The NFC West title came down to the final week of the regular-season, but the L.A. Rams eventually came out on top over the Arizona Cardinals. It didn’t look good for the Rams after they dropped a 27-24 overtime decision against San Francisco, but the Cardinals’ 38-30 loss to Seattle clinched the division title for L.A.
The Rams are 4-point favourites to win on the NFL odds, with a total of 49.5.
After a wild first few days of playoff football, we still have one game left to cap off Super Wild Card Weekend. On Monday night, the Los Angeles Rams will host the Arizona Cardinals in an NFC West rematch for the chance to move on and play Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the Divisional Round. The series is split so far with the Cardinals winning the first meeting, 37-20, and the Rams getting revenge in game two, 30-23, both victories coming on the other’s home field. Neither starting quarterback Kyler Murray nor Matthew Stafford has ever won a playoff game in their respective short and long careers. Of course, this is Murray’s first stab at the NFL postseason. But as for Stafford, he is 0-3 in playoff games in his days with the Lions. The first chance that Stafford had at earning a postseason W back in 2012, Murray was in seventh grade. And get this, the last time these two franchises faced each other in the playoffs was back in 1975, a 35-23 Rams win where Lawrence McCutcheon, who is unavailable for Monday’s game, ran for 202 yards on 37 carries. After the Cincinnati Bengals ended their 31-season playoff win drought on Saturday, every other team on the list of longest playoff win droughts moved up a spot. That means the Cardinals are now eighth on the list, with their six-season drought. For six to not become seven, Arizona must win at SoFi Stadium for the second time this season. In Week 4, they ran around and over the Rams in a 37-20 win. In that win, the Cardinals racked up 465 yards and dominated the game after trailing after a quarter. That win was part of a 7-0 start for Arizona, and at one point, the Cardinals were 10-2. At that time, they were on course for the top seed in the NFC. But things came a bit unglued in the final several weeks, as they lost four of their final six games. That includes a 30-23 home loss to the Rams in Week 14, which proved to be decisive. Arizona still could have won the NFC West on the final day of the regular season. But they failed to capitalize on the Rams’ overtime loss to the 49ers, despite a much more favorable assignment. Against the 6-10 Seattle Seahawks at home, they failed to hold a lead and fell 38-30. The Rams’ offensive line has become the team’s Achilles heel. This is an offense that’s always found success through the air by running efficiently. Losing Robert Woods on the outside obviously hurt them through the air, but he’s also one of the best blocking receivers in the league. Additionally, their rushing attack relies on receivers blocking linebackers and edge defenders from condensed and bunched looks. Ben Skowronek is not that guy, pal. As previously stated, Kupp is that guy. It’s one of the reasons I believe he might be the best pure football player in the NFL. But even he has physical limitations that no amount of grit in the world can overcome.
Prediction: Arizona Cardinals ML