The Arizona Cardinals got a much-needed win on Sunday against the Chiefs to snap their only losing skid of the season thus far. However, they could yet start another one as they end the year facing their three very tough division rivals. First up for the NFC West-leading Cards is a daunting trip to St. Louis, where the red-hot Rams and their impregnable defense await.
An absolutely stacked Week 15 awaits with a whole host of exciting matchups with playoff implications. See our thoughts for each and every game, including Seahawks vs. 49ers, and Broncos vs. Chargers, in our NFL news section. Otherwise, read on for more on this defensive showdown.
[sc:Football ]Arizona Cardinals vs. St. Louis Rams Betting Preview and Prediction
Where: Edward Jones Dome, St. Louis
When: Thursday, December 11, 8:25 PM ET
Line: Arizona Cardinals (+3.5) at St. Louis Rams (-3.5); total 40.5 – see all NFL lines
Betting on the Arizona Cardinals
The Arizona Cardinals aren’t ready to give up their place atop the NFC just yet. After dropping two games in a row to the Seahawks and Falcons, the Cards recovered to grind out a tough 17-14 win over the Kansas City Chiefs at home. Arizona improved to a conference-best 10-3 on the season, a full game ahead of the surging Seattle Seahawks in the NFC West.
[sc:NFL240banner ]Running back Kerwynn Williams was the unsung hero for the Cards as the practice squad player just a couple of days ago stepped up to run for 100 yards on just 19 carries in place of the injured Andre Ellington. Meanwhile, the Cards D tightened the screws on the Chiefs, holding them scoreless in the second half.
But while Arizona’s win was encouraging, there are still concerns on both sides of the ball. Quarterback Drew Stanton completed just half of his pass attempts for 239 yards and the once-impenetrable Cardinals run defense gave up 100-plus rushing yards for the third-straight game (Detroit had 98 rushing yards in the game before that).
Even the sustainability of Williams (or any other Cardinals running back, for that matter) producing on the ground against a locked-in Rams defense is tough for any team.
However, the Cardinals are still pretty good on defense themselves. They’ve given up over 20 points only once in the past nine games. Expect that unit to give St. Louis a taste of what a competent defense can do after the Rams feasted on supbar defenses for the past two weeks.
Holding the Rams within striking distance will be crucial for the Cards, who have been able to eke out close wins this season. Arizona is 4-0 (3-1 against the spread) in one-possession games this season.
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Betting on the St. Louis Rams
That’s two games and two consecutive shutouts for the St. Louis Rams, who are finishing their season with a flourish. In those two games against the Raiders and Redskins which had an aggregate score of 76-0, the Rams have allowed just 88 total rushing yards on 2.7 yards per carry, with seven turnovers created.
Meanwhile, their offense has looked very competent. Shaun Hill has recorded back-to-back games of two touchdowns and no interceptions, lifting his passer rating above 110 on both occasions. And on the ground, rookie Tre Mason has been the workhorse for a running game that topped 130 yards in both outings.
The obvious caveat is that they’ve just been beating up on a bunch of also-rans in the Raiders and Redskins, two teams with nothing to play for this season. But don’t forget that the Rams’ incredible run – one which has seen them go 4-0 against the spread in their last four games – began back in Week 11 against the Denver Broncos.
They limited the Denver running game to just 2.8 yards per carry, forced two interceptions on Peyton Manning and rushed for 130 yards on a very good Broncos run defense.
Now, they face a Cardinals team whose sputtering offense has been playing on par with the Raiders and Redskins (Arizona is averaging just 13 points per game over the last month) and whose defense, particularly against the run, has fallen off from the first dozen weeks of the season.
The Rams have also been very formidable at home with three wins a row, two of which have come against last year’s Super Bowl participants, the Broncos and the Seattle Seahawks.
Writer’s Prediction
The Rams and their defense once again hold strong at home as they win and cover against the Cardinals.
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