The St. Louis Rams (5-7) could not have asked for a bigger win last Sunday, when they absolutely burned the Oakland Raiders to the ground for their fifth win of the season. The win gave the Rams quite a momentum for their next game, a matchup with the fading Washington Redskins. The Redskins (3-9) are virtually out of playoff contention, but will be come in to the game motivated to break their four-game slump.
The Seahawks and the Eagles, meanwhile, square off in a more engaging NFC North-NFC West showdown on Sunday, too. You can read a preview of that game here.
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St. Louis Rams vs. Washington Redskins Betting Preview and Prediction
Where: FedEx Field, Landover
When: Sunday, December 7, 1:00 PM ET
Line: St. Louis Rams (-2.5) at Washington Redskins (+2.5); total: 44.5 –see all NFL lines
Betting on the St. Louis Rams
Even against a doormat team, the Rams still managed to surprise. St. Louis, who beat Super Bowl contenders Seattle Seahawks and the Denver Broncos this season, ruthlessly tore apart the Oakland Raiders on Sunday for a soul-crushing 52-0 victory.
[sc:NFL240banner ]Shaun Hill bounced back from a disappointing performance in the team’s Week 12 loss to the San Diego Chargers, completing 13 of 22 passes for 183 passing yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions. But as good as Hill was in that game, it was running back Tre Mason who shone the brightest. Mason rushed for 117 yards and two touchdowns. He even hooked up with Hill for a receiving touchdown, to add to his career-high 47 receiving yards.
The Rams won’t generate that many points against Washington, but the Redskins do have a defense that could be exploited by the likes of Hill and Mason. The Redskins’ secondary is among the worst in the NFL with only five interceptions in 12 games thus far this season. Hill certainly knows this so expect him to settle for longer passes than usual against Washington.
Mason, who has shown glimpses of his versatility in the Raiders game by rushing and catching the ball with great efficiency, could provide a puzzle for the Redskins’ defense that ranks 15th in opposing teams’ passing yards (241.2 per game) and ninth in opposing teams’ rushing yards (102.8 per game).
The Rams are 3-0 ATS in their last three games overall.
The quarterback carousel continued to run in Washington, and so was the Redskins’ losing streak. The Redskins, despite a good game from Colt McCoy, failed to stop their skid, as they lost 49-27 to the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday. The Redskins are now 0-4 in their last four games overall.
McCoy compiled 392 passing yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions against the Colts. Wide receiver Jordan Reed also had a big game, catching nine passes for 123 yards, while DeSean Jackson had 84 receiving yards and a touchdown.
McCoy isn’t a sure bet to start next Sunday for the Redskins but whomever Jay Gruden will put under center against the Rams, the team’s offensive line better do a great job of containing the suddenly explosive pass rush of St. Louis. Redskins’ quarterbacks have been sacked 3.2 times per game thus far this season. That’s the third-worst mark in the NFL. The Rams, on the other hand, has been killing it on the pass rush lately. The Rams are 13th in the league in sacks with 28, 18 of those were earned over their last five games.
Adding more pressure on the Redskins is the possibility of Jackson of missing the St. Louis game. Jackson, the Redskins top receiver with 942 receiving yards and five touchdowns, suffered a fibula contusion in the third quarter against the Colts and did not return to the game.
The under is 3-0 in the Redskins’ last three home games.
