The Seahawks and Rams are two of the best teams in the NFC, and Zabel has revealed a rather unique relationship he has with his fellow NFC West rival.
The Seattle Seahawks are housed in what many believe is the best division in football, with the Los Angeles Rams and San Francisco 49ers also in the NFC West.
With the Seahawks claiming the division title last season, and the Rams and 49ers both winning 12 games, there is every chance the NFC West remains the brutal division it was last year.
The Seahawks have had some great battles with both the Rams and 49ers, but it is Los Angeles that guard Grey Zabel is fond of.
And also not so fond of.
With the Rams and Seahawks facing off three times in 2025, Seattle came out on top 2-1, with the deciding game in the NFC Championship Game.
Seattle lost the first encounter 21-19 in Week 11, but bounced back in Week 16, winning 38-37 in overtime, before the NFC Championship game saw Mike Macdonald's team advance to the Super Bowl after a 31-27 win.
And for Zabel, who was a guest on the Green Light podcast with Chris Long, he detailed his love/hate relationship with the Rams.
“I hate the Rams, but I love the Rams because it is mano a mano, best on best,” Zabel said.
And after the offseason dealings of Sean McVay's team, I'd imagine that Zabel's feelings have only intensified.
With star corners Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson signed, the Rams' weakness last season has now become a strength.
But L.A. wasn't done there. It went big fish hunting and landing a monster.
Edge Myles Garrett also now calls L.A. home after the Rams shocked the NFL world to bring the two-time Defensive Player of the Year to the NFC West.
Now, Zabel has to go against Garrett twice a year.
But the scheduling quirk of 2026 is that the Seahawks and Rams won't face each other until Week 16. Then two weeks later, the pair will do battle again, so the NFC West rivals will meet twice in three weeks.
The division could be won by then, or it could also be hanging in the balance, bringing even more pressure to those two games.
And either way, I get the sense that Zabel is up for the fight against the team he has a love/hate relationship with.
