Arizona Cardinals vs Los Angeles Rams: Prediction, Odds, Depth Charts (10/15/23)

On Sunday (10/15/23), the Arizona Cardinals face the Los Angeles Rams in an NFC West matchup. In this article, find the latest betting odds for the game and a full matchup preview. In addition, find our best bet for the game which is the Rams to score over 27.5 points.

Arizona Cardinals Vs. Los Angeles Rams Prediction


The Rams got Cooper Kupp back in the lineup last week, and he forms a tremendous wide receiver duo with the rising rookie talent Puka Nacua. Combine that with Matthew Stafford, who leads the NFL with 14 big-time throws per PFF, and this passing offense looks like it will be very dangerous for the rest of the season.

While last week’s game against the Eagles didn’t provide much opportunity for scoring, that changes this week against Arizona. New head coach Jonathan Gannon has a defensive background, but the Cardinals have allowed 30+ points in three of their five games this season. The talent level on this roster has been detrimental.

Overall, the Cardinals rank 30th in defensive DVOA and 28th in EPA, making them one of the worst defensive teams in the NFL. They also rank just 29th in pressure rate, so Stafford should have plenty of time to sit in the pocket and connect with his talented wide receivers downfield.

The Rams have a highly effective offense that ranks top ten in DVOA and EPA, and Sean McVay has righted the ship after last season’s difficult finish. The full game total here sits at 48.5, and while I lean towards the over there, I’d rather just bet on the Rams specifically to find offensive success.

If you’re looking for a play on the spread in this game, I’d look to use the Rams as a teaser piece. With a 6-point teaser, you can get their spread down from -7 to -1. Two dance partners I like this week would be the Commanders from +2.5 to +8.5 and the Chargers from +2.5 to +8.5 on Monday Night Football.

Arizona Cardinals Vs. Los Angeles Rams Prediction: Rams Team Total Over 27.5

Arizona Cardinals Vs. Los Angeles Rams Best Odds

The spread for this game has been bet up throughout the week, and the Rams are now favored by 7 points at home. The total sits at 48.5 points, and that has also come up throughout the week. These numbers indicate that the sportsbooks are projecting a final score of around 28-21.

Arizona Cardinals Vs. Los Angeles Rams Key Injuries

The Cardinals already have a roster with limited talent, but it doesn’t help that running back James Conner hit the IR. Meanwhile, wide receiver Marquise Brown is questionable while safety Jalen Thompson is out. For the Rams, linebacker Ernest Jones and offensive guard Joe Noteboom are the two injuries worth monitoring – both players are listed as questionable.

Arizona Cardinals Vs. Los Angeles Rams Key Matchups

If the Rams are going to go over their points total of 27.5 points like I’m projecting, it will come down to some key offensive players succeeding against their defensive counterparts. Let’s take a look at some of the most important matchups in this game.

Cooper Kupp Vs. Cardinals’ Secondary

After missing the first four weeks of the season with a hamstring injury, Cooper Kupp returned to the Rams’ lineup last week. He caught eight passes for 118 yards and saw 13 targets on 41 routes. His 2.88 yards per route run was a tick below his 3.12 mark during his historic 2021 campaign. Kupp’s injury will need to be managed moving forward, but it looks like he’s ready to produce at an elite level moving forward.

The Cardinals’ pass defense was torched last week, allowing Ja’Marr Chase to catch 15 passes for 192 yards and three touchdowns in a breakout game for the Bengals. The Cardinals rank 30th in pass defense DVOA and PFF’s coverage grades. Rookie corner Kei’Trel Clark and third-year pro Marco Wilson will have their hands full here.

Kyren Williams Vs. Cardinals’ Run Defense

While the Rams will look to pass the ball early and often, the run game still remains an integral part of their offensive approach. With Cam Akers now on the Vikings, Kyren Williams has become the RB1 for the team. He’s averaging just 3.9 YPC, but he had his first career 100-yard game against the Colts two weeks ago.

Williams should find success in this game against an Arizona defense ranked 30th in rushing success rate allowed. The Cardinals also rank 31st in defensive line yards. Williams finding success on runs on early downs will allow the Rams to more effectively set up play action passing throughout the game.

Arizona Cardinals Depth Chart

QB: Joshua Dobbs
RB1: Keaontay Ingram
RB2: Emani Demercado
LWR: Marquise Brown
RWR: Michael Wilson
SWR: Rondale Moore
TE1: Zach Ertz

Rams Depth Chart

QB: Matthew Stafford
RB1: Kyren Williams
RB2: Ronnie Rivers
LWR: Tutu Atwell
RWR: Puka Nacua
SWR: Cooper Kupp
TE1: Tyler Higbee

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I've been a huge sports fan for as long as I can remember and I've always loved writing. In 2020, I joined the Lineups team, and I've been producing written and video content on football and basketball ever since. In May 2021, I graduated from the University of Michigan with a degree in sport management. My goal is to tell enthralling stories and provide meaningful insight on the sports I write about while helping you cash some bets along the way.

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