2021-22 NFL Super Wild Card Weekend Preview! - NFC #5 Arizona Cardinals AT #4 Los Angeles Rams
In the FINAL Super Wild Card Weekend game the Arizona Cardinals are in Los Angeles to face the Rams in a NFC West rubber match. These two teams have got high powered offenses with middle of the road defenses. Rams veteran QB Matthew Stafford is expected to be the guy that takes the Rams to the next level after letting go of Jared Goff this past offseason. Matt Stafford spent a long time in Detroit with the Lions but didn't win much. Cardinals QB Kyler Murray is still pretty young but there is some pressure starting to mount for him as well to make a playoff run.
The NFC West is perhaps overall, the toughest division in the NFL. Three of the four teams in this division made the playoffs representing the NFC's 4-6 seeds. As a result, this division is often discussed at length when it comes to the national media. It can be somewhat annoying if I'm being honest. I'm glad one of these teams are getting eliminated LOL.
As I mentioned before, this will be a rubber match after these division foes split their annual season series 1-1. This third matchup is sudden death now. The last Playoff rubber match between the Bills and Pats on Saturday didn't exactly blow fans minds with suspenseful thrilling moments. The Bills WRECKED the Pats. I have a feeling this particular rubber match between the Rams and Cards will be different.
The Bills and Cards have two well established Quarterbacks, that have proven they can win games as playmakers. The Bills-Pats game only featured one really.
In the first two matchups, it was just an absolute offensive showing. I expect a lot of points to be scored in this one tonight.
Notable Cardinals W-L from the regular season
| Good Wins | Bad Losses |
|---|---|
| Titans | Panthers |
| Rams | Lions |
| Cowboys |
The Cardinals had a super up and down season, but luckily it was more up than down. Some good wins, some pretty bad losses too. The losses to the bad teams were not very close either, which is somewhat alarming if you're a Cards fan.
Notable Rams W-L from the regular season
| Good Wins | Bad Losses |
|---|---|
| Buccaneers | None |
| Cardinals |
The Rams have had a nice season. They aren't perfect, but they've put themselves in an ok position to win some playoff games.
Quarterbacks
| Kyler Murray - CARDINALS Quarterback | Regular Season Stat Category | Matthew Stafford - RAMS Quarterback |
|---|---|---|
| 3,787 | Passing Yards | 4,886 |
| 24 | Passing Touchdowns | 41 |
| 10 | Interceptions | 17 |
| 100.6 | QB Rating | 102.9 |
| 69.2 | Completion % | 67.2 |
| 423 | Rushing Yards | 43 |
| 5 | Rushing Touchdowns | 0 |
Kyler was injured for a few games in 2021. If that didn't occur these numbers between Murray and Stafford would be much closer. Still, you can see that these two quarterbacks can really produce. Murray is a serious threat with his legs as well.
Running Backs
| James Conner - CARDINALS Running Back | Regular Season Stat Category | Sony Michel - RAMS Running Back |
|---|---|---|
| 752 | Rushing Yards | 845 |
| 15 | Rushing Touchdowns | 4 |
| 3.7 | Yards Per Carry | 4.1 |
| 1,127 | Yards from Scrimmage | 973 |
| 18 | Total Touchdowns | 5 |
| 15 | Games Played | 17 |
The running backs in this matchup aren't really emphasized too much in these teams' pass heavy attacks. But these two backs are solid. I think James Conner is perhaps the better back tonight though. Conner is a physical and surprisingly versatile running back. Sony Michel is no slouch though and actually has a better yards per carry stat in 2021, which is impressive.
Top Receivers
| Christian Kirk - CARDINALS Top Receiver | Regular Season Stat Category | Cooper Kupp - RAMS Top Receiver |
|---|---|---|
| 77 | Receptions | 145 |
| 982 | Receiving Yards | 1,947 |
| 5 | Touchdown Receptions | 16 |
| 12.8 | Yards Per Reception | 13.4 |
Christian Kirk is actually not truly the Cardinals #1 receiver so this comparison looks EXTRA unfair. The Cardinals lost top Receiver DeAndre Hopkins earlier this season to injury.
But really the Rams' Cooper Kupp's numbers from 2021-22 would dwarf pretty much anybody's. Not just in 2021, but like, ever. Cooper Kupp put up Madden numbers in 2021 with a new and improved QB. A really historically great season! I expect Cooper to be used A LOT in this game.
#2 Receiving Options
| WR A.J. Green - CARDINALS #2 Passing Target | Regular Season Stat Category | Van Jefferson - RAMS #2 Passing Target |
|---|---|---|
| 54 | Receptions | 50 |
| 848 | Receiving Yards | 802 |
| 3 | Touchdown Receptions | 6 |
| 15.7 | Yards Per Reception | 16 |
The Cardinals luckily have got some decent depth at receiver. A.J. Green is possibly a Hall of Famer when it's all said and done. He is not the same as he was a few years back, but he's still got a lot of juice left.
I don't know much about Van Jefferson. But he's clearly a good option for the Rams with a pretty great 16 yards a catch.
Prediction
If I were really a betting man, I think I would bet on the Rams. They seem like a pretty hungry and focused bunch. They have much better talent balanced throughout their roster. I think the Rams have less weaknesses and more ways to win. I even think the Rams coach is better.
But Kyler and the Cards are a tough bunch. Before some injuries and losses in the last half-quarter of the season, the Cardinals were possibly the best team in the NFL.
But at this time, in January, it seems that the Rams are in a better position. The game is in LA too. I would not be too shocked if the Cards won, but ultimately I think it's the Rams' night.
I just want a damn good game honestly! There have been some snooze-fests in these early rounds.
Who do you got? Rams or Cards? Leave a comment!!
