Huge game in the NFC South as two sides still vying for a playoff place as the 9-6 Rams welcome the 8-7 Cardinals. The Rams know that they’re ‘Win and In’ but will be without Jared Goff and Cam Akers for this important game.
The Cardinals lost to the Niners and their third string passer last week in a game where Kyler Murray just didn’t look himself, as he was kept scoreless as well as throwing an INT in the end zone, and things don’t get any easier against the Rams as they can boast a top 2 pass defense and a top 3 run defense meaning that Murray is likely to struggle moving the ball through the air and on the ground. DeAndre Hopkins had only his third game of the season with under 50 receiving yards last week against the Niners and he’ll be hoping Murray looks for him in this one and he’ll be able to post his 8th 100+ receiving yard game of the season.
John Wolford will make his first NFL start in Jared Goff’s absence and what a game to have to make your first career start! I expect Sean McVay to try and make his life easier by establishing the run game and trying to neutralise the Cardinals pass rush which ranks inside the top 5 for Sacks in the NFL this season, but establishing the run game might be easier said than done as Cam Akers is unavailable and Darrell Henderson is doubtful meaning that typical short yardage pounder Malcolm Brown will likely take the majority of snaps. The Rams might be struggling with injuries on the Offense but their Defense is still an elite unit and they’ll need to step up today in an important game.
I’m taking the Cardinals here, I just think their defense can put enough pressure on Wolford in his first start and I expect Kyler Murray to get back to form after a poor showing last week.
PREDICTION: CARDINALS 27 – 24 RAMS
BEST BET: CARDINALS -1 – EVENS with SkyBet. 1 point bet.
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