There is only one game in Week 17 around the NFL that’s win-and-in the playoffs for both teams, and that’s the Arizona Cardinals at Los Angeles Rams. The NFL odds are a bit in flux because of injury/COVID issues on both sides.

NFL Point Spread and Betting Analysis

Seattle has won the NFC West title, but that division could get three teams into the expanded playoffs. The winner of this game is in regardless. The Rams would still get in with a loss as long as the Chicago Bears lose at home to Green Bay on Sunday – the games kickoff simultaneously. The Cardinals will miss out with a loss but would get in with a rare tie and Chicago defeat.

It’s shocking, frankly, the NFL didn’t flex this game into the primetime Week 17 window but instead chose Washington at Philadelphia, two teams with losing records and the Eagles with nothing to play for.

In Week 13 in the desert, the Rams were 2.5-point favourites and beat the Cardinals 38-28 behind 351 yards passing and a score from Jared Goff (more on him below), and he rushed for a TD. Two other Rams also had TD runs. Los Angeles had 436 yards of offence and held Arizona to 232. The Rams also had a defensive score. Kyler Murry had three TD passes for Arizona but a pick-six. Tight end Dan Arnold had two TD catches.

The Rams are 6-0-1 against the spread in the past seven meetings and have won all seven straight up.

Arizona Cardinals

Murray injured his leg late in last Saturday’s upset loss at San Francisco, but he’s fully expected to play. Oddsmakers simply want to see the former Heisman winner practice first. That 20-12 loss to a very short-handed 49ers team knocked Arizona to the No. 8 spot in the NFC behind the Bears. Murray is having a great second season in throwing for 3,884 yards and 26 TDs while rushing for 816 yards and 11 more scores. His production has waned some over the past month or so as Murray is fairly beaten up.

If Murray had to leave this game? His backup is Chris Streveler, who used to play for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. Also monitor the status of injured running back Chase Edmonds. DeAndre Hopkins has shot at winning the receiving yardage title. He’s third with 1,372 yards; Buffalo’s Stefon Diggs is first at 1,459. Diggs could sit Sunday. Arizona is 0-4 ATS in its past four vs. teams with a winning record.

Los Angeles Rams

Like Murray, Goff is a former No. 1 pick but unlike Murray, Goff isn’t playing this week or perhaps even next weekend if the Rams make the playoffs. He both dislocated and broke his thumb in last Sunday’s 20-9 loss in Seattle and had surgery Monday. Thus, John Wolford will get the start here and see his first-ever NFL action. He played collegiately at Wake Forest and also for the AAF’s Arizona Hotshots before that pro league went belly up. L.A. signed Blake Bortles off the Denver practice squad to serve as the backup.

The Rams also will be without their top two running backs, Cam Akers and Darrell Henderson, due to injury, and No. 1 receiver Cooper Kupp, who tested positive for COVID. He has 92 catches for 974 yards and three scores. The Rams rank third in the NFL in allowing 19.3 ppg and first in allowing 286.5 ypg and they clearly are going to have to win this with defence. The Rams are 0-7-1 ATS in their past eight as home underdogs (which they are likely to close as).

Who Will Win Cardinals vs. Rams?