Rams can rest starters after clinching NFC West, while Seahawks left chasing individual milestones

Seattle (9-7) at Los Angeles Rams (10-6)

Sunday, 4:25 p.m. EST, Fox

BetMGM NFL odds: Seahawks by 6 1/2.

Against the spread: Seahawks 6-9-1; Rams 8-8.

Series record: Tied 27-27.

Last meeting: Rams beat Seahawks 26-20 OT in Seattle on Nov. 3.

Last week: Seahawks beat Chicago 6-3; Rams beat Arizona 13-9.

Seahawks offense: overall (14), rush (30), pass (7), scoring (19).

Seahawks defense: overall (13), rush (18), pass (7), scoring (T-13).

Rams offense: overall (17), rush (23), pass (14), scoring (20).

Rams defense: overall (26), rush (24), pass (21), scoring (10).

Turnover differential: Seahawks minus-7; Rams plus-7.

WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba has been a breakout player this season for Seattle, and is on the verge of several milestones. Smith-Njigba, who has averaged six receptions and 70 receiving yards per game this season, needs five catches to break teammate Tyler Lockett’s single-season franchise mark and needs 183 yards to pass DK Metcalf for the single-season franchise receiving yards record.

QB Jimmy Garoppolo will make his first start for Los Angeles, which can rest Matthew Stafford and other key players after clinching the NFC West last week through the strength of victory tiebreaker over Seattle. Garoppolo hasn’t played a snap this season after being held out of the preseason, so this will be his first time running head coach Sean McVay’s offense. Garoppolo threw for 1,205 yards, seven touchdowns and nine interceptions in seven games with the Las Vegas Raiders last season.

Seahawks offensive line vs. Rams defensive line. Los Angeles dominated Seattle on the line of scrimmage in the first matchup, coming up with a season-high seven sacks. The pass rush slumped in late November and early December, but is back with eight sacks over the past three games. Geno Smith has been sacked 48 times in 16 games.

Seahawks RT Abraham Lucas won't play because of abdominal and knee injuries. … Two of Seattle’s top defenders, LB Ernest Jones (knee) and rookie DT Byron Murphy II (back), have been limited in workouts this week. Murphy is listed as questionable, while Jones will play. … Having secured a playoff spot, the Rams can be cautious and sit RT Rob Havenstein for the second straight game because of a shoulder injury. The drop-off from Havenstein to swing tackle Joe Noteboom is significant, so having Havenstein back on the field next weekend will be paramount if the team is going to make a postseason run. ... Other key players who will be held out include RB Kyren Williams, LT Alaric Jackson, RG Kevin Dotson and WRs Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp.

The Rams have won three straight over the Seahawks and six of the past seven, including an NFC wild-card game victory in January 2021. … Seattle is 1-3 at SoFi Stadium. Its win came on Dec. 12, 2022, as Los Angeles was playing out the string in its dismal Super Bowl defense.

Seattle will be looking for its 14th double-digit win season in franchise history with a victory Sunday, improving to 10-7. It would be the team’s ninth time reaching 10 wins in the past 13 seasons, and first since 2020. With a win, Seattle would also tie the best road record in franchise history (7-1). … A win would tie the longest road winning streak in franchise history at six games. … Coach Mike Macdonald needs one win to pass Chuck Knox and Mike Holmgren for the most wins by a first-year Seahawks head coach with 10. … WR DK Metcalf needs 61 yards for his fourth 1,000-yard season, and needs seven receptions to pass Darrell Jackson for sixth on Seattle’s receptions list with 442. … Metcalf also needs one touchdown to pass Darrell Jackson for fourth on Seattle’s receiving touchdowns list with 48. … Smith needs one 300-yard game to pass Russell Wilson for the most 300-yard games in a season in franchise history with six.. … DT Leonard Williams needs 1 sack to become the first Seahawks player with double-digit sacks since Frank Clark in 2018. … Nacua needed 10 yards to become the first Rams receiver to start his career with consecutive 1,000-yard seasons. He could have joined former Saints star Marques Colston as the only players drafted in the fourth round or later with two 1,000-yard seasons to start a career. … Los Angeles has the second-youngest roster in the league with an average age of 25.6. The youth movement is powered by 16 rookies, the NFL’s highest total. … S Kamren Kinchens and DB Jaylen McCollough each have four interceptions, making the Rams one of two teams with multiple players in the top 10 in picks this season. Houston is the other. … P Ethan Evans has had 24.5% of his punts downed inside the 10 yard line, which is tied with Green Bay’s Daniel Whelan for the best mark in the NFL. Evans has six punts downed inside the 5, which is second to Cleveland’s Corey Bojorquez (8). … DT Braden Fiske has eight sacks, one behind Aaron Donald and Kobie Turner for the Rams rookie record.

Garoppolo is a veteran, which makes the Rams’ reserve pass catchers such as Demarcus Robinson and Tutu Atwell intriguing long shots in daily fantasy or for anyone scrambling for options at wide receiver in a championship game.

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL

Seattle Seahawks running back Kenny McIntosh gestures after a play against the Chicago Bears during the first half of an NFL football game, Thursday, Dec. 26, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay reacts after a defensive stop during the first half of an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith, right, is sacked by Chicago Bears defensive end Montez Sweat during the first half of an NFL football game, Thursday, Dec. 26, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

Los Angeles Rams safety Kamren Kinchens, left, celebrates after intercepting a pass during the second half of an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo)

Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba (11) runs with the ball as Chicago Bears safety Jonathan Owens (36) and defensive end Jacob Martin (55) try to stop him during the second half of an NFL football game, Thursday, Dec. 26, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle Kobie Turner (91) celebrates after sacking Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray during the second half of an NFL football game Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)

OTTAWA, Ontario (AP) — Boston University's Cole Eiserman broke a second-period tie and the defending champion United States beat Czechia 4-1 on Saturday night to advance to the world junior hockey championship game.

