Arizona Cardinals look to avenge Week 6 loss against Los Angeles Rams
Los Angeles Rams (4-6) at Arizona Cardinals (2-9)
Time/site: 2:05 p.m. MST, State Farm Stadium, Glendale.
TV: FOX. Radio: 98.7 FM, 106.7 FM in Spanish.
Last time they played: The Rams handed the Cardinals a 26-9 loss in Week 6 this season. Arizona did not have safeties Budda Baker and Jalen Thompson nor running back James Conner and quarterback Kyler Murray, all out with injuries. The Cardinals' defense frustrated the Rams' offense in the first half, and Matt Prater made three field goals for a 9-6 Cardinals lead at halftime. Then the Rams switched up their strategy and turned to a run-oriented plan, with Kyren Williams leading the way on his way to 158 rushing yards. Los Angeles scored two touchdowns and made two field goals to cruise to the win.
Series history: Arizona has won two of the last three against the Rams in Los Angeles, but has not defeated the Rams at home since 2014. Including the postseason, Sunday's game will mark the 94th all-time meeting between the two teams, with the Rams leading the series 51-40-2. Los Angeles has won four of the last five meetings overall.
Coaching matchup
Arizona: First-year head coach Jonathan Gannon is off to a 2-9 start to his tenure. He is 0-1 against the Rams. Gannon spent three seasons (2009-11) working as a scout for the St. Louis Rams in the years before they moved back to L.A.
Los Angeles: Sean McVay is already in his seventh season at the helm, at just 37 years old. He has led the Rams to four playoff berths and two Super Bowl appearances in his first six seasons, winning Super Bowl 56 at the Rams' home field, SoFi Stadium. McVay has also led the Rams to five winning seasons with three NFC West titles.
Storylines
Sunday will be Kyler Murray's third start since his return from knee surgery and rehab, and while Murray missed on some critical pass attempts last week, he continues to look more comfortable in the Cardinals' offense and very much like how he did before the injury when running the ball. He has a history of struggling against the Rams, but Gannon dismissed any notion of those results getting in Murray's head.
"Every team is different. Every game is different. And I don't think he lives in the past," Gannon said.
Other storylines include an expanded role for linebacker Krys Barnes, who stepped in for injured captain Kyzir White during last week's game, and how Josh Woods handles relaying the defensive signals to his teammates, which had been White's duty. And it's always worth watching to see how the Cardinals rookies perform and continue to develop.
Los Angeles will win if . . .
1. Matthew Stafford gets it rolling with Puka Nacua and (maybe) Cooper Kupp: The Cardinals defended Nacua, one of the NFL's top rookies, pretty well in the first meeting, holding him to four catches for 26 yards. Kupp went wild on the Cardinals' secondary, with seven catches for 148 yards including a touchdown. He left last Sunday's Rams game against the Seahawks with a sprained ankle, though, so it is not certain he will play.
2. Kyren Williams tramples all over the Cardinals again. Williams is designated to return from injured reserve this week.
3. An improving Rams defense plays well again: The Rams held the Seattle Seahawks to 16 points last week. With Aaron Donald still dominant, if the rest of the D is making plays, the Cardinals could be in trouble.
Arizona will win if . . .
Kyler Murray shows more improvement: Murray missed some throws in key situations last week at Houston, but he's moving really well and had his team in contention in each of the first two games he's played. Putting his history with the Rams aside, Murray could have a breakout game this week.
The defense builds off last week: The Cardinals shut out a good Houston offense in the second half. They intercepted two passes in the second half and were in control. Anything similar for four quarters could win the game.
They said it
"I think just like everybody, it’s never about one guy. I am sure he wants some plays back, but he did some good things earlier in the game. Then I think just as the game went on, there was just a little bit of technique issues for Marco, which he’s got to continue to clean up just like all of our guys. You guys know that’s a hard position and we put them in some hard downs. That’s why the corner position is what it is, but he battles in there, he keeps his head up and he goes to work." - Gannon on cornerback Marco Wilson, who has struggled at times in pass coverage this season.
"When they're clicking, they can play a complete game on offense, they're able to run the ball. And you know, with that quarterback, they're always able to pass the football. So when they're clicking on all cylinders, you can see the success come for that offense. Looking back at our last game, we allowed them to click on all cylinders, you know, they were able to re-establish a run game that opens up some things in the pass. So I mean, it's elite quarterback play, elite scheme, elite play call, elite coaches, and so you have to be able to take away certain things that they're really good at." - Cardinals defensive coordinator Nick Rallis on the Rams' offense.
"Lot of missed opportunities, honestly. You get four or five opportunities to get him the ball in a big situation. Sometimes we've hit him, sometimes we haven't. I think lately we haven't been able to hit him, which is frustrating for him, it's frustrating for us. But I think the thing that's been a big positive for him is he's stayed in it. You know, he's continuing to work hard. He's continued to be a great teammate. So really encouraged by that. And he's a good player, we're going to continue to try to get him the ball." - Cardinals offensive coordinator Drew Petzing on WR Hollywood Brown and trying to get the ball to him.
More Cardinals: Fourth downs an issue for Cardinals in loss to Houston Texans
By the numbers
99 — Career games played for Cardinals All-Pro safety Budda Baker. On Sunday, the five-time Pro Bowler will join long snapper Aaron Brewer as the only active players to appear inat least 100 games with the Cardinals.
673 — Career tackles for Baker, who leads all NFL defensive backs in tackles dating back to hisrookie season in 2017. In his 99 career games, he has 7½ sacks, 33 tackles for loss, 7 interceptions, 34 passes broken up, 6 forced fumbles and 5 fumble recoveries.
11 — field goals 50 or more yards for kicker Matt Prater in his last 15 games played (on 12 attempts).
77 — Career field goals of 50 or more yards for Prater. That is the most in NFL history and 19 more than the players who rank second on the list.32 — Sacks for the Cardinals defense in 2023. That ranks eighth in the NFL this season andis tied for the second-highest total in franchise history through 11 games (37 in 2018.)
8 — Rookies who have started at least one game for the Cardinals this season. That is the most in the NFL. Arizona also leads the league with seven rookies who have started multiple games.
126.2 — Rushing yards per game for the Cardinals in 2023. Arizona ranks ninth in the NFL in rushing this season.14 — Runs of 20-plus yards for Arizona this season. That is tied with the Miami Dolphins for the most in the NFL.
63 —Receptions that Cardinals tight end Trey McBride is currently on pace for this season. That would set a new franchise single-season record for a tight end (current record is 56).
Who will win and why
Cardinals 27, Rams: 20: The Cardinals play well in all three phases and get a win at home, in what is on paper their best chance at a home win for the rest of the season. The Rams' defense has been solid, but Murray is due for a breakout game and he would like nothing more than to do that against the Rams.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Arizona Cardinals-Los Angeles Rams NFL game preview, prediction
