LA Rams (8-3) at Arizona (5-6)
When: Sunday, December 3rd 2017
Where: University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale, AZ
Time: 4:25 ET | TV: FOX
Opening Odds: Los Angeles -5.5/45
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The high-scoring Los Angeles Rams were halted in their tracks two weeks ago by a strong Minnesota defense, but bounced back strong at home the following week and look to keep their lead in the division when they visit the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday afternoon. The Rams, who lead the NFC West by a game over Seattle, is getting a monster season from running back Todd Gurley, who leads NFL with 11 touchdowns and ranks second with 1,344 scrimmage yards. Gurley recorded 128 total yards in last Sunday’s 26-20 triumph over New Orleans, which got the Rams back on track after the Vikings snapped their four-game winning streak. The Cardinals ended a two-game slide and remained in playoff contention with last week’s 27-24 upset victory over AFC South-leading Jacksonville but could be without running back Adrian Peterson due to the neck injury he suffered in the win. Peterson rushed 20 times for 79 yards against the Jaguars and has averaged 21.5 carries since being acquired from the Saints on October 10th. Arizona, which is one game behind Detroit for the second NFC wild card, my also not have the services of backup running back Kerwynn Williams after he suffered cracked ribs versus Jacksonville. Los Angeles posted a 33-0 thumping over Arizona in London during Week 7.
Gurley joined Elroy Hirsch (1951), Eric Dickerson (1983) and Marshall Faulk (2000) as the only players in Rams’ history to record 1,300 scrimmage yards and 10 touchdowns in the first 11 games of a season. He needs 135 yards rushing and 21 receiving against Arizona to become the fifth player in NFL history with 1,000 rushing, 500 receiving and 10 TDs through 12 games. Jared Goff, who ranks sixth in the league with 2,964 passing yards, has averaged 311 while throwing nine touchdown passes and just one interception over his last four games. The Rams are second in the league in points scored (29.9) and seventh in points allowed (18.7). The defense clamps down on the passing game (9th), but are susceptible to the run (27th).
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42-year old Phil Dawson booted a 57-yard field goal with one second left – the longest game-winning kick in the fourth quarter by a player 40 or older in NFL history – in the win over Jacksonville last week. Veteran wideout Larry Fitzgerald, who leads the NFC with 72 receptions, can join Jerry Rice (13), Tim Brown (10) and Tony Gonzalez (10) as the only players in league history with at least 75 catches in 10 or more seasons. Fitzgerald is having a big season despite the Cardinals starting three different quarterbacks. Blaine Gabbert will get the nod for the third time after Drew Stanton failed to complete 50% of his passes during his three outings. Linebacker Chandler Jones is tied for first in the NFL with 12 sacks after recording two last week and is the only player in the league with at least 10 in each of the last three seasons. Arizona has allowed 22 or more points in six of the last seven games including 30 or more four times.
The Rams have played back-to-back tough games against playoff teams and I expect a step back today in the desert. The Cardinals are good against the run and will be able to slow down Gurley. Gabbert is not bad for a backup and should be able to keep Arizona in the game.
Pick: Cardinals +7
- Rams are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games overall.
- Rams are 2-5 ATS vs. a team with a losing record.
- Rams are 7-18-1 ATS in their last 26 games after accumulating more than 250 yards passing in their previous game.
- Rams are 3-8 ATS in their last 11 games after accumulating more than 350 total yards in their previous game.
- Rams are 4-11-1 ATS in their last 16 vs. NFC.
- Rams are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 vs. NFC West.
- Rams are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 games in December.
- Cardinals are 3-0-1 ATS in their last 4 games on grass.
- Cardinals are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games in Week 13.
- Cardinals are 13-5 ATS in their last 18 games in December.
- Cardinals are 6-13-1 ATS in their last 20 home games.
- Cardinals are 6-14-1 ATS in their last 21 games overall.
- Cardinals are 2-5-1 ATS in their last 8 vs. NFC.
- Cardinals are 5-14-1 ATS vs. a team with a winning record.
- Cardinals are 2-6-1 ATS in their last 9 games following a ATS win.
- Cardinals are 1-7 ATS in their last 8 games after allowing less than 150 yards passing in their previous game.
- Cardinals are 0-3-1 ATS in their last 4 games following a straight up win.
- Cardinals are 0-6 ATS in their last 6 games after allowing less than 250 total yards in their previous game.
- Under is 8-1 in Rams last 9 games in Week 13.
- Over is 6-1 in Rams last 7 vs. a team with a losing record.
- Under is 4-1 in Rams last 5 games overall.
- Over is 4-1 in Rams last 5 road games.
- Under is 4-1 in Rams last 5 games following a straight up win.
- Under is 4-1 in Rams last 5 vs. NFC.
- Under is 4-1 in Rams last 5 games following a ATS win.
- Over is 4-1 in Rams last 5 games after accumulating less than 90 yards rushing in their previous game.
- Under is 10-3 in Rams last 13 vs. NFC West.
- Under is 9-3 in Rams last 12 road games vs. a team with a losing home record.
- Under is 8-3 in Rams last 11 games after accumulating more than 250 yards passing in their previous game.
- Over is 7-3 in Rams last 10 games on grass.
- Under is 37-18-1 in Rams last 56 games in December.
- Under is 4-0 in Cardinals last 4 games following a straight up win.
- Over is 4-0 in Cardinals last 4 games in December.
- Under is 4-0 in Cardinals last 4 vs. NFC West.
- Under is 6-1 in Cardinals last 7 vs. NFC.
- Under is 5-1 in Cardinals last 6 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.
- Under is 13-4 in Cardinals last 17 home games.
- Under is 6-2 in Cardinals last 8 games in Week 13.
- Under is 8-3 in Cardinals last 11 games following a ATS win.
- Under is 5-2 in Cardinals last 7 games on grass.
- Under is 7-3 in Cardinals last 10 games overall.
- Road team is 5-1 ATS in their last 6 meetings.
- Under is 9-4 in the last 13 meetings in Arizona.
- Under is 13-6 in the last 19 meetings.
