Seahawks (2-2) at Rams (2-2)

Series: Rams lead 9-4

The line: Rams by 3

TV: Fox, with Curt Menefee and J.C. Pearson

Radio: KXLY 920-AM, KVNI 1080-AM, with Steve Raible and Warren Moon

COACHES

Seattle: Mike Holmgren, 52-48, 7th season; 127-85 overall, 14th season

St. Louis: Mike Martz, 53-31, 6th season

FAST FACT

The Rams have the best home record in the NFL (41-9) since 1999. They’ve beaten Seattle four consecutive times in St. Louis.

ANALYSIS

Both teams are 2-2, but further inspection shows St. Louis’ .500 mark appears shakier than Seattle’s. The Rams have played bottom-tier teams in Arizona, San Francisco and Tennessee. They scratched out wins over Arizona and Tennessee and lost to the 49ers. Seattle lost at Washington and at Jacksonville, but knocked off visiting Atlanta. St. Louis has allowed 111 points – only San Francisco (132) has yielded more – but injuries to receivers Darrell Jackson and Bobby Engram restrict

Seattle’s ability to take advantage. The obvious recourse is Shaun Alexander left, right and, egads, even up the middle. He torched the Rams for 326 yards in two regular-season games last season, but St. Louis undoubtedly will try to put the burden on Matt Hasselbeck and a receiving foursome of Joe Jurevicius, D.J. Hackett, Jerheme Urban and Peter Warrick. The Rams have health problems at receiver, too, with Isaac Bruce unlikely to play, but the supporting cast is deeper and more explosive than Seattle’s options, as evidenced by the damage that Kevin Curtis and Shaun McDonald inflicted on the Seahawks’ secondary a year ago. Don’t forget running back Steven Jackson, who is off to a slow start, but has been underused by Mike Martz. Injuries are part of the game, and the primary reason why St. Louis prevails, 33-23.

INJURIES

Seahawks

Out: OT Wayne Hunter (hamstring), WR Darrell Jackson (knee), WR Bobby Engram (ribs)

Probable: DT Marcus Tubbs (quadriceps)

Rams

Out: WR Isaac Bruce (toe)

Questionable: TE Brandon Manumaleuna (knee), OT Rex Tucker (calf)

Probable: LB Dexter Coakley (back), CB Chris Johnson (flu)

Jim Meehan, staff writer