7 bold predictions for LA Rams in Week 17 against the Cardinals

(6) - Marvin Harrison Jr. will not exceed 75 receiving yards

The first time the LA Rams faced the Arizona Cardinals, rookie WR Marvin Harrison Jr. lit up the Rams secondary for four of eight receptions for 130 yards and two touchdowns. He has only one other 100+ receiving yards game, and has only scored seven times this season. To say that he had a career day against the Rams in Week 2 is an understatement. He may never put up those types of numbers for the rest of his NFL career.

Harrison has caught 51 of 100 passes this season for 726 yards and seven touchdowns. While solid numbers, they are what you likely expected out of him in his first NFL season. The Rams secondary, sans DBs Darious Williams and Ahkello Witherspoon, allowed him to perform like the OROY. He has fallen to a more realistic trajectory since that game.

He is a talented young receiver. But he is not the type of WR who can put up 100+ yards and 2+ touchdowns on a regular basis. The Rams have plenty of video to analyze now. And the Rams have a much more effective secondary on the football field now. The Rams allowed San Francisco 49ers WR Jauan Jennings to put up 175 yards and three touchdowns in Week 3. He only managed 31 receiving yards in Week 15 in the rematch.

I expect a similar game for Marvin Harrison Jr. He will not be the offensive weapon in Week 17 that he appeared to be in Week 2.

Bold Prediction: The Rams secondary will hold Cardinals WR Marvin Harrison Jr. to under 75 receiving yards and 0 touchdowns

(5) - This will not be a low scoring game

The LA Rams are on a roll of late, winning two consecutive defensive contests. The Rams defeated the San Francisco 49ers in a hard driving rain in Week 15 by a score of 12-6. The team then traveled to defeat the New York Jets in sub-freezing temperatures by a score of 19-9. So you might be tempted to connect the dots and expect another low scoring game.

I'd rethink that conclusion.

The LA Rams are not the US Postal Service, guaranteeing to deliver points in rain, sleet, snow, fog, or bitter cold. As such, Mother Nature's worst can and has affected how well this team scores. The LA Rams return to the team-friendly climate-stable confines of SoFi Stadium to close out 2024. Despite a record of 7-8, the Arizona Cardinals offense has scored 30 points in each of their last two games. And they put up 41 points against the Rams defense in Week 2.

Much like the Buffalo Bills or the Minnesota Vikings game, the team cannot hope to win in Week 17 if the offense struggles to put points up on the scoreboard. The Rams have to be prepared to score points, control the game clock, and try to help out the defense in every way possible.

Bold prediction: The Cardinals and Rams will combine to score 60+ points in Week 17