The Arizona Cardinals face the Los Angeles Rams in Week 12 for the second time this season, this time at home at State Farm Stadium.
To help get ready for the game, as we did in Week 6 before the Rams beat the Cardinals 26-6 in Los Angeles, Rams Wire managing editor Cam DaSilva answered a few questions to help preview the game. He also made his predictions for the outcome.
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Anything different?
What is different about the Rams in Week 12 than in Week 6?
Honestly, not much. Kyren Williams missed four games between Week 7 and 11, but he’s back this week and will be the starting running back again. They’ve made some changes in the secondary with John Johnson playing more than Russ Yeast at safety, and with Quentin Lake becoming a full-time player, but not a whole lot else has changed. They still have an offense that goes ice cold at times and a defense that bends but doesn’t break.
Kyren Williams' return
How much of a difference will the return of Kyren Williams make for the Rams this week?
It’ll be huge. He’s not an explosive runner or big-play weapon, but he’s great in pass protection, is a capable receiver and can do a little bit of everything as a runner, whether it’s between the tackles or outside. Essentially, he’s someone they can keep on the field for all three downs rather than rotating guys and giving away tendencies. And he was really hitting his stride in that last game against the Cardinals.
Matthew Stafford
How has Matthew Stafford been playing?
He’s been his usual self. He makes some eye-popping throws, but then he throws some costly interceptions and misses open receivers. It’s been a little bit up and down for him this year but he started the year really strong and is now another week removed from the thumb injury that hampered him recently.
Matchups
What matchups are you most excited about and most worried about in this game?
I’m most excited to see Byron Young against D.J. Humphries. Young has become the Rams’ best edge rusher and he played really well against the Cardinals in Week 6, so I expect him to have a big impact again on Sunday. I’m most worried about the Rams containing Rondale Moore and Marquise Brown because Ahkello Witherspoon and Derion Kendrick have struggled lately. The Rams have to be better against the pass in this one.
Prediction
Who wins and how does it go down?
I think the Rams come away with a close win. This is obviously a different Cardinals team than the ones they dominated under Kliff Kingsbury, but I still believe Los Angeles is the better squad. As long as they can protect Stafford and prevent big plays in the passing game, the Rams should be able to beat the Cardinals. Rams 23, Cardinals 20
