RAMS (9-3) at ARIZONA CARDINALS (3-9)
When: 1:25 p.m. PT Sunday
Where: State Farm Stadium, Glendale, Ariz.
TV/Radio: FOX (Ch. 11)/710 AM; 93.1 FM; 1330 AM (Spanish); Sirius 381, 225
Line: Rams by 8.5
Notable injury designations
Rams: DOUBTFUL: CB Darious Williams (tibia); QUESTIONABLE: WR Tutu Atwell (hamstring), NT Poona Ford (calf).
Cardinals: OUT: OL Christian Jones (knee), RB Emari Demercado (ankle), DL L.J. Collier (knee), S Dadrion Taylor-Demerson (ankle), DL Walter Nolen III (knee), CB Max Melton (heel), WR Marvin Harrison Jr. (heel), WR Greg Dortch (chest), RB Trey Benson (knee); QUESTIONABLE: OL Kelvin Beachum (groin); WR Xavier Weaver (hamstring).
What’s at stake? The Rams are trying to maintain their advantage in the NFC West. A win would keep them ahead of the Seattle Seahawks and San Francisco 49ers, and also improve the Rams’ divisional record – the tiebreaker after head-to-head record to determine the division’s winner – to 3-1.
Who’s better? The Rams are the better and healthier team in this matchup, but as last year’s lopsided loss in Arizona showed, that doesn’t always matter in divisional games.
Matchup to watch: Rams LBs and CBs vs. Arizona TE Trey McBride. The last time these teams met, McBride caught 12 of 16 targets for 123 yards. The Rams used seven different players in coverage against the tight end, so it will likely be a committee approach again this time around, with Cobie Durant and Josh Wallace at nickel corner and Omar Speights and Nate Landman at linebacker doing most of the work.
Rams win if: They hold McBride below 100 yards receiving. … They have one turnover or fewer. … The pass rush gets at least six pressures against QB Jacoby Brissett, whose passer rating drops from 113.5 in a clean pocket to 64.1 against pressure, according to Pro Football Focus.
Fantasy sleeper: WR Xavier Smith. The third-year receiver is starting do some of the things that Tutu Atwell used to do in the offense in terms of stretching the field and picking up explosives. Look for the Rams to continue to add that to their offense.
Prediction: Rams 27, Cardinals 13. Beat reporter’s record: 10-2 overall; 7-5 against the spread.