St. Louis Rams vs. Arizona Cardinals: 4 Bold Predictions

Nov 2, 2014; Arlington, TX, USA; Arizona Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer (3) throws in the pocket against the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

Despite being deep on the outside of the playoff picture, the St. Louis Rams can (and have) made a tangible mark on the NFC post-season picture. While the win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers likely won’t effect any standings in January, their end-of-the-game upsets over the San Francisco 49ers and Seattle Seahawks could certainly make a difference in an conference with a number of high-win teams fighting for a handful of Wild Card slots. Today’s game get slotting in that “important” category, as well, with the Rams set to take on the team that currently sits atop the NFC standings; the Arizona Cardinals. The Rams have traditionally played well against division rivals, particularly the Cardinals. With that in mind, here are our four bold predictions for this evening.

1. Austin Davis will have more total yards than Carson Palmer

Considering last week, that is as bold of statement as you could likely imagine, with the Rams managing under 200 total yards on the day versus San Francisco. They are currently ranked outside the Top 20 in both passing yards and rushing yards, and are going up against one of the best overall defenses in the NFL. However, Austin Davis has shown that, with time, he can be a force down he field. The Cardinals, meanwhile, have recorded only 7.0 total sacks on the year. Moreover, Arizona is ranked dead-last in passing yards allowed…

2. Sack City will keep their gates open for another week, recording 2+ sacks on the day

Two sacks might not seem like a lot after the Rams unleashed the floodgates with eight sacks last weekend. However, the Cardinals are surprisingly one of the better pass blocking teams in the league this season, allowing only seven sacks on the year. Something will have to break on Sunday, and given Robert Quinn’s track record versus Arizona, it will likely be Carson Palmer.

3. Tre Mason will break the 100 yard mark

The Arizona Cardinals are currently the third-ranked run defense in the league, allowing on 79.6 yards per game to opposing rushing attacks. Then again, they had yet to face off against a potent running back, outside of DeMarco Murray when they faced the offensively-confused, Tony Romo-less Cowboys last week. Tre Mason has been on the verge of breaking through since he earned the starting job versus the Seattle Seahawks. Today will be his day against a Arizona back-seven that isn’t as athletic as the units in Seattle or San Francisco.

4. Stedman Bailey will manage 4+ receptions, 100+ yards, and a touchdown

The Arizona Cardinals’ cornerbacks have been pathetic this season, to put it kindly. The “star” of their secondary, Patrick Peterson, has already allowed six touchdowns in coverage, and is currently graded as the No.90 CB in the league this year. Bruce Arians and Co. will likely shade their defense towards the only outside weapons who has done anything of note this season for the Rams; Kenny Britt. That should leave Stedman Bailey to have a field day in one-on-one coverage. Look for him to resemble his late-2013 form.