Cardinals at Rams
Not much has gone right for the Los Angeles Rams since a Week 4 victory over the Arizona Cardinals, but they can end the campaign on a high note by completing a season sweep when they host their NFC West rivals on Sunday. The Rams overcame a shutout loss at San Francisco in the opener of their first season back in Los Angeles since 1994 by winning their next three games, including a 17-13 triumph in Arizona on Oct. 2.
The club has gone into a downward spiral since, however, and enters the 2016 finale with a six-game losing streak. The Cardinals also have had their problems this season, winning consecutive games just once and losing five of seven before posting a 34-31 victory in Seattle last week on the strength of a three-touchdown performance by David Johnson and a 43-yard field goal by Chandler Catanzaro as time expired. Arizona was unable to reach the postseason for a third straight year but has been impressive offensively of late, scoring 31 or more points in three of its last four contests. The Cardinals have been strong on the other side of the ball all season, as they rank third in the league in total defense (317.3 yards per game) and fifth in passing defense (219.6).
TV: 4:25 p.m. ET, FOX. LINE: Cardinals -6.5. O/U: 40.5
ABOUT THE CARDINALS (6-8-1): Johnson has been one of the few bright spots in a dark year for Arizona, setting an NFL record by gaining 100 or more yards from scrimmage in 15 straight games to start a campaign while joining Barry Sanders as the only players in league history to hit the mark in 15 consecutive contests in a single season. The 25-year-old is the fourth player ever to register at least 1,200 yards rushing (1,233) and 800 receiving (841) in the same season and has tied Eric Dickerson and Edgerrin James for the most multi-touchdown performances over their first two NFL campaigns (11). Larry Fitzgerald, who enters the finale trailing Pittsburgh's Antonio Brown (106) by four receptions for the league lead, could be playing in his last game as he is contemplating retirement.
ABOUT THE RAMS (4-11): Offense has been the major problem for Los Angeles in 2016, as it is last in the league in total offense (272 yards per game), 31st in rushing (72.1) and 30th in passing (192). With poor offense comes minimal scoring, as evidenced by the team's last-place ranking in total points (218) and points per game (14.5), and it has been held to 10 or fewer in eight of its 15 contests. One of the only positives for the Rams this season has been Johnny Hekker, who enters the finale with an NFL single-season record of 50 punts inside the 20-yard line.
EXTRA POINTS
1. Rams WR Kenny Britt (1,002) is the team's first receiver to reach the 1,000-yard plateau since Torry Holt in 2007.
2. Arizona QB Carson Palmer has eclipsed 3,500 passing yards (3,978) for a franchise-record third time.
3. Los Angeles is just 1-6 at home while Arizona has gone 2-5 on the road.