Los Angeles Rams vs. Arizona Cardinals Prediction, Preview, and Odds
A pair of NFC West rivals take the field in search of a victory on the gridiron in the Valley of the Sun. The Los Angeles Rams are on the road as they travel to face the Arizona Cardinals Sunday afternoon. Los Angeles comes in off a 17-16 road win over Seattle in their previous contest last Sunday, failing to cover the line as a 1.5-point favorite. Arizona comes in off a 21-16 road loss to Houston in their previous contest last Sunday, covering the line as a 5.5-point underdog. In the all-time regular season series between the teams, the Rams own a 49-40-2 advantage, including a 26-9 home win in the first meeting this season on October 15.
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Los Angeles Rams Seeking Season Sweep
Los Angeles snapped a three-game skid as they rallied in the fourth quarter to beat the Seahawks on the road last week. The Rams improved to 4-6 on the season and stand third in the NFC West with the victory. They are ninth in the NFC playoff picture: the Seahawks own the final playoff spot with a 6-5 mark. Against Seattle, Los Angeles trailed 7-0 after the opening quarter and 13-0 with under five minutes to play in the first half. The Rams cut the margin to 13-7 at the half and trailed 16-7 after three quarters before rallying. Los Angeles scored 10 fourth quarter points, capped by a 22-yard field goal by Lucas Havrisik with 1:31 to play, and survived a missed 55-yard field goal by Seattle with three seconds to play. The Rams were outgained 291-267 in total offense and lost time of possession by a 32:06 to 27:54 margin in the game. Los Angeles won the first down battle 20-16 and both teams turned the ball over once in the contest.
The Rams are 14 in the league in passing offense with an average of 226.4 yards per game through the air and 21 in rushing offense with an average of 102.6 yards per contest. Los Angeles is 22 in the league in scoring offense with an average of 19.5 points per contest while they are 19 in scoring defense by allowing an average of 22 points per game. Matthew Stafford has hit 183 of 309 passes for 2,260 yards with nine touchdowns against eight interceptions. He adds 69 yards on the ground. Brett Rypien is 18 of 38 for 172 yards and an interception. Kyren Williams leads the team on the ground with 97 carries for 456 yards and six touchdowns this season. Royce Freeman (50 carries, 215 yards, TD) and Darrell Henderson Jr. (46 carries, 112 yards, two TD) have had their share of the load in the ground game. Rookie Puca Nacua leads the team in the receiving department as he has reeled in 69 passes for 897 yards and three scores. Tutu Atwell (33 receptions, 391 yards, three TD), Cooper Kupp (24 grabs, 375 yards, TD) and Tyler Higbee (27 receptions, 303 yards) are each over the 300-yard receiving mark this season. Brett Maher was 12 of 13 on extra point attempts and 17 of 23 on field goal attempts with a long of 54: he was cut last month. Lucas Havrisik is two of two on extra point attempts and four of five on field goals with a long of 52.
The Rams have a lengthy injury report at this point in time. Safety Quentin Lake (hamstring) is the lone player to not practice Wednesday or Thursday. Kupp (ankle), center Coleman Shelton (ankle), defensive tackle Larrell Murchison (knee) and tackle Rob Havenstein (rest) all didn’t practice Wednesday and were limited Thursday. Kupp is now listed as probable for this game. Wide receiver Ben Skowronek (hip) and guard Kevin Dotson (shoulder) were limited both days. Watch for further information regarding their statuses.
Cardinals Seeking to Earn Division Win
Arizona was unable to build off their win over Atlanta as they were beaten on the road by Houston last Sunday in their previous contest. The Cardinals dropped to 2-9 on the season and are in the basement of the NFC West. They are 15 in the NFC playoff picture, four games behind the Seahawks for the final playoff spot. Against Houston, Arizona led 10-7 after one quarter, trailed 21-10 at the half, and got within 21-16 after three quarters. Neither team was able to put points on the board in the fourth quarter, sending the Cardinals to defeat. Arizona was outgained 419-319 in total offense, gave up 22 first downs while picking up 20, and lost time of possession by a 31:15 to 28:45 margin. Those numbers overshadowed that the Cardinals won the turnover battle 3-2.
