Rams vs. Cardinals: Prediction, picks and odds for Week 2

Though the Los Angeles Rams and Arizona Cardinals play in the same division, their rivalry hasn’t exactly yielded close and exciting games in the last seven years. The Rams are 13-2 against Arizona since Sean McVay was hired in 2017, and of those 15 games, only three have been decided by fewer than 10 points.

These teams will meet again on Sunday for their first of two matchups this season, and it’s a critical game for both squads. They’re each 0-1 and desperately trying to avoid the dreaded 0-2 start, but one of them will remain winless after this week. The injury-plagued Rams are underdogs against Arizona after originally being listed as favorites to start the week.

So can the Rams pull off what’s technically considered an upset? Or will they lose just their third game to the Cardinals since 2017.

The Rams vs. Cardinals game starts at 4:05 p.m. ET and can be seen on FOX.

All NFL Odds via BetMGM:

Despite being down a couple of starters on their offensive line, the Rams still have the edge at multiple spots this weekend. They have a better pass rush, a better receiving corps and a running back group that’s led by Cardinal killer Kyren Williams.

Williams, who rushed for 301 yards in two games against the Cardinals last season, will look to get going after posting just 50 yards in Week 1, and his ability to prolong drives for the Rams can be a difference-maker on Sunday.

Defensively, if Los Angeles can stop James Conner and contain Kyler Murray in the running game, it’ll make the offense one-dimensional and it’s not as if Arizona is rich with pass catchers. It’ll also allow the Rams’ pass rushers to pin their ears back and pressure Murray without having to worry too much about play-action fakes.

The Rams have never started a season 0-2 under McVay and I don’t expect that to change this season.

Prediction: Rams 24, Cardinals 21

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