The Los Angeles Rams head into their Week 16 showdown with the Seattle Seahawks knowing the margin for error will be thin — especially with the possibility of playing without Davante Adams. Against a Mike Macdonald-designed defense that thrives on flexibility and disguise, any personnel loss only magnifies the challenge.
That reality has shaped how Sean McVay and his staff have framed the week. Even before factoring in who may or may not be available on defense, the Rams are preparing for a Seahawks team that forces opponents to account for multiple answers on every snap.
“They do a great job of matching you, whether it’s normal or non-normal looks, because they have versatile pieces that can play multiple roles,” McVay said when asked about Seattle’s defense. “Some of those guys might not be listed as outside linebackers, but they can play that way.”
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How the Seattle Seahawks’ Defense Creates Problems
McVay didn’t mince words when describing the stress Seattle puts on opponents, particularly through its ability to blur positional lines and force offenses — and defenses — to adjust on the fly.
“They’re a great defense and they deserve all the credit they’re getting,” he said. “I think Mike does a phenomenal job accentuating their skill sets. They’re tied in on all three levels.”
That versatility showed up clearly in the first meeting between the teams. Seattle repeatedly countered the Rams’ heavy personnel looks with a rotating cast of defensive packages, shifting seamlessly between nickel, base, and goal-line fronts while maintaining coverage discipline behind it.
The result was a defensive performance that limited explosive plays and forced Los Angeles to grind for everything it earned in a narrow 21–19 win.
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Mike LaFleur Expects New Wrinkles
Offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur echoed McVay’s assessment, noting that whatever worked in the first matchup is unlikely to be available again — particularly against a coaching staff willing to evolve week to week.
“When you’re doing something as an offense or a defense at a pretty high level, which I think we are in 13 personnel, naturally, you go against a guy like Mike (Macdonald) and AD (Aden Durde) over in Seattle, they’re going to have stuff for it,” LaFleur said. “They’re going to have stuff that you’re not prepared for. That’s what good coaches do.”
LaFleur added that the burden falls on execution and adaptability, not comfort.
“Whatever they put on tape from us the first time, they’re going to have something new for us and we got to be willing to adjust,” he said. “Thankfully, we got smart guys that don’t blink.”
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What It Means if the Rams Go Without Davante Adams?
If the Rams are forced to rotate or lean on depth, Seattle’s ability to exploit matchup advantages becomes even more significant. The Seahawks’ comfort playing both zone-heavy structures and selective man coverage, combined with timely pressure, puts added strain on defenses trying to survive without their full complement of playmakers.
“To answer your question simply, yes — they pose a lot of problems,” McVay said. “They understand how to create conflict, and they make it really difficult to generate big plays because of how they play and the versatility of their personnel.”
Whether at full strength or not, the Rams know Thursday night will demand precision. Against a Seahawks team built on adaptability, even small cracks — in health or execution — can decide the outcome of a game with NFC West implications.