NFL News & Analysis

Refocused: Los Angeles Rams 42, Seattle Seahawks 7

Seattle, WA, USA; Los Angeles Rams running back Todd Gurley (30) breaks a tackle by Seattle Seahawks middle linebacker Bobby Wagner (54) during the first quarter at CenturyLink Field. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports

The Los Angeles Rams went to CenturyLink Field and dominated the Seattle Seahawks, winning the game 42-7.

QB Jared Goff was not asked to do much, and he was 14-of-21 for 120 yards, with two touchdowns and one interception. He also fumbled once but the Seahawks couldn't take advantage of the loose ball. RB Todd Gurley shouldered most of the load in this game, carrying the ball 21 times, rushing for 152 yards, and scoring three touchdowns. He also added three catches for 28 yards and a receiving touchdown for good measure.

QB Russell Wilson and the entire offense struggled. Wilson went 14-of-30 for 142 yards with one touchdown. He had an interception and fumbled twice, losing one of them. Wilson was also the team's leading rusher with 39 yards, nearly double the yardage of the next closest Seahawks runner.

The Rams defense had seven sacks in the game, three of them coming from DI Aaron Donald. With that, we give you our PFF-exclusive takeaways from the contest for each team.

https://www.pff.com/nfl/teams/los-angeles-rams/26/roster

Top 5 Grades:

DI Aaron Donald, 92.9 overall grade

CB Troy Hill, 87.6 overall grade

CB Nickell Robey-Coleman, 84.2 overall grade

CB Trumaine Johnson, 83.8 overall grade

S Lamarcus Joyner, 82.0 overall grade

Performances of note:

QB Jared Goff, 69.2 overall grade

There won't be many easier games for Goff, who had a simple task: let his defense win the game. In the end Goff threw just 21 passes and only three went further than 10 yards. The Seahawks defense looked confused by the tempo and variety of the LA offense. There are tougher tests to come for the sophomore signal caller this year.

RB Todd Gurley, 81.6 overall grade

It was an easy day at the office for Gurley as well. He had his way with a Seattle defense that gave him big holes to run through, but his decisiveness and sharp cuts were still a joy to watch. He ended up breaking five tackles (including three on one run) and found the end zone four times.

DI Aaron Donald92.9 overall grade

Donald had a field day against a much maligned Seahawks offensive line. He finished with three sacks and ten total pressures and was stout against the run, recording five stops. After holding out of training camp and missing the opening game, Donald hasn't missed a beat and has recorded a career high 12 sacks and 62 quarterback hurries.

CB Troy Hill87.6 overall grade

It was a bit of a coming out party for the third-year pro, he was targeted four times, only surrendering one catch for four yards and recording a pass break up. Hill usually doesn't see many snaps for the Rams defense but has seen 119 over the past two weeks, with today's performance being his best of the season. The entire Rams secondary graded very well, with all five who saw significant playing time recording a grade above 80.0.

Top 5 Grades:

DI Sheldon Richardson, 83.7 overall grade

Edge Frank Clark, 79.0 overall grade

S Bradley McDougald, 77.6 overall grade

Edge Dion Jordan, 76.2 overall grade

T Duane Brown, 74.7 overall grade

Performances of note:

QB Russell Wilson, 50.1 overall grade

Not much went right for the Seahawks offense today, as they were over-matched in all facets by an impressive Rams defense. Wilson was sacked seven times and was under pressure on 16 of his 42 dropbacks, going 1-of-6 for negative yardage while also running three times. Wilson had a tough day, fumbling twice while only averaging 4.9 yards per attempt.

TE Luke Willson, 73.6 overall grade

Willson had only one target but accounted for the Seahawks lone touchdown, a seam route between two Rams defenders. Willson has seen only 33.6 percent of the teams offensive snaps this season, which would be a career low for him. With only 146 passing yards, Russell Wilson struggled to get the ball to his favorite playmaker, as Doug Baldwin caught only one pass on four targets for six yards.

DI Sheldon Richardson83.7 overall grade

Not many Seahawks defenders came out of this game with credit but Richardson looked amped for this game from the get go. He was able to get into the backfield for three quick pressures, while being one defender who wasn't pushed about the line of scrimmage in the run game. After a slow start Richardson has really started to show his talent the past six weeks in Seattle.

Edge Michael Bennett, 39.8 overall grade

For those who felt Bennett was fortunate to avoid suspension and play in this game, there was a sense of karmic retribution as the defensive end was largely invisible for his 52 snaps on the field. Just one tackle and one hurry, Bennett is enduring something of a dip in form, which means we're not seeing the same guy who was taking over games earlier in the year. His pass-rushing output of one combined sack, hit or hurry was only the third time since the 2015 season he has failed to record at least two pressures in the same game.

PFF Game Ball: Aaron Donald, DI

Aaron Donald, interior defender, Los Angeles Rams

*Grades subject to change

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