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Edgar Chaput
Cardinals vs. Rams Point Spread: NFL Week 17 Odds, Prediction
Some of the air was taken out of this game the moment the Arizona Cardinals gave up a touchdown in overtime to the Carolina Panthers last Sunday, thus eliminating them from postseason contention. Still, both teams know each other well and the Cardinals will want to play spoiler. The L.A. Rams are on a hot streak, having most recently defeated the New York Jets 19-9.
Our NFL odds believe the Rams will march onwards and upwards, pegging L.A. as -6.5 favourites.
NFL Point Spread and Betting Analysis
Sean McVay’s Rams have a few reasons to win on Saturday night. Beyond inching closer to a division title, a victory would pay back an early season 41-10 drubbing they suffered at the hands of Arizona. Of note, all four most recent tête-à-têtes were decided by multiple scores.
How the mighty have fallen. “Mighty” might be too strong a term to describe the Cardinals over a month ago, but they were looking decent. However, losing four of their last five games has officially ended whatever playoff hopes they clung to. Almost as disheartening: their last three victories came against the Bears, Jets, and Patriots, a trio of clubs going nowhere fast. For what it’s worth at this stage of the season, Arizona is a solid 9-6 ATS.
To that point, the Rams are not as proficient against the spread, mustering no better than an 8-7 tally through 15 attempts. The straight-up results of their last nine games have mirrored those against the spread. That should perk better’s ears up given that L.A. is riding a four-game winning streak. L.A. is also suddenly playing stout defence, having conceded only total 15 points in its two matches.
Arizona Cardinals
So long, 2024 Arizona Cardinals, we hardly knew you. In fact, a more appropriate way to describe this version of the club is that it was somewhat tricky knowing just what to make of them. Well, now we do: they’re not a playoff team.
The 36-30 overtime defeat in Carolina last Sunday spoke volumes. Consider that at the midway break Arizona hung in there, trailing 20-17. They had been down 20-3, but a pair of fine drives guided by QB Kyler Murray provided a ray of hope, just as had been the case for their entire campaign a few weeks ago.
The team fought back again in the final quarter of regulation, tying the game after falling behind 30-20. RB James Conner was a big factor, finishing with 115 yards on 15 carries and scoring a TD. Kicker Chad Ryland’s impressive 58-yard field goal as time expired was the sort of play that should energize a team for the extra session.
But as stated, we now know who these Cards are. Their lone offensive possession in OT was a disaster, and the Panther’s Chuba Hubbard was happy to oblige with a 21-yard scamper into the end zone. Game over.
Los Angeles Rams
The last two weeks haven’t been pretty. On the flip side, all the Rams need to do is win football games, it barely matters how they do it.
After a rain-soaked 12-6 win in San Francisco on Thursday night in Week 15, L.A. arrived at MetLife Stadium to play the Jets on a frosty Sunday afternoon. The match had the potential to be a trap game, especially once New York took an early 6-0 lead, but Los Angeles’ defence was stellar the rest of the way. It forced two Jets turnovers and only conceded 75 yards on the ground.
The Rams’ attack didn’t do much that was special (242 total net yards), but Matthew Stafford’s strike to Tyler Higbee in the fourth quarter gave them the cushion they needed to breathe easier. RB Kyren Williams also scored a 2-yard TD in the second frame. Make the final 19-9 for the Rams. They can nearly taste the division crown now.
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