Los Angeles Rams (12-5) vs Arizona Cardinals (11-6)
Monday, January 17, 2022 at 8:15 pm
This should be a fantastic game between two NFC West rivals but in the third meeting of these two teams this season, I like the Rams to earn a strong home playoff win. The Rams have the edge defensively, as they have earned at least 3 sacks in each of their last five games (including four on Arizona a few weeks back). The Rams are staunch against the run and that was especially the case down the stretch of the season. I think the Rams force Kyler Murray into many tough throwing down situations, similar to what Los Angeles did last time these two met. The Cardinals' offense is going to severely miss DeAndre Hopkins in the lineup, and although they have other nice pieces in the passing game and a good RB in James Conner, I do not think it is enough to overcome this tough Rams defense at LA. The Rams should be able to move the ball rather easily, as it has all year. I look for the Rams to rely on their ground game more often than they have this season, as I think the Rams can run the ball on a Cards defense that just allowed 6.7 yards per carry to the Seahawks of all teams. The Rams are just stronger on both sides of the ball and you add home field advantage into the equation and I have to take the Rams and lay the points here tonight.