Matthew Stafford threw for 383 yards Monday and still walked away with an overtime loss. Puka Nacua caught a Monday-night-record 17 passes; Josh Allen and James Cook answered by tearing through Los Angeles on the ground. Sean McVay returns to SoFi Stadium on a short week with an offense humming and a defense that couldn’t corral Allen. Below is my preview, prediction, and pick for this week’s NFL game between the Los Angeles Rams and the Arizona Cardinals.
Here’s how I’ll play it. I’ll be pumping out these predictions for individual games all season, with plenty of coverage here on DraftKings Network. Follow my handle @dansby_edits for more betting plays.
Rams vs. Cardinals prediction, preview
Arizona has given opposing passers a scandalous 9.1 yards per attempt through five games, worst in the NFL. Now the Cardinals have ruled out safeties Andrew Wingard and Wydett Williams Jr., with Budda Baker questionable because of his groin. Nacua attacks at several depths, Davante Adams still wins near the goal line, and Tyler Higbee has topped 60 receiving yards in three straight games. David Quessenberry replaces suspended left tackle Alaric Jackson, but Arizona has pressured passers on just 30.3% of dropbacks, the NFL’s second-lowest rate. Stafford should still have time to attack those replacement safeties.
McVay can make those choices harder with multiple tight ends. Arizona has answered those groupings with base personnel on 78% of snaps; Stafford has averaged 9.1 yards per attempt against base this season, throwing four touchdowns without an interception on 55 attempts. Colby Parkinson and Davis Allen have no game designations. McVay can threaten runs from those heavier formations and still send capable receivers into the linebackers’ coverage. Kyren Williams caught six passes Monday even while Buffalo held him to 49 rushing yards.
Williams now runs at a front that just let Jahmyr Gibbs rush for 151 yards on 25 carries. If Arizona retreats to protect their depleted secondary, Williams and Blake Corum can pound the lighter boxes. With a lead, McVay should call more runs Sunday.
Tyler Allgeier can exploit the tackling problems Buffalo exposed. With Jeremiyah Love out, Allgeier inherits carries from a running game that managed a 22.2% success rate in Detroit. He needs to spare Jacoby Brissett obvious passing downs. Left tackle Paris Johnson Jr. is on IR; Brissett has taken seven sacks and thrown four interceptions over his last two games. Edge rushers Byron Young and Jared Verse can wreck drives when Arizona’s early runs fail. Allen’s improvised rushing repeatedly rescued Buffalo; Brissett supplies considerably less of that threat.
Cardinals vs. Rams pick, best bet
Trey McBride and Kendrick Bourne still give Brissett throws underneath, although Los Angeles has allowed the league’s lowest CPOE through five games. McBride has drawn at least ten targets every week, while Bourne caught five passes for 70 yards in Detroit. Rams cornerback Trent McDuffie (new groin injury) and safety Kam Curl (ankle) remain questionable. Brissett should still finish some drives with those shorter throws.
McVay signed Blake Grupe after Harrison Mevis missed a 50-yarder and had his 48-yard overtime attempt blocked Monday. Grupe made all 11 field goals during his five-game finish with Indianapolis last season. Adams scored twice Monday even as Nacua drew 24 targets. Arizona’s replacements have to help on both receivers, and Higbee is still there underneath.
Best bet: Rams -12.5 (-112).
Projected score: Rams 35, Cardinals 20.
