Raising Zona
FanSided

Arizona Cardinals can’t afford loss to Rams

By Scott Allen

Dec 29, 2019; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Robert Woods (17) pulls Arizona Cardinals strong safety Budda Baker (32) and cornerback Patrick Peterson (21) into the end zone as he scores a touchdown in the fourth quarter at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 29, 2019; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Robert Woods (17) pulls Arizona Cardinals strong safety Budda Baker (32) and cornerback Patrick Peterson (21) into the end zone as he scores a touchdown in the fourth quarter at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 2
Next
Dec 29, 2019; Los Angeles, California, USA; Arizona Cardinals tight end Dan Arnold (82) celebrates scoring a first quarter touchdown with teammate Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald (11) at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Right is Los Angeles Rams defensive back David Long (25). Mandatory Credit: Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 29, 2019; Los Angeles, California, USA; Arizona Cardinals tight end Dan Arnold (82) celebrates scoring a first quarter touchdown with teammate Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald (11) at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Right is Los Angeles Rams defensive back David Long (25). Mandatory Credit: Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports /

Key injuries

The Cardinals will again be without receiver Larry Fitzgerald, who remains on the COVID-19 Reserve List for the second consecutive week.  They will also be without safety Jalen Thompson thanks to an injured ankle.

The Cardinals will be able to get away without Fitz as they have plenty of targets to throw to.  However the loss of Thompson again will hurt.  The Cardinals secondary could be in for a long day against the Rams core of excellent receivers.

Everyone else on the injured list this week were listed a full practice participants on Friday.  It will be interesting to see how they handle the inactive list prior to the game.

As for the Rams, they will be without linebacker Terrell Lewis.  They have a couple of players listed as questionable in offensive lineman Brian Allen and defensive linemen Sebastian Joseph-Day.

Prediction

Bottom line is this is a must win.  Sure, a loss keeps the Cardinals in a tie at worst for the last playoff spot (though tie breakers could kick them to the outside looking in) but it puts them in a really bad spot with four games left to play.

The Rams also can’t afford to lose. A loss by them to the Cardinals puts them back into third place in the NFC West and would vault the Cardinals ahead of them in the playoff race.

That said, the Cardinals have shown they have a hard time keeping up with the likes of Rams receivers Robert Woods and Cooper Kupp in the past. Rams quarterback Jared Goff has struggled as of late but he is still dangerous.

Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray needs a huge game on Sunday to get the Cardinals back in the win column.  They will need his legs and his arms to beat the Rams.

Next. 3 things the Cardinals must improve on. dark

It may not be enough though.  Rams likely come away with the win again.  Rams 30 Cardinals 23

Home/Cardinals News