NFL Tickets
The 6-7 St. Louis Rams host the 10-3 Arizona Cardinals on Thursday Night Football this week in a game that the first place Cardinals have to have. One more win would all but assure Arizona a postseason berth of some kind, and this is their best chance to get it. With tough games against the Seattle Seahawks and San Francisco 49ers coming up, the Cardinals need to take care of business against the Rams.
However, the Rams are no pushover. They will be looking to continue their strong play from the last month, as they have won three of their last four games. The Rams have won their last two games by a combined score of 76-0, and they look like one of the most dangerous spoiler teams in the NFL. On the year, the Rams have beaten both of last season’s Super Bowl participants and lost by single digits to three other playoff contenders.
This is not going to be an easy game for the Cardinals, even though they beat the Rams 31-14 back in Week 10. That game was actually the last time the Cardinals scored 20 or more points, and their offensive struggles have raised some major concerns. The Cardinals have struggled to run that ball all season, and that doesn’t figure to change against a solid Rams run defense. That means that Drew Stanton and the passing attack are going to have to raise their game.
With Michael Floyd and Larry Fitzgerald, the Cardinals have the weapons to beat the Rams down the field. Fitzgerald had 9 receptions for 112 yards the last time these teams met, while John Brown had five receptions for 73 yards and a touchdown. That came with Carson Palmer under center, however, and Stanton hasn’t proven he can play at that level. If the Cards can the run game going, it would take a lot of pressure off Stanton and slow a Rams pass rush that ranks 7th in the NFL in sacks.
When the Rams have the ball, they will look to have a balanced offense. It is very difficult to run on the Cardinals’ 6th ranked defense, but the Rams will still give Tre Mason his share of carries. Mason has really been the catalyst for the Rams’ recent hot streak, and look for them to try find cracks in the Arizona defense with their power run game.
Shaun Hill has been solid lately, delivering some key throws and his share of big plays. The Cardinals have had a lot of problems stopping the pass this year, ranking just 27th in the NFL. Making matters worse, Antonio Cromartie may not be able to play this week, weakening Arizona’s secondary. Look for Hill to spread the ball around and try to find mismatches to get that big play opportunity he thrives on.
All in all, this matchup is more even than either team’s record would indicate. The Rams are better than their record, and it wouldn’t be a surprise if they take somebody out of the playoff race over the last few weeks. Arizona needs to make sure they’re not that team, because this win would go a long way towards securing a playoff berth.
Look for the Cardinals to have a strong game defensively, taking away Mason and forcing Hill to beat them. They should hold the Rams in check, and Stanton will be able to do just enough to deliver a huge win for Arizona.
Final Score Prediction: Cardinals 23, Rams 17
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