On the year, the Cardinals are 29 in the league in passing offense with 171.8 yards per contest while they are 9 in rushing offense with 126.2 yards per game. Arizona is 25 in scoring offense by putting up an average of 17.5 points per game and 27 in the league in scoring defense by allowing an average of 25.8 points per contest. Kyler Murray has completed 39 of 62 passes for 463 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions on the year. He is fifth on the team with 84 yards and two scores on the ground. Joshua Dobbs was 167 of 266 passing for 1,569 yards with eight touchdowns and eight interceptions while adding 258 yards plus three scores on the ground. He was traded to Minnesota ahead of the trade deadline. Clayton Tune is 12 of 21 passing for 62 yards and two interceptions while adding 29 yards plus a score on the ground. James Conner leads the team on the ground with 98 carries for 499 yards and two scores. Emeri Demercado (49 carries, 195 yards, TD) and Rondale Moore (23 carries, 156 yards, TD0 have been contributors as well. Marquise Brown leads the team with 45 receptions for 486 yards and four scores this season. Trey McBride (41 catches, 461 yards, TD), Michael Wilson (28 grabs, 435 yards, two TDs) and Moore (26 catches, 219 yards, TD) are each over 200 receiving yards this season. Matt Prater has hit 11 of 12 extra point attempts and 19 of 21 field goal attempts with a long of 62 this season.
Arizona has some concerns on the injury front heading into this game. Wilson (shoulder), cornerback Antonio Hamilton (groin) and defensive tackle Kevin Strong (knee) each missed practice Wednesday and Thursday. Safety Joey Blount (knee) missed practice Wednesday but was limited Thursday. Brown (heel) practiced in a limited fashion Wednesday but didn’t practice Thursday. Demercado (toe), receiver Zach Pascal (hamstring) and defensive end Jonathan Ledbetter (shoulder) were each limited both days. Watch for further information about their statuses.
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Best Bets for this Game
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Both teams have some banged-up pieces that could impede their chances in this game. Kupp is expected to play despite his ankle injury sustained last week but one has to wonder if he’ll be limited in any fashion. Meanwhile, Brown's regressing in practice activity on Thursday has to be concerning for the Cardinals. Getting Murray back in the mix at least gives Arizona competent QB play but they have struggled to put points on the board with regularity. They had multiple opportunities last week against Houston but came up empty. Arizona is pretty much out of the playoff picture and could be looking to the future given their issues. The Rams are still fighting, as we saw last week against Seattle. Give the edge to the Rams as they sweep the season series.
Prediction: Los Angeles Rams -2.5
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Los Angeles enters this game having stayed under the total in seven of their 10 games on the season. The Rams stayed under the total in three of their five road games this season. We saw Los Angeles go over in an overtime win over the Colts and a blowout loss to Dallas on the road this season. Arizona has seen the over post a 6-5 mark in their 11 games this season. The Cardinals have gone over the number in all five of their home games this season. We saw a combined 35 points in the first meeting this season last month, marking the third under in the last four meetings between the teams. With Murray back, the potential for more offense is there but given what we saw last week, it’s not guaranteed. Lean toward the under in this contest.
Prediction: Under 45.5
Chris King has been immersed in the world of professional and collegiate sports for more than three decades. Whether it's playing pickup games or being involved in organized sports to being a fan, he's checked all the boxes. From the NFL to arena football, the NHL to the KHL, the NBA to the WNBA to college hoops, and even MLB to the KBO. If it's out there, he's covered it and bet on it as well, as Chris has been an expert bettor in his career. Before joining Winners and Whiners back in 2015, his work appeared around the internet and in print. He's written books for Ruckus Books about college basketball, the NBA, NFL, MLB, NHL, golf, and the World Cup. If you're looking for the inside track on hitting a winner, do yourself a favor and read what Chris has to say.
