The Los Angeles Rams and Seattle Seahawks will renew acquaintances on Sunday afternoon in a critical Week 9 NFC West matchup. Oddsmakers see this game the same way the division standings sit — tight.

None of the four teams are above .500, and while the Arizona Cardinals are in first place via a tiebreaker, the Rams may have the most momentum. Los Angeles (3-4) has won back-to-back games and is starting to look more like the team everyone expected entering the season, especially on offense.

Last Thursday, Puka Nacua played in his first game since Week 1, and fellow wide receiver Cooper Kupp also returned from an extended absence, as the Rams scored a season-high 30 points in a big win over the Minnesota Vikings. Matthew Stafford tossed four touchdown passes, doubling his season output. And more good news could be on the way with several injured offensive linemen nearing a return.

Timing could also be in the Rams’ favor, as Seattle (4-4) has dropped four of its last five games. The defense has given up 30.4 points and 421.2 yards per game during this rough stretch. Besides dealing with Nacua and Kupp, the Seahawks’ 28th-ranked rushing defense (148.4 yards per game allowed) will also have to contend with Kyren Williams, who is second in the league with eight rushing touchdowns.

Offensively, Seattle needs to get out of their own way. Geno Smith leads the NFL with 2,197 passing yards, but he’s also thrown seven interceptions. The offense has committed 62 penalties, the fourth-highest total in the league. In last week’s 31-10 loss at home to the Buffalo Bills, the Seahawks were just 1-for-7 on third down and turned the ball over on downs on a botched fourth-and-goal attempt from the 1-yard line.

DK Metcalf missed last week’s game with a knee injury and he is expected to miss this game as well. Seattle also needs more than 53 rushing yards per game from Kenneth Walker III. The Rams defense has been vulnerable against the run, so this could be the perfect opportunity for Walker and the Seahawks to turn things around.

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(Photo of Geno Smith: Steph Chambers / Getty Images)