The NFC West has been close all season, but finally some separation has occurred with the playoffs on the horizon. THE Los Angeles Rams beat the New York Jets in Week 16 to earn their fourth straight victory, securing the division lead with two games remaining. THE Arizona Cardinalsas for him, failed to survive the Carolina Panthers in overtime in their final game, resulting in their total elimination from the playoffs.
Now, the two rivals will face off on Saturday night with additional playoff implications. With Arizona out of the race, Kyler Murray and Co. can still play the role of spoiler — and perhaps audition for jobs in 2025 — against a Rams team trying to stay ahead Seattle Seahawkswho won his match Thursday evening.
How can you log in? Which confrontations are the most crucial? And who is ready to walk away with victory? Here is our overview and sports betting prediction:
Rams vs Cardinals where to watch
Date: Saturday December 28 | Time: 8:10 p.m. ET
Location: SoFi Stadium (Inglewood, California)
TV: NFL Network | Flow: fubo (try for free)
Follow: CBS Sports app
Odds: Rams -5.5 (SportsLine Consensus)
The keys to the game
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- Can the Cardinals elevate their aerial attack? Come back running James Conner has been effective when healthy, but he’s nursing a knee injury after Arizona’s battle with Carolina, and he’s replacing Trey Benson is also injured. Even though the backfield was healthy, the Cardinals desperately need more from Kyler Murray under center, where the former No. 1 overall pick has thrown six picks in his last five games.
- Can Sean McVay’s offense kick into high gear? The Rams have won four straight, but they have scored a combined 31 points in their last two, scraped by the Jets and San Francisco 49ers. The last time they faced Arizona, they also only had 10 points in a blowout loss. Hosting the rematch on SoFi turf could help speed up Matthew Stafford And Kyren Williams‘ production.
- Has the Rams defense really turned a corner? Los Angeles only ranks 24th in total defense and 17th in scoring defense, but the team has only given up 15 points over the past two weeks. Their front, in particular, has many potential players who make the difference, since Byron Young (11 tackles for loss) and rookie edge rusher Jared Verse (11 tackles for loss) at the inside post Kobie Turner (7 bags).
Prediction
It’s crazy how much has changed since September, when the Cardinals beat the Rams, 41-10, and Kyler Murray looked like a potential MVP candidate. Marvin Harrison Jr.. Arizona remained relatively disjointed, but Jonathan Gannon’s team lacked a finishing touch or reliable passing attack (ranked 21st), leaving the Cardinals particularly reliant on a rushing attack with ball control. That doesn’t bode well for a rematch in Los Angeles, where the Rams haven’t set the world on fire but are still likely to explode under the arm of Matthew Stafford. Plus, Sean McVay’s team still has January ball in front of them.
Take: Rams 26, Cardinals 16