Battle of the backup quarterbacks would favor the Arizona Cardinals
By Jim Koch
The Arizona Cardinals have a solid chance of winning on Sunday if a battle between Colt McCoy and John Wolford takes place.
The Arizona Cardinals have emerged victorious just one time in their last 12 meetings with the Los Angeles Rams. That string of bad luck could be interrupted this coming Sunday if injuries keep the starting quarterbacks from both squads out of the Week 10 matchup.
Cards signal-caller Kyler Murray is nursing a strained hamstring that he suffered last week during a 31-21 loss to the Seattle Seahawks. Matthew Stafford, the Rams veteran passer, is questionable with a concussion. There’s a possibility that both players will be sidelined, so what club would have the advantage if each of the teams’ backups are pressed into action?
On Arizona’s side is Colt McCoy, the 36-year-old who has 33 starts on his NFL resume. Los Angeles would roll with John Wolford, the 27-year-old who has started just one contest since he joined the Rams back in 2019. Coincidentally, and unfortunately, that game will be forever etched in the memory banks of those who root for the Cardinals.
John Wolford kept the Arizona Cardinals out of playoffs in January 2021
It was the final regular-season game of the 2020-21 campaign, and the Redbirds were just one victory away from a postseason appearance. A triumph over a Los Angeles squad that was without starting quarterback Jared Goff was the one remaining obstacle. Surely, the Cards would emerge victorious against a group of Rams that would be led by the vastly-inexperienced Wolford.
As Arizona fans are well aware, it wasn’t to be. Murray exited the matchup after one uneventful series, leaving the woefully-inept Chris Streveler to lead the offense. Wolford performed just well enough to engineer an 18-7 win, and Los Angeles had succeeded in keeping the Cardinals out of the playoffs.
Things could go much different for the Cards in week 10 with McCoy under center. The 6 foot 1, 212 pounder is head and shoulders above the now-departed Streveler. Just last season, McCoy led “Big Red” to road victories over the San Francisco 49ers and Seattle Seahawks when Murray was sidelined.
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There’s still a chance that Murray and Stafford will be out there when Arizona takes on the Rams. If both are out, it will be a battle of the backups featuring McCoy and Wolford. The advantage will go to the Cardinals if that scenario comes to fruition.
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