After losing to the Jets in Week 15, the Rams are looking for a get-well game against the Seahawks’ marginally improved pass defense, and if Sean McVay’s team is to take the season series against their division opponent, one key matchup on the other side of the ball that must work in their favor is the one in which cornerback Jalen Ramsey shuts down Seattle receiver DK Metcalf. It worked in Week 10, as the Rams beat Seattle, 23-16, and Metcalf had his worst game of the season. If Seattle wins this game, they take the division. If the Rams win, they keep their playoffs hopes alive, with a chance of a division title.

In Week 10, per Pro Football Focus, Ramsey shadowed Metcalf on 77.1% of his routes — the most he’s done so against a wideout this season — and allowed no receptions on two targets. Metcalf finished with two catches on four targets for 28 yards. And yes, you will see a similar structure this time around. No surprise there.

Few other cornerbacks have the size, quickness, and aggressive mentality to shut Metcalf down — after all, a guy who stands 6-foot-4, weighs 229 pounds, and ran a 4.33-second 40-yard dash at his combine in 2019, and has improved exponentially as a route-runner in two NFL seasons, is a tough matchup for just about anybody. But Ramsey, at 6-foot-1 and 208 pounds, and with the ability to be a legitimate half-field eraser, can be just as imposing.

That said, when Ramsey was on Metcalf in Week 10, was it that Ramsey shut Metcalf down, or did Metcalf have opportunities that would have existed had Russell Wilson been more exact with his ball placement? Based on the tape, it could be argued that had Wilson been on point, we’re telling a different story about that Week 10 game.

On this play with 13:47 left in the game, Metcalf (No. 14) has Ramsey (No. 20) beat downfield on a deep boundary route, and Wilson overthrows it just a hair. But based on Metcalf’s ability to separate, that wasn’t a great rep for Ramsey.

And on this deep throw with 2:02 left in the game, Metcalf leads Ramsey to the boundary with a route nod before cutting to the quick comeback. Score one for those who don’t still believe that Metcalf can’t run routes. If the timing of this throw doesn’t take Metcalf out of bounds… yeah.

Look, we’re not saying that Ramsey can’t handle Metcalf. For most of the game, he did a fine job doing just that. But there were plays to be made back in Week 10, and it wasn’t Metcalf’s fault that they weren’t. That makes the rematch quite fascinating.