ARIZONA (1-4) at LOS ANGELES RAMS (2-3)
Sunday, 4:25 p.m. EDT, FOX
BETTING LINE: Rams by 7, according to FanDuel SportsBook.
AGAINST THE SPREAD: Cardinals 3-2; Rams 2-1-2.
SERIES RECORD: Rams lead 48-40-2.
LAST MEETING: Cardinals beat Rams 27-20 on Nov. 13, 2022, in Inglewood, Calif.
LAST WEEK: Cardinals lost to Bengals 34-20; Rams lost to Eagles 23-14.
CARDINALS OFFENSE: OVERALL (15), RUSH (6), PASS (29), SCORING (19).
CARDINALS DEFENSE: OVERALL (26), RUSH (22), PASS (26), SCORING (27).
RAMS OFFENSE: OVERALL (8), RUSH (22), PASS (5), SCORING (15).
RAMS DEFENSE: OVERALL (15), RUSH (20), PASS (15), SCORING (16).
TURNOVER DIFFERENTIAL: Cardinals plus-1 (T-14); Rams minus-2 (T-19).
CARDINALS PLAYER TO WATCH: RB Emari Demercado could have a much more expanded role this week after James Conner (knee) was put on injured reserve Tuesday. Demercado played well after Conner got hurt during last Sunday’s game against the Bengals, running for 45 yards on 10 carries, including an 11-yard touchdown. It was the first TD of his NFL career.
RAMS PLAYER TO WATCH: WR Cooper Kupp was productive in his season debut after missing four games because of a hamstring injury, catching eight passes for 118 yards against the Eagles. However, Kupp and QB Matthew Stafford didn’t have their usual chemistry and timing down, just missing on two deep throws in the second half.
KEY MATCHUP: Cardinals pass rush vs. Rams offensive line. Arizona has been surprisingly competitive through five games, in part because of its success in generating sacks. They are tied for eighth in the league with 15 sacks, with OLB Dennis Gardeck’s four leading the way. If they can keep up the pressure on Stafford, who has been sacked 12 times in the past three games after taking one sack through the first two weeks of the season, it might be the only way to protect the secondary. But if the Rams keep a clean pocket, Stafford should have a field day finding Kupp and rookie Puka Nacua.
KEY INJURIES: QB Kyler Murray is eligible to return from the physically unable to perform (PUP) list, but hasn’t been activated. … Conner will miss at least the next four games after being put on IR. … Two-time All-Pro safety Budda Baker (hamstring) is out while the other starting safety, Jalen Thompson, is also dealing with a hamstring issue. … Rams LB Ernest Jones was held out of practice on Wednesday because of swelling in his knee. Coach Sean McVay insisted it was precautionary, but with Christian Rozeboom dealing with a thigh injury, Los Angeles could be thin at inside linebacker if both trend in the wrong direction. … RG Joe Noteboom seems likely to miss his second straight game because of a groin injury.
SERIES NOTES: The Cardinals have won their past two visits to SoFi Stadium, outscoring the Rams 64-37 in those games. … The road team has won five of the past six regular-season games in the series, with the Rams’ 18-7 win at the end of the 2020 pandemic season the lone victory on home field. … Los Angeles thumped Arizona 34-11 as the home team in the wild-card round of the 2021 postseason en route to winning Super Bowl 56 in their own stadium.
STATS AND STUFF: Cardinals QB Joshua Dobbs is 1-6 as a starter. He’s coming off perhaps his worst game of the season, completing just 15 of 32 passes for 166 yards, two TDs and two interceptions. He also lost a fumble. ... The Cardinals have run for 716 yards this season, which is their most through five games since 1988. ... Cardinals K Matt Prater and Rams K Brett Maher are the only kickers in NFL history with at three field goals from at least 62 yards. Prater hit a 62-yard FG in the team’s win against the Cowboys earlier this season. ... Veteran TE Zach Ertz has caught a pass in 121 consecutive games, which is the fourth-longest active streak in the NFL. He had a 1-yard TD catch last Sunday. … Rams DL Aaron Donald has 16 sacks in 18 games against the Cardinals. ... Los Angeles was counting on third-round draft pick Byron Young to provide immediate help getting to the quarterback, and the OLB from Tennessee has delivered so far. Young has two sacks and nine QB hits through five games. … The Rams and Cardinals have been two of the better third down offenses to start off the 2023 season. Los Angeles is converting at a 43.7% rate, which ranks ninth in the NFL. Arizona is 10th at 41.7%. … TE Tyler Higbee has 3,323 receiving yards, putting him 10th in franchise history. His next catch should put him ahead of RB Steven Jackson (3,324) in ninth place.
FANTASY TIP: Rams WR Tutu Atwell salvaged his day against the Eagles by catching a touchdown, but as long as Kupp and Nacua are healthy and dominating targets, Atwell has little fantasy value on game day. But hold onto him just in case Kupp re-injures his hamstring.
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