Who are the announcers and referees for the Seahawks vs. the Rams today?

If Week 18 was a wedding, then the LA Rams would have three of four 'bride necessities,' covered as the team hosts the Seattle Seahawks. The Rams are wearing Royal Blue jerseys, covering the something blue category. And the game will be called by Fox Sports NFL crew of Kenny Albert (play-by-play), Jonathan Vilma (color commentator), and Megan Olivi (sideline reporter). They have covered two previous Rams games this season, which qualifies them as something old. The officiating crew is led by Head Referee Bill Vinovich, the first time he and his crew will work a Rams game this season.

That gives the Rams something new.

What isn't new for the Rams is the fact that they are heading to the playoffs. Since hiring HC Sean McVay in 2017, the team has missed the playoffs twice. The first time was 2019, despite the Rams boasting a winning record of 9-7. The second time occured in 2022, a year in which the team has devastated by injuries, and could only manage a record of 5-12.

The LA Rams (10-6) host the Seattle Seahawks (9-7) in a game with much less strategic significance than hoped for when NFL schedulers set in for a Week 18 showdown. Thanks to a complex Strength of Victory (SOV) tie-breaker, the Rams clinched the NFC West Division in Week 17 after a series of NFL team victories eliminated the Seahawks from postseason contention.

Because the Rams have clinched a berth in the 2025 NFL Playoffs, they have opted to rest a considerable number of offensive starters in Week 18. It's a wise decision because the Rams' offense has sputtered of late. The defense continues to carry the team to victory. Look for defensive starters to play hard from the opening kickoff to the final whistle today.

Despite sitting offensive starters, don't discount the Rams in this one. The defense has allowed just 8 ppg on average in the past three games. If they can hold the Seahawks to that amount of scoring, even the backups on offense should be able to score enough points to win.

Announcers for Rams vs Saints

• Lead Play-by-Play Announcer: Kenny Albert
• Color Commentator: Jonathan Vilma
• Sideline Reporter: Megan Olivi

Albert and crew have covered two of the Rams games in the past. They covered the Rams at the New Orleans Saints on December 1, 2024, a game that the Rams won by a score of 21-14. The same crew also covered the Rams at the Seattle Seahawks game on November 3, 2024, a game which the Rams won by the score of 26-20.

Play-by-play announcer Kenny Albert is the longest-tenured sports announcer on the Fox Sports NFL broadcast team, boasting 31 years of multi-sport announcing. Color commentary is provided by former three-time Pro Bowl linebacker Jonathan Vilma, who played six seasons for the New Orleans Saints. This is Megan Olivi's first full season of NFL coverage. Olivi has an extensive background in covering MMA and UFC and has been a part-time sideline reporter with Fox Sports since 2018.

Referees for Cardinals vs. Rams

Head referee: Bill Vinovich

Vinovich is completing his 16th season as an NFL referee. He has 19 seasons under his belt and has served three years as an official in a different capacity. Ironically, this is the first game in 2024 in which Vinovich's crew has officiated a game for the Los Angeles Rams.

• Referee: Bill Vinovich
• Umpire: Scott Walker (1)
• Down Judge: Dale Keller (2)
• Line Judge: Tripp Sutter (6)
• Field Judge: Aaron Santi (10)
• Side Judge: Jimmy Buchanan (16)
• Back Judge: Todd Prukop (16)
• Replay Official: Denise Crudup (5)
• Replay Assistant: Chad Wakefield (2)

Per Pro Football Focus, Bill Vinovich's crew has been a bit light on flagging infractions in games this season. Vinovich and company have averaged calling 12.13 penalties per game while stepping off 99.07 penalty yards per game on average. The NFL average heading into Week 18 is to call 12.98 penalties per game while assessing 105.56 penalty yards per game.

Seattle Seahawks vs. LA Rams, game time

• Date: Sunday, January 5, 2025
• Time: 1:25 pm PT
• Location: SoFi Stadium, Inglewood, California
• Channel: Fox Sports

The Rams play the late game in Week 18. But this will be a great game to watch or, if you are out and about, to listen to on the radio. For the first time in many weeks, the pressure is off the Rams. That is why I recommend catching the game, as I expect great things to happen.

As always, thank you so much for reading.

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