What to watch for in Arizona Cardinals season finale
By Sion Fawkes
The Arizona Cardinals control their destiny in their week 17 matchup against the Los Angeles Rams.
It’s safe to say the Arizona Cardinals are in a one-game playoff to get into the playoffs. The name of the game is simple. Win, and they’re in. Lose, and they’re finished until training camp begins.
Given the state of the Cardinals and the state of the Rams, we can safely say the ball is in the Cardinals court, as many key starters on the Rams won’t play. Jared Goff has a broken thumb. Cooper Kupp and Michael Brockers are on the COVID list. Darrell Henderson and Cam Akers are banged up.
Everyone in the Red Sea knows the intriguing matchup in week 17 pits DeAndre Hopkins versus Jalen Ramsey. When these two faced off the first time, you can argue Hopkins did a good job against Ramsey, snagging 8 receptions on 13 targets for a touchdown. But Hopkins had just 52 yards, averaging 4 yards per target and 6.5 per catch.
And how is Kyler Murray‘s leg holding up? The last time Kyler played with an injury, the Cardinals embarked on a three-game losing streak. If Murray is not at 100 percent, will the Cardinals offense look as inept as it did during that streak and in week 16?
Let’s break down these issues to watch for in the Cardinals week 17 matchup. Starting with the state of the Rams.