The Los Angeles Rams are 0-1 right now after losing a heartbreaker to the Detroit Lions in overtime on Sunday Night Football. While the Rams injury report for Week 2 is already long, Sunday’s matchup against the Arizona Cardinals does provide a bounceback opportunity.
In two Rams vs Cardinals meetings last year, Los Angeles came out on top twice with a 40-point advantage ( ESPN ). That’s highly unlikely to happen against, but this is an opportunity for the Rams to avoid an 0=2 start which historically drops a team’s playoff chances significantly.
Let’s dive into our Rams vs Cardinals predictions for Week 2.
Cooper Kupp puts up 150-plus yards against the Arizona Cardinals
Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images
The Rams are going to be without multiple starters in Week 2 and that likely includes absences on the offensive line. It led to disaster against Detroit, with Matthew Stafford pressured on 35.3 percent of his dropbacks against the Lions defense ( Pro Football Focus ). Fortunately, it’s not a strength of the Cardinals as they rank last in ESPN pass-rush win rate (12 percent) entering Week 2.
If Arizona can’t put pressure on Stafford, that’s historically been a wrap for defenses trying to stop Stafford and this Rams offense. In 2023, Stafford had a 102.3 QB rating with a 71.1% completion rate from a clean pocket (PFF). Especially with Puka Nacua out, this will open the door for Cooper Kupp to dominate the target share with 150-plus yards.
James Conner racks up 100-plus scrimmage yards, 1 touchdown
Gregory Fisher-Imagn Images
One thing Arizona does very well is run the football. From Weeks 10-18 last season, per RBSDM.com , Arizona had the second-highest Rush EPA per Play (0.064), only behind the San Francisco 49ers (0.121) and ahead of the Rams (0.006) and Detroit Lions (0.033). In Week 1 on Sunday Night Football, David Montgomery averaged 4.1 yards per carry against Los Angeles and Detroit won on the ground in OT.
This is likely going to be the first area the Cardinals offense tries to exploit and they have everything needed to be successful. James Conner is one of the most underrated players in the NFL, partially demonstrated by his 5.0 yards per carry average with 1,205 scrimmage yards in 13 games last season. Feeding Conner will also help keep the Rams’ offense on the sideline more often.
Jared Verse gets a sack in the second consecutive game
Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
Jared Verse entered the season as a popular pick for Defensive Rookie of the Year. While it will take months for a true front-runner to emerge and plenty of rookies recorded their first career sack in Week 1, Sunday’s game will be another step forward for the Rams’ first-round pick.
In Week 1 against the Buffalo Bills, this Cardinals offensive line allowed 11 pressures, 7 hurries and 4 sacks. While left tackle Paris Johnson and right guard Will Hernandez were excellent, Cardinals’ right tackle Jonah Williams was injured and his replacement Kelvin Beachum allowed 4 pressures and 2 sacks. We’d bet on Verse recording a sack even if Williams plays hurt, but it’s especially likely if Beachum starts.
Tyler Johnson steps up as Los Angeles Rams’ No. 2 receiver with career day
Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK
Opportunity knocks for Tyler Johnson and it doesn’t get better than this. Johnson earned first-team All-Big Ten honors twice in college but was a fifth-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. Things didn’t work out with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and he then bounced around with the Houston Texans, Las Vegas Raiders and another stint in Tampa Bay.
The 6-foot-1 receiver stepped up for Los Angeles this past Sunday. He finished second on the team in receptions (five) and receiving yards (79), largely thanks to a 63-yard play, with 2 first downs. He’s on a one-year contract making just $1.13 million this season, so there are significant financial stakes if he can really step up with Nacua out. While we aren’t betting on weekly consistency, we’ll predict he records his first 80-yard game and he might just find the end zone for the fourth time in his career.
Score Prediction: Los Angeles Rams – 27, Arizona Cardinals – 24
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