To get you ready for week 17, FanHouse is previewing all 16 NFL games. Here is the Arizona Cardinals/St. Louis Rams preview.2007 Records:
Arizona Cardinals: 7-8 (2nd in NFC West)
St. Louis Rams: 3-12 (4th in NFC West)
Last Game(s):
Cardinals 30 - Falcons 27
Steelers 41 - Rams 24
When the Cardinals have the ball: Although the Cardinals are on the brink of .500, they've reached this point without a solid running game. And although Edgerinn James has gone over the 1,000 yard mark for the seventh time in his career, Arizona still ranks 29th in the NFL in rushing. For that very reason, with 8-8 on the line, Kurt Warner and the Cardinals are likely to air it out this Sunday against the Rams 19th ranked secondary.
Defensively, St. Louis has struggled all year and week five against the Cardinals was no exception. They gave up nearly 400 total yards and 34 points in an embarrassing loss at home. They did, however, force a few costly turnovers that kept them in the game -- one of the few things they'll be looking to repeat this week in Phoenix.
When the Rams have the ball: With only three wins, St. Louis will be playing the role of spoiler this weekend. And while a victory wouldn't keep the Cardinals out of the playoffs, it would keep Arizona from reaching the .500 for the first time since 1998. That alone, with the desire to go out on a good note, will be enough to keep a dangerous (when healthy) Rams offense motivated.
For the Cardinals defense, this game will be all about stopping Steven Jackson and Torry Holt -- something that is easier said than done. Those tasks fall on the shoulders of defensive tackles Darnell Dockett and Alan Branch, as well as cornerback Roderick Hood. And should any of them fail to do their job, this game could quickly turn into a shootout.
The Edge: Experts, analysts and fans are always looking for the "edge" and what team has it. So, who has it this week? With .500 on the line for the first time in almost 10 years, it would have to be the Arizona Cardinals. How nice would it be for players and fans to finally say "we weren't a losing team."
Keep an eye on:
Roderick Hood versus Torry Holt - As I noted earlier, this will be an extremely important matchup this weekend. If Hood can contain Holt, it makes St. Louis' offense one dimensional. If he can't, Marc Bulger and the Rams will have a big day.
Kurt Warner, Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin versus the Rams secondary - It's a shame fantasy season is over (in most cases). Owners of any of these three would have been in for some big time points.
Note: It all comes down to this for Ken Whisenhunt and the Arizona Cardinals. Their quest for the playoffs ended earlier than expected, but the secondary goal of a non-losing season is within their grasp. Either they're going to get it at home in front of thousands of fans, or they're going to face another offseason of extreme frustration.
