Professional Football Researchers Association Forum

This coming NFCCG contest will be the third time both met in the playoffs. The two other times were in the 1st-Rd, each won by the Rams and each in the Emerald City; 2004 & 2020. 'Hawks lead the series, 29-28, with five OT games between them of course including their very last meeting.

Both were originally in the same NFC West division in Seattle's inaugural season of 1976. But because it was Seattle playing each team in their conference once (13) along with their expansion counterpart, TB (rounding it out to 14; same exact arrangement with the Bucs in the AFC, of course), the 'Hawks only played LA just once - in LA. And it, to this day, is the most-lopsided game in their history - Rams 45, Seahawks 6.

But the next time they met, in '79, you could say it may have been even worse for the 'Hawks; at least offensively (quite '92-esque). Despite both teams finishing 9-7 in '79 (Seattle already going 9-7 the year prior as well), and Rams having suffered quite a rough three-game skid, and Hawks' coming off impressive-enough back-to-back wins and then winning the three in-a-row after that; and their offense finishing at #7 that year. But it was the defense that brought them down, yielding what was, perhaps, Pat Haden's career game (no Ferragamo yet).

As I opined previously, I wish the 'Hawks never left the AFC West! They, to me, forged quite legit rivalries with each of the other since-'60 longtime division mates. They fitted in with that 'good old boys' club. But 2002 happened and that's the way it went.

Further thoughts? Can anyone pump up their since-2002 existence together? I'm sure there's enough, or maybe more than that, that can be said.

74_75_78_79_ wrote: ↑Fri Jan 23, 2026 8:02 pmFurther thoughts? Can anyone pump up their since-2002 existence together? I'm sure there's enough, or maybe more than that, that can be said.

Since 2003, including this season:

20 of 23 seasons at least one of them made the playoffs.
15 of 23 seasons one of them won the division (SEA 10 / Rams 5)
5 times both made playoffs.

Handful of seasons where they had the same record (e.g. last season) or were within one game of eachother for the division title/a playoff spot with the other being left out. That includes the Whitehurst v Bradford Week 17 flexed-SNF NFC West Championship game 'classic'.

A few seasons where both teams were bad at the same time.

Also years where Seattle was a good team and the Rams were bad-to-average but always felt/knew the Rams would still win a game. Was a team Seattle specifically struggled with during those years. For example, the Jeff Fisher years, Rams would win a game every season, except 2013, and even swept Seattle one year. Seahawks, a perennial playoff team, NFC Championship team, the Rams were the Fisher Rams but Seattle would split with them. Even lost to the Rams the season Fisher got fired.

Another note, for the old-timers who were here before the Seahawks were around, many were and/or grew up Rams fans. Heard it from many but anecdotally can include my Uncle who grew up a Rams fan because "that's who was on TV" until the Seahawks started when he was going into high school. Kind of stayed as the favorite "NFC team" until of course 2002, then it was just all Seahawks.

The St Louis Rams were a tough team under Fisher, but couldnt develop a decent offense. Bradford couldnt stay healthy and Tavon Austin was a bust. They could give the Seahawks and 49ers a tough time however.