CARDINALS (6-8-1) VS. RAMS (4-11)
SUNDAY, 4:25 P.M. ET, LOS ANGELES MEMORIAL COLISEUM, LOS ANGELES uTV: FOX, DIRECTV 719
Announcers: Chris Myers, Ronde Barber, Jennifer Hale
It’s somewhat difficult to explain how RB can be having a record-breaking season and yet Arizona’s offense somehow has gotten worse. Saturday’s win against the Seattle Seahawks showed just how potent the Cardinals can be when all cylinders are clicking on that side of the ball, and coach would like nothing more than to keep the momentum going into the offseason. Johnson’s emergence has been the Cardinals’ most positive story this season, but their inconsistent passing game and struggles on defense have overshadowed all that good stuff. Arizona likely will have to play its final game without starting safeties and
but the Cardinals’ stellar pass rush could expose the Rams offensive line.
About the Rams: The Rams have to be all too eager to turn the page on the 2016 season and get a fresh start in their return to Southern California. Things looked as if they were about to take a turn for the better Saturday before the San Francisco 49ers’ dramatic comeback and two-point conversion. That loss was particularly hard considering rookie QB
had avoided mistakes often enough to help give them a 21-7 lead. There’s plenty of time for Goff to prove that he was a better pick than, say, Dak Prescott, but the questions are going to continue to dog this franchise throughout the offseason if he finishes with another dud. The Rams have lost 10 of their last 11 games after a 3-1 start.
A couple of rookies will do battle in the season finale, and it’s likely Goff could test Williams often. Pro Bowl CB
is on the other side, and Williams was victimized on several occasions in the win against Seattle. Goff, who passed for only 90 yards against the 49ers, will be looking to close the season with a performance that would bolster his confidence.
WHO WILL WIN AND WHY
Is this his last game in a Cardinals uniform? Palmer, who turned 37 this week, has had an up-and-down season but is playing some of his best football down the stretch. Palmer might have forced his way back into the Cardinals’ future with his big game against the Seahawks.
The 2012 49ers are the only team since 2004 to lose the NFC Championship Game and win a division title in the season that followed. Nine reigning NFC runners-up, including this year’s Cardinals, failed to make the playoffs the next year.
KEYS TO THE GAME
1. Hang on to the ball. Palmer has fumbled 14 times this season, his highest total since 2006. He has thrown 13 interceptions, one of the highest totals in the NFC. Goff also is susceptible to turnovers, which is not uncommon for rookies.
Both quarterbacks have taken their share of hits this season, and Palmer has been particularly banged up. He has been sacked 39 times, 14 more than last season, and the Cardinals are going to have to find a way to contain Rams DT
Both teams have running backs capable of carrying the offense, so this game could turn into a grind. It’s going to come down to run blocking, which has been an issue for both teams. Rams RB
is just starting to show signs of living up to his potential.
Scott Johnson