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

(1) - Prime time Stafford shows up in this one

When the LA Rams traveled to face the Arizona Cardinal in the desert in Week 2, Matthew Stafford completed 19 of 27 passes for 216 yards, but was sacked five times for a loss of 24 yards. It was not one of Stafford's best performances in 2024. Actually, it was one of several early performances that proved to be anything but a typical Matthew Stafford performance.

You may think that a veteran QB like Matthew Stafford knows that it's better to throw the football away than take a sack. Curiously, that is not what the latest data from Patton Analytics reveals. If true, 71.4 percent of Matthew Stafford's sacks in 2024 are his responsibility.

That works out to 20 of his 28 sacks in 2024 falling on his shoulders. So how can the team fix that?

One obvious solution is to move the pocket, which gives Stafford the penalty-free option of throwing the football away for an incompletion, rather than taking a sack. But that is only part of the strategy for Week 17.

With Puka Nacua and Tyler Higbee facing the Cardinals for the first time this season, the Rams talent level upgrades significantly over the team that faced the Cardinals in Week 2. Both additions play a much greater level of physicality, which matches up well to the Cardinals' version of bully-ball that they love to use in the secondary.

Now with better match ups on the football field, Stafford can do what he does best, read his progressions instantly and stress defensive backs out by attacking them with a wide variety of routes and receivers. If and when a mismatch develops, you can bet that the wily veteran quarterback, Matthew Stafford, will find it and exploit it to the Rams advantage.

Yes, the Rams lost by a blowout in Week 2. It was simply the Cardinals' day to win. That won't carry over to Week 17, even though the Cardinals want to be The Grinch this week. But this game will find a different outcome, as Matthew Stafford tunes up for the postseason.

Bold prediction: Rams QB Matthew Stafford throws for 300+ yards and 2+ touchdowns

The LA Rams have everything to play for and need to win this game. The Arizona Cardinals have already been eliminated. I love the Rams chances in Week 17. As always, thanks for reading.

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