The Los Angeles Rams (1-1) are traveling to State Farm Stadium on Sunday where they will meet the Arizona Cardinals (1-1). Los Angeles is a 4-point favorite over Arizona, and the over/under comes is 51.5. While the Cardinals are coming off a wild overtime victory against the Las Vegas Raiders, things will likely be more difficult against the defending Super Bowl champions Los Angeles Rams even at home.
In six starts vs Sean McVay and the Rams, Kyler Murray has gone 1-5. He has completed 62.8% of his passes, but for just 6.7 yards per attempt average. Murray has seven touchdowns to six interceptions over that span so the Rams have seemingly had his number. Worse, despite last week’s win, Arizona has been below average under Kliff Kingsbury against the spread. Since 2019, the Cardinals are 8-9-2 ATS against divisional opponents.
Rams Run Defense Leads the League
Not unsurprisingly, the Los Angeles Rams run defense has been solid thus far this season. On Sunday, the Rams’ defense locked up the Falcons’ run game. Cordarrelle Patterson and Tyler Allgeier combined for 20-carries and 71-yards and quarterback Marcus Mariota added 16-yards with his legs on 6-attempts.
According to both Pro Football Focus and Football Outsiders, through the first two weeks of the NFL season, the Rams rank first in terms of stopping the run.
Two Monday Night Football games today. The Tennessee Titans will visit the Buffalo Bills at Orchard Park as 10-point underdogs (o/u 47.5) and the Minnesota Vikings will play the Eagles later that evening in Philadelphia. The Eagles are a -2.5 favorite (o/u 50.0). Neither game has much impact on the Rams.
Key Injuries
The Los Angeles Rams are already thin after three players were injured on Sunday against the Falcons. Tremayne Anchrum Jr., who had been playing next to Derrek Jordan at outside linebacker for much of this season broke his ankle against Atlanta. Troy Hill hurt his groin and Cobie Durant also strained his hamstring which could keep them both unavailable come Sunday.
Sean McVay told reporters on Monday that Anchrum will miss the rest of the season, and he’s not certain Hill and Durant will be able to play on Sunday against the Cardinals.
Sean McVay didn't sound optimistic about CB Troy Hill (groin) playing Sunday vs. Cardinals. CB Cobie Durant's status also in doubt because he sustained a hamstring injury #Rams
— Gilberto Manzano (@GManzano24) September 19, 2022
ESPN Week #3 Prediction
According to ESPN’s Football Power Index, the Rams have a 52.7% shot at picking up the win next Sunday vs the Cardinals.
SBNation Predicts Rams Cover
According to Dylan Deines:
“The Cardinals will again be without their most electrifying weapon in DeAndre Hopkins who continues to serve his six-game suspension but still have weapons that draw attention with Brown and Green. Even though LA nearly imploded and gave away a game in which they were (-10.5) favorites in they look much improved in Week 2. Stafford made some mistakes but also threw 11 completions in a row and found the end zone three times. Allen Robinson finally made an appearance as his role develops within the offense and Kupp is still doing Kupp-like things…”
