quarterback hits, would be a key indicator of their success. Analyzing individual player grades will pinpoint the most impactful players.

• Containing the Run: As mentioned earlier, the Seahawks' run defense stifled the Rams' rushing attack. High PFF grades for the defensive tackles and linebackers in run defense highlight their effectiveness in setting the edge and stopping the Rams’ running game.

• Effective Coverage: The Seahawks' secondary likely played solid coverage, limiting big plays and forcing incompletions. High coverage grades for the cornerbacks and safeties would show their impact on limiting the Rams' passing attack. Analyzing the specific plays will show whether they were effective against deep throws, short passes, or both.

Rams' Defensive Struggles:

• Inability to Pressure Smith: The Rams' pass rush likely failed to consistently pressure Smith, allowing him time to throw and pick apart their secondary. Low PFF grades for the defensive line and linebackers in pass rush would reflect their inability to disrupt the Seahawks’ rhythm. This lack of pressure greatly impacted the game's outcome.

• Struggles Against the Run: The Seahawks likely had strong success running the ball against the Rams, resulting in low PFF grades for the Rams' defensive front seven. An analysis of the individual grades will pinpoint the players who struggled most to contain the run. This inability to stop the run was crucial in allowing Seattle to control the game's tempo.

• Secondary Coverage Issues: The Rams' secondary likely struggled to cover the Seahawks' receivers effectively, allowing multiple crucial completions. Low PFF grades for the cornerbacks and safeties, particularly if they allowed significant yards after the catch, would highlight the defensive backfield's failure to contain Seattle’s passing attack.

Conclusion: A Comprehensive PFF Grade Analysis Reveals Key Differences

The PFF grades for the Rams vs. Seahawks game provided a detailed insight into the strengths and weaknesses of both teams. The Seahawks’ victory was underpinned by a strong offensive performance, particularly from their quarterback and running game, and a dominant defensive effort that consistently pressured Stafford and shut down the Rams’ rushing attack. Conversely, the Rams struggled on both sides of the ball, highlighting areas where they need significant improvement heading into the off-season. A further detailed breakdown of the individual player PFF grades will offer even deeper insights and help both teams strategize for future success. This analysis serves as a valuable tool for understanding the intricacies of the game and identifying areas for growth in the coming season. By using PFF grades as a key performance indicator, both coaching staffs can use this data to improve their overall team performance, both offensively and defensively.