Sunday is finally here, and to be honest I haven’t been this excited for an NFL football game in a long time. Seeing the Rams playing on national TV for a chance to go to he playoffs is way more than I ever imagined for this team, and I for one have no problem getting greedy and expecting a win tonight, so let’s take a look at my keys to the game.

QB Carousel – Everyone expects Charlie Whitehurst to start under center for Seattle tonight, and while I’m not usually one to jump on the conspiracy theory bandwagon, I can’t help but shake the feeling that the Seahawks are sandbagging. Matt Hasselbeck practiced Friday, and I wouldn’t be shocked in the slightest if he started. I would much rather see Whitehurst as their QB, obviously, but it’s not like Hasselbeck automatically makes them a better team than the Rams. Either way, our D-line has to get after whoever is under center, and I like our chances if we do that.

Stop The Run – The quarterback situation in Seattle is an issue, but they do have a pretty serviceable running game. We have to be able to stop Marshawn Lynch and Justin Forsett. I don’t think they will beat us through the air, but they are good enough to use the play-action to attack our secondary in single coverage. If they Rams close the door on defense early, they can take control of the game.

Early Lead – Playing off that last point, getting an early lead is huge. If we force Seattle to battle back using the pass, I think we will be fine. Their receivers aren’t anything to write home about, and neither is their quarterback. Making a below-average team one-dimensional, especially when defense is your strength, plays right into your hands.

The 12th Man – There’s no doubt that Seattle fans are some of the loudest in the NFL, and I’m sure they will be rocking. Taking the air out of that stadium is of vital importance, especially with a rookie quarterback under center. I’m not convinced that the confidence level in Seattle is super high right now, so I think the fans will throw in the towel early if we give them a reason to do so.

Special Teams – If there’s one thing that scares me about this Seattle team, it’s their return game. Leon Washington is the real deal, and we cannot let him get going. If the Rams do lose this game, I have a feeling this is the area we will be pointing to afterward.

No prediction again this week, but I’m excited and nervous and every other emotion there is. It will be fun, so enjoy it Rams fans.

This isn’t directly Rams-related news, but I think it could be a major storyline for the NFC West. The Seattle Seahawks traded a fourth-round pick in 2011 and a conditional pick in 2012 to the Buffalo Bills in return for running back Marshawn Lynch. First, let me just say that I think the Hawks got a steal here. I doubt that the Rams were in on Lynch at all, but they really should have considered it for that price. As it is, it looks like Lynch will be the featured back in Seattle, and I think he is a serious upgrade over what they had there. Justin Forsett is a decent back, but I’m not sure he is good enough to be a featured kind of guy. Lynch has carried the load in the past, and he should be more than comfortable doing it again.

So what does this mean for the Rams? I don’t know if one player is enough to completely turn around a team, but I do think the Hawks will be better with Lynch on the team. If he can pound the ball consistently between the tackles, that should open up the passing game a bit. I’m not convinced that the Hawks have a ton of talent at the receiver position, but they are professionals and their offense just got better.

The worst part of this deal is that someone in our division just improved their team. I think we all know at this point that the West is wide open, and bringing in a player like Lynch might be enough to put Seattle over the hump. I’m not saying he is an outstanding player, but he will make a difference. Let’s just hope that it’s not too much of a difference.

Steven Jackson-St. Louis Rams

2009 Stats: Jackson carried the ball 324 times last season and gained 1,416 yards on the ground to go along with four TDs. He averaged 4.4 yards per carry, and his long run of the season was 58 yards. In the air, Jackson caught 51 passes for 322 yards, but he did not get into the end zone. He fumbled just twice on the year, and both of them were lost.

My Take: Jackson was on a terrible team last season, and his offensive line struggled to stay healthy all year. With some talent around him, he is still one of the elite backs in this game. He might be one of the elite backs in the game even with his terrible supporting cast. In my opinion, (although admittedly it might be a little biased) Jackson is the class of this division at the running back position.

Frank Gore-San Francisco 49ers

2009 Stats: Gore was very productive in 2009, as he managed to reach the end zone 10 times on the ground and another three times through the air. He rushed for 1,120 yards on 229 carries, and he averaged 4.9 yards on those carries. In the passing game, Gore had 52 receptions for 406 yards which comes out to a 7.8 yard average. He fumbled the ball four times and lost two of those.

My Take: If Jackson is the class of this division, then Gore is certainly not far behind. His 13 combined scores last season speak volumes, and he has been a dynamic runner for several seasons. As long as he is healthy, he is also considered one of the better backs in the game today. Gore is worthy or strong consideration for a spot on the team.

Beanie Wells/Tim Hightower-Arizona Cardinals

2009 Stats: I’m going to discuss both players here in the same group, as they really are a nice two-headed attack in the desert. They will be considered separately in the voting, however, so keep that in mind. Wells had a nice rookie season in 2009, as he finished with 793 yards and seven TDs on the ground. Hightower was also able to find the end-zone at a nice rate, as he posted eight scores and 598 yards on the season. Hightower caught 63 passes for 428 yards, but he failed to score on any of those touches. Wells had just 12 receptions for 143 yards and no scores.

My Take: I like Wells, and if anyone could throw a wrench in this voting, it will be him. He was just a rookie last season, and he could shoot near the top of this ranking if he builds on his 2009 campaign. At his point, however, I can’t bring myself to put him above either Gore or Jackson. As for Hightower, he is a nice compliment to Wells, but he is not in the class of Gore or SJ39.

Justin Forsett-Seattle Seahawks

2009 stats: Forsett started just two games for the Seahawks last season, but he played in all 16 and finished with 619 yards on 114 carries. He found the end zone four times on the ground, and once through the air. He is likely going to split time with Leon Washington this season, but it looks like he is the starter in Seattle for now.

My Take: I am a big fan of Washington’s, but coming off a serious injury I find it hard to give him consideration for this team. Forsett has some potential, but he is at the back end of my list for now. If Washington returns completely healthy, he can be exciting as anyone in the league, but he will have to prove to me he is at 100%.

My Choices: In my opinion, Jackson and Gore are the obvious choices here. I know a lot of people like Beanie Wells, and with good reason, but he isn’t there yet. We aren’t picking a team for five years down the road, we are trying to win this make-believe tournament now. Give me Jackson and Gore, and I will put them up against anyone else in the league.