The Arizona Cardinals (8-7, 4-3 away) and Los Angeles Rams (9-6, 5-2 home) face off for the second time in five weeks with playoff implications on the line during the final Sunday of the regular season. The Rams downed the Cardinals, 38-28, five weeks ago in Glendale.
Kickoff is at 4:25 P.M. Eastern at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif. Arizona is a three-point favorite in the divisional matchup, according to oddsmakers.
What to Know – Arizona Cardinals
The Cardinals have dropped four of their last six games and have found themselves in a battle for a berth in the postseason. If the Cardinals take down the Rams, they are in, and also will be in if the Bears lose to the Packers. Arizona is entering the final week of play after suffering a 20-12 loss to the San Francisco 49ers last weekend.
Kyler Murray was banged up last Sunday but expected to play in the season finale against the Rams. Murray has thrown for 3,884 yards and rushed for an additional 816 yards this season. The dual-threat quarterback has accounted for 37 total touchdowns, 26 passing, and 11 rushing.
Kenyan Drake rushed 229 times for 919 yards, 81 yards shy of the 1,000-yark mark. Drake has been a welcome addition in his first full season with the Cardinals, rushing for ten touchdowns this season. Backup running back Chase Edmonds has added 451 yards on the ground and 374 yards receiving as a change of pace running back for the Cardinals.
DeAndre Hopkins came over from the Houston Texans and put together a 1,372 yards season behind 111 receptions and six touchdowns. Slot receiver Christian Kirk added 48 receptions for 621 yards and six touchdowns also.
What to Know – Los Angeles Rams
Los Angeles has dropped their last two contests, including a 23-20 defeat to the winless New York Jets, and need a victory to place themselves into the postseason. The Rams have a handful of ways to make the postseason, but the most straightforward route would be to beat Arizona on Sunday.
Jared Goff has taken every snap under center for the Rams this season but will not play Sunday against the Cardinals after undergoing surgery on his thumb. John Wolford, a rookie out of Wake Forest, will make his first start at quarterback for the Rams on Sunday against Arizona.
The Rams have used three running back this season, but rookie Cam Akers has emerged as the lead back toward the end of the season. Akers has rushed 124 times for 591 yards and two touchdowns, with most of that total coming in the last month of play.
Cooper Kupp will not play Sunday, so look for Robert Woods (86 receptions, 900 yards, six touchdowns) to be a focal point for Wofford in the passing game. Tight ends Tyler Higbee (41 receptions, 480 yards, five touchdowns) and Gerald Everett (39 receptions, 392 yards, one touchdown) will provide a security blanket and check-down option for Wofford.
The Pick is In
These teams are fighting for the postseason, but the Rams are playing with a quarterback taking his first snaps, and their top wideout is sidelined. It does not bode well for the Rams.
If Murray is healthy, expect the Cardinals to take care of business on the road against the banged-up Rams.
The Pick: Arizona Cardinals (-3).
