Los Angeles @ Seattle preview

Last Meeting ( Dec 17, 2017 ) L.A. Rams 42, Seattle 7

The Los Angeles Rams are owners of a 4-0 start for the first time since 2001 as they venture to the Pacific Northwest to take on the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday. The Rams are off to the franchise's best start since opening with six straight wins while being located in St. Louis in 2001, a season that ended with a loss in the Super Bowl to New England.

Quarterback Jared Goff laughs when people ask if he is surprised to be 4-0 - "No. Were we planning to be bad?" - but also feels the team has the proper perspective of the success. "I think a lot of people on this team being part of that team two years ago understand how easy it is to be on the other side of it, and you don't ever want to go back there," Goff told reporters in reference to a 4-12 campaign. "You understand the work that needs to be put in to stay where you're at, and I think we all understand that." While the Rams are one of two unbeaten teams in the NFL, with Kansas City being the other, the Seahawks are trying not to lose their tag as the kings of the NFC West as the 42-7 defeat they suffered against Los Angeles in December still is at the forefront of their minds. "They beat us. That was 2017. This is 2018," Seattle middle linebacker Bobby Wagner told reporters. "You're not going to do it again. That's kind of my mindset. And I'm not hurt like I was last year, so that's going to be different."

TV: 4:25 p.m. ET, FOX. LINE: Seahawks -7. O/U: 50.5

ABOUT THE RAMS (4-0): Goff is off to a terrific start with 1,406 yards, 11 touchdowns and two interceptions while helping the Rams average 35 points (second in the NFL) and a league-best 468.5 yards per game. Standout running back Todd Gurley (338 yards, four touchdowns) torched the Seahawks for a career-best four touchdowns (three rushing, one receiving) and 180 total yards (152 rushing, 28 receiving) in the previous meeting. Defensive tackle Aaron Donald registered three sacks and a forced fumble in the last meeting and remains the star attraction for a defense that ranks fifth in the NFL in scoring defense (16.8).

ABOUT THE SEAHAWKS (2-2): Russell Wilson has passed for 888 yards, seven touchdowns and three interceptions this season but averaged just 170 yards in last season's two meetings with the Rams. Mike Davis pumped some life into the running game with a career-best 101 yards and two touchdowns in last weekend's 20-17 triumph over Arizona, but Chris Carson (team-high 177 yards) could miss his second straight contest with a hip injury. Defensive end Frank Clark and defensive tackle Jarran Reed share the team lead with three sacks apiece.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Rams WR Cooper Kupp established career highs of nine receptions, 162 yards and two touchdowns in last week's 38-31 victory over Minnesota.

2. Los Angeles ILB Marc Barron (Achilles) could play for the first time since being injured in December.

3. Seattle OLB K.J. Wright (knee) will miss his fifth straight game, S Earl Thomas (leg) and TE Will Dissly (knee) were placed on injured reserve and OLB Mychal Kendricks was suspended indefinitely by the NFL due to his guilty plea on insider trading charges.

PREDICTION: Rams 33, Seahawks 23