HOW THEY MATCH UP

RAMS (8-3) AT ARIZONA (5-6)

When Rams have the ball

After falling out of rhythm and scoring only one touchdown against the Minnesota Vikings, the Rams put up 26 points against the New Orleans Saints. They rank second in the NFL at 29.9 points per game. Quarterback Jared Goff seemed to take another step in last week’s victory over the Saints. He played with poise and passed for two touchdowns while outdueling future Hall of Famer Drew Brees. Goff is completing 62% of his passes, 18 for touchdowns, with five interceptions. Goff passed for 235 yards and a touchdown in Week 7 when the Rams routed the Cardinals 33-0 in London. He has eclipsed 300 yards passing in a game four times this season, including three times in the last four games. With Robert Woods still sidelined because of a shoulder injury, Goff will rely on Cooper Kupp, Sammy Watkins and Josh Reynolds. Todd Gurley has not rushed for 100 yards in the last four games. McVay reintroduced tight ends in the last game, with Tyler Higbee and Gerald Everett both getting opportunities. The Rams must protect Goff from Arizona linebacker Chandler Jones, who has 12 sacks. Antoine Bethea has three interceptions for a defense that is giving up 25.3 points a game, which ranks 26 in the NFL. The Cardinals are 18th against the pass, 10th against the run.

When Cardinals have the ball

The Cardinals were in trouble when running back David Johnson suffered a Week 1 wrist injury. Their season all but ended when the Rams broke quarterback Carson Palmer’s arm in London. Or did it? Quarterback Blaine Gabbert last week led the Cardinals to a last-second victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars. In two games, Gabbert has completed 44 of 72 passes for 498 yards and five touchdowns, with three interceptions. Future Hall of Famer Larry Fitzgerald has 72 catches for 780 yards and four touchdowns for an offense that averages only 18.5 points. No teammate has more than 25 catches. Jaron Brown is averaging 16 yards per catch and has scored four touchdowns. The Cardinals rank last in the league in rushing. Adrian Peterson has twice rushed for more than 100 yards, but the Rams shut him down in London. He gained 74 yards against the Jaguars. The Rams are coming off an impressive defensive performance against the Saints, but they will be without veteran linebacker Connor Barwin, who suffered an arm injury. Rookie Samson Ebukam will start in his place. Lineman Aaron Donald has a team-best six sacks for a unit that has 19 takeaways. Linebacker Mark Barron has a team-best three interceptions.

When they kick

Against the Saints, the Rams’ Pharoh Cooper returned a kickoff 40 yards and also returned a punt 40 yards. He is averaging 29.7 yards per kickoff return, 12.1 yards per punt return. A week after getting no field-goal opportunities, Rams kicker Greg Zuerlein converted all four of his attempts against the Saints. Zuerlein has made 32 of 34 attempts and remains the NFL’s leading scorer with 129 points. Phil Dawson has made 17 of 23 field-goal attempts for the Cardinals, including a game-winner last week. Andy Lee averages 46.4 yards per punt.

Gary Klein’s prediction

The Rams opened as six-point favorites. As long as they don’t look past the Cardinals and ahead to next week’s showdown with the Philadelphia Eagles, they should win this NFC West game at University of Phoenix Stadium to sweep the Cardinals. RAMS 33, CARDINALS 13