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Game Overview

NFC West rivals that are hoping to get into the playoffs this year are going to battle it out in a crucial tilt at the Edward Jones Dome for Thursday Night Football betting action this week, as the St. Louis Rams face the Arizona Cardinals.

Arizona’s defense had its first atrocious game last week, as the yardage just kept piling up against the Miami Dolphins. QB Ryan Tannehill, a rookie playing in just his fourth ever game, threw for over 400 yards, and the secondary just had no answers whatsoever. QB Kevin Kolb wasn’t at his best, and the ground game was totally non-existent. And yet, Kolb still threw the touchdown pass to WR Andre Roberts on 4th and 10 that tied the game in regulation, and DB Kerry Rhodes made the INT in overtime that set up the game winning field goal. Matters like that are how the Cardinals made it all the way to the Super Bowl all those years ago, and that might be how they get back to the second season this year as well. There might be help coming back this week, though. TE Todd Heap, DL Darnell Dockett, and RB LaRod Stephens-Howling were all inactive against Miami, but they all could see the field this week against the Rams if they are given medical clearance.

St. Louis hasn’t won games in pretty fashion this year, but won them it has, and that’s all that Head Coach Jeff Fisher could truly ask for. The offense for St. Louis still ranks No. 27 in the league overall and No. 26 in scoring, and that is a major concern that we have for the long term tenure of QB Sam Bradford with his new team. RB Steven Jackson clearly looks like he has lost a step, and he still hasn’t made it to 200 total yards on the ground yet this year. WR Danny Amendola has a ton of receptions, but in the end, just 351 yards, and he’ll need to be better as well. The offense for St. Louis has only produced four touchdowns, while defense and special teams have two scores. The rest of the points have come off of the leg of rookie K Greg Zuerlein, who has gone 12-for-12 and has hit a number of bombs from outside of 50 yards thus far on the campaign.

Prediction

Arizona’s defense is going to shine in this game, but it might not be enough. This just feels like one of these games where, by hook or by crook, the Rams figure out how to head to the winner’s circle when push comes to shove. The NFC West is about to get a heck of a lot tighter in what should be a tight showdown in the Gateway to the West. St. Louis 16 – Arizona 13