NFL Week 13: Arizona Cardinals Getting More Than a FG at Home vs. St. Louis Rams

Christian Petersen/Getty ImagesThe St. Louis Rams continue their worst-to-first campaign when they meet division rival Arizona Sunday.The Rams brought up the rear in the NFC West last season, finishing with a league-worst 1-15 record, but they enter Sunday’s contest at 5-6, tied with Seattle nfl jerseys
for the division lead.NFL linesmakers have listed the Rams as a 3.5-point favorite with the total set at 43.After holding on for a 36-33 win at Denver last week, the Rams will try to win consecutive road games for the first time since November of 2007.Winning on the road has been a difficult task for St. Louis in recent years, but they should have an opportunity to get another one Sunday against an Arizona team that has lost six straight games.No. 1 overall draft pick Sam Bradford is the biggest reason for the improvement the Rams have shown. Bradford looked a lot more like a poised veteran than a rookie when he set career highs with 308 passing yards and three touchdowns last week.Bradford led St. Louis to five scores in as many possessions in the first half as the offense posted its highest point total of the season.The defense, however, still has plenty of work to do. It allowed Denver to rack-up 449 total yards and gave up 20 fourth-quarter points.St. Louis should have an excellent chance to put up some big offensive numbers again this week. Arizona ranks 29th in the league in total defense and 31st in scoring defense, allowing 395.8 yards and 29.0 points per game, respectively.Bradford may waste no time setting a new career-high for passing yards in a game against an Arizona defense ranked 25th against the pass. On the other hand, it may be running back Steven Jackson who has a career day.The Cardinals rank 31st in the NFL against the run, giving up 146.5 yards per game on the ground.The Rams are 5-1 against the spread in their last six games overall.It doesn’t appear Arizona will be able to capture a third straight division title. It could, however, play a role in ruining St. Louis’ Steelers jersey
title hopes.The Cardinals are mired in their longest losing streak since 2006, but they have won eight in a row against the Rams.Arizona’s dominance over St. Louis, however, won’t continue if the Cards don’t start getting better quarterback play.Derek Anderson completed just 16 of 35 passes for 196 yards and an interceptions in Monday’s 27-6 loss to San Francisco.Although Anquan Boldin is now in Baltimore, the Arizona receiving corps was often touted as the best in the league when Kurt Warner was under center. We haven’t heard too much from Larry Fitzgerald and company this season as Anderson is completing just 52.8 percent of his passes—worst in the NFL among quarterbacks with at least 300 attempts.Perhaps the Cards will have better luck through the air this week against a St. Louis defense that allowed Kyle Orton to throw for 347 yards and three touchdowns. The Rams rank 21st in the league against the pass, surrendering 239.5 yards per game.Finding room to run the football would go a long way toward making things a little bit easier on Anderson. San Francisco held the Cards to just 13 yards on Monday night. The Rams, however, have allowed their opponents to rush football jersey
for 128.5 yards per game the last two weeks.The Cardinals are 6-0 against the number in their last six games as a home underdog of 3.5 to 10.0 points.Bet with confidence in Week 13 by playing the same NFL picks as award-winning handicapper Jimmy Boyd!