As the Cardinals head to Los Angeles, the biggest questions facing the organization center on change.
Will Jacoby Brissett’s struggles push them to name a new quarterback? And with the defense reeling yet again, will coordinator Nick Rallis be relieved of his duties? So far, the answer to both has been no, but each successive underwhelming performance adds to the noise.
The bigger picture, though, is also worth watching. With the blueprint out on how to stop the Cardinals offense, Mike LaFleur needs to show he has the playcalling ability to overcome Arizona’s talent deficiencies. A strong showing in that area would be encouraging, even if the Cardinals can’t pull off a stunning upset over the Rams.
Arizona Cardinals (1-4) at Los Angeles Rams (2-3)
Time/site: FOX. Radio: 98.7.
Last time they played:
The Cardinals lost their two games against the Rams last season by a combined score of 82-37. In Week 18 at Los Angeles, they actually led in the third quarter but then allowed 21 unanswered points. It proved to be the final chapter of the Jonathan Gannon era.
Series history: The Cardinals once held the all-time lead in this series. Not anymore. Since Sean McVay took over, the Rams have won 16 of 19 games against Arizona, including one playoff matchup. The Rams now lead, 53-41-2, all-time.
Coaching matchup
For the second time this season, LaFleur will go head-to-head against a coach whom he counts as one of his closest mentors in the sport. Last time, the Cardinals went down to the wire in a loss at San Francisco. A similar result would be a success this go-around, given the chasm in talent between LaFleur’s Cardinals and Sean McVay’s Rams. Although the two remain close friends in the offseason, they haven’t spoken much since the season began, LaFleur said. After all, they’re rivals now, following three seasons in which LaFleur worked as McVay’s offensive coordinator in Los Angeles.
Arizona will win if…
- LaFleur finds a solution for man coverage: Over the past two weeks, the Cardinals have seen man coverage at more than double the league-average rate. Essentially, opponents are betting that they can beat Arizona one-on-one, and the bet is paying off. Now, it’s on LaFleur to scheme up solutions and make up for Arizona’s talent disadvantage.
- It can run the ball at all: The Cardinals' passing offense has been solid when ahead of the sticks, especially on first down. The problem is their run game, averaging just 3.8 yards per carry, hasn’t put them in those situations. They desperately need more from that group.
- It can score after the first drive of each half: The Cardinals are averaging an impressive 3.8 yards per drive on the first drive of each half this season. On every other drive, they’re averaging 1.52 points. It’s another key puzzle for LaFleur to solve.
Los Angeles will win if…
- A miracle doesn’t happen: Let’s be realistic. The Cardinals could do each of the things listed above, and they would still be touchdown underdogs. Pulling off this upset would require everything to go Arizona’s way, including some lucky bounces like the turnover battle.
- It destroys Arizona with explosive plays: The Cardinals defense has allowed explosive plays at the highest rate in football. That’s a dangerous game against Matthew Stafford, Puka Nacua, Davante Adams and Kyren Williams. And if the Rams are regularly hitting 20-yard plays, the Cardinals have little chance.
- It keeps the Cardinals' pass rush quiet: Stafford is off to an unusually slow start, largely because of his struggles against pressure. On those plays, he’s completing 34.9% of his passes, with zero touchdowns and three interceptions. The Cardinals’ defense, though, has been unable to generate consistent pressure, with Walter Nolen and Josh Sweat both off to slow starts.
They said it
Jacoby Brissett on what stands out about the Rams defense: “Everything. From top to bottom. Only getting better each week, they’re obviously ascending. Bringing Aaron Donald back didn’t do us any justice, but we’ve gotta go out there and do our job.”
Mike LaFleur on Aaron Donald: “You ever seen a cheetah warm up? They don’t. They just go. Well, Aaron can just go. There’s a reason he’s the best to ever do it.”
By the numbers
8 — The Cardinals’ losing streak against NFC West opponents. That’s the second-longest divisional losing streak in the NFL, behind only the Tennessee Titans.
11 — 30-plus point games allowed by the Cardinals defense over the past calendar year, more than any other team. The Rams offense has eight such games, which is tied for the most on that side of the ball.
12.5 — The Vegas spread, in favor of the Rams. No other game this week has a spread longer than 8.5. That’s what happens when the team with the second-shortest Super Bowl odds hosts the team with the longest Super Bowl odds.
51.6% — The rate of man coverage that the Cardinals have faced over the past two weeks. League average is 23.6%. And in the season’s first three games, the Cardinals saw man coverage at just a 9.7% clip.
3.81 — Brissett’s yards per attempt against man coverage in those two games. He’s 18 of 43 for two touchdowns and three interceptions.
Who will win and why
Rams 41, Cardinals 24: The Cardinals are outmatched, talent-wise, to a degree rarely seen in the NFL. They have a bottom-10 offense and a bottom-three defense, while going against a team with Matthew Stafford, Puka Nacua, Davante Adams, Aaron Donald and Trent McDuffie. A one-possession loss in which their offense takes a step forward would constitute a success.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Arizona Cardinals looking for a miracle against Rams in Week 6