The Americans will face Finland — a 4-3 overtime winner over Sweden in the first semifinal — for the title Sunday night. Finland beat the United States 4-3 in overtime in group play.

Eiserman made it 2-1 with 6:19 left in the second with a one-timer off a cross-ice feed.

“I’m proud of our guys,” said coach David Darle of Denver. “We played an excellent Czech team and it was a very difficult game. We continue to grow as a group and we’ll get set to face another great team in Finland tomorrow."

Boston College teammates Ryan Leonard and Gabe Perreault each had a goal and an assist for the Americans. Minnesota's Oliver Moore also scored, and Michigan State's Trey Augustine made 26 saves.

The Americans are seeking their seventh title and first back-to-back championships.

“It would mean everything,” said Perreault, who also played last season. “We definitely have the team to do it. We’ll be ready to go.”

Jakub Stancl scored for the Czechs. Michael Hrabal stopped 21 shots.

In the first semifinal, Benjamin Rautiainen scored on a power play at 9:22 of overtime to lift Finland past Sweden.

Rautiainen beat goalie Melker Thelin from a sharp angle to the right of the net on a 4-on-3 man advantage with Tom Willander in the penalty box for holding.

“Very skillful guy at doing things like that,” Finnish coach Lauri Mikkola said about Rautiainen. “Nobody expected when he shoots.”

Petteri Rimpinen made 43 saves for Finland. Emil Hemming had a goal and an assist and Jesse Kiiskinen and Arttu Alasiurua also scored.

Otto Stenberg scored twice for Sweden. Wilhelm Hallquisth also scored and Thelin stopped 31 shots.

AP sports: https://apnews.com/sports

United States forward Max Plante (22) celebrates with teammate Trey Augustine (1) after they defeated Czechia in World Junior hockey championship semifinal game action in Ottawa, Ontario, Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press via AP)

Czechia defenseman Jakub Fibigr (7) is hit by United States forward Trevor Connelly (19) during third-period World Junior hockey championship semifinal game action in Ottawa, Ontario, Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press via AP)

United States forward Ryan Leonard (9) celebrates after his goal with teammates Gabe Perreault (34) and James Hagens (12) during third-period World Junior hockey championship semifinal game action against Czechia in Ottawa, Ontario, Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press via AP)

United States defenseman Drew Fortescue (5) checks Czechia forward Jakub Stancl (21) during second-period World Junior hockey championship semifinal game action in Ottawa, Ontario, Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press via AP)

United States defenseman Zeev Buium (28) shoves Czechia forward Adam Novotny, left, during second-period World Junior hockey championship semifinal game action in Ottawa, Ontario, Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press via AP)

United States forward Ryan Leonard (9) celebrates after his goal against Czechia during third-period World Junior hockey championship semifinal game action in Ottawa, Ontario, Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press via AP)

Sweden forward Otto Stenberg (25) scores on Finland goaltender Petteri Rimpinen (30) during second period semifinal IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship tournament action on Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025 in Ottawa. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press via AP)

Finland forward Tuomas Uronen (15) tries to tip a shot past Sweden goaltender Melker Thelin (35) during the second period of a semifinal game at the world junior hockey championship, Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025 in Ottawa, Ontario. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press via AP)

Finland forward Arttu Alasiurua (29) celebrates his goal against Sweden with teammates Emil Hemming (32), Daniel Nieminen (7) and Tuomas Uronen (15) during the second period of a semifinal game at the world junior hockey championship, Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025 in Ottawa, Ontario. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press via AP)

Finland goaltender Petteri Rimpinen looks on as Sweden forward Linus Eriksson flies through the air after clipping the net during the first period of a semifinal game at the world junior hockey championship, Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025 in Ottawa, Ontario. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press via AP)

Finland forward Jesse Kiiskinen (38) scores on Sweden goaltender Melker Thelin (35) during the second period of a semifinal game at the world junior hockey championship, Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025 in Ottawa, Ontario. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press via AP)

Sweden forward David Edstrom (15) and teammates Axel Hurtig (6) and Axel Sandin Pellikka react after losing in overtime against Finland in semifinal game at the world junior hockey championship, Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025 in Ottawa, Ontario. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press via AP)

Sweden defenseman Axel Sandin Pellikka(4) hugs goaltender Melker Thelin after losing in overtime against Finland in a semifinal game at the world junior hockey championship, Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025 in Ottawa, Ontario. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press via AP)

Finland forward Konsta Helenius (19) hugs Benjamin Rautiainen (37) after Rautiainen scored the game winning goal in overtime against Sweden in a semifinal game at the world junior hockey championship, Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025 in Ottawa, Ontario. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press via AP)

Finland players pile on teammate Benjamin Rautiainen (37) after he scored the winning goal in overtime against Sweden in semifinal game at the world junior hockey championship, Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025 in Ottawa, Ontario. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press via AP)

Finland's Benjamin Rautiainen (37) celebrates with teammates Rasmus Kumpulainen (18), Kasper Halttunen (22) and Konsta Helenius after scoring the game winning goal in overtime against Sweden in a semifinal game at the world junior hockey championship, Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025 in Ottawa, Ontario. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press via AP)