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Game-day details
Sun., 4:05 p.m. ET, Sun Devil Stadium
Weather forecast from AccuWeather.com:
Sunny. High: 99. Low: 75.
Why To Watch
Quarterback Marc Bulger must get the Rams' offense on track as he faces his mentor, former MVP Kurt Warner, who throw to some of the NFL's best young receivers.
This game is about redemption. Both teams had high hopes before being humbled in Week 1 in games each should have won. The Rams lost at San Francisco and can ill afford to start 0-2 in the NFC West. The Cardinals must put their loss to the Giants behind them and gain momentum in their ongoing building effort.
Rams Keys For Success
1. Attack the guard/center gaps. Warner is immobile and a sitting duck when pass protection breaks down. With third-string center Shawn Lynch starting because of injuries, the defense should challenge him and blitz both guard/center gaps often. Lynch will have trouble picking up the blitz, and Warner will take some hits.
2. Run against the small defensive line. There are no 300-pounders up front for the Cardinals, who relying on speed and aggressiveness to compensate for a lack of bulk. This leaves them vulnerable to a power running game. The Rams should pound Steven Jackson between the tackles and wear down the defense.
3. Finish drives. The offense settled field-goal attempts in Week 1 because it couldn't convert third-down situations in the red zone. That ultimately cost the team the game. The Rams cannot allow penalties and poor execution to end drives because the Cardinals will score.
Cardinals Keys For Success
1. Tighten up kick and punt coverage units. When facing such a potent offense, opponents can't give up points -- or field position -- on special teams. In Week 1, Arizona gave up a kick return touchdown and a punt return touchdown. Coverage units must stay disciplined and in their lanes and contain Chris Johnson and Shaun McDonald.
2. Throw downfield. With wide receivers Larry Fitzgerald, Anquan Boldin and Bryant Johnson working against cornerbacks Travis Fisher and DeJuan Groce, the Cardinals have a significant height advantage. Look for Warner to throw fade and "go" routes to steal big plays on deep passes.
3. Confuse the offensive line. Equipped with a workhorse running back, a stable of dangerous receivers and a capable quarterback, the Rams' only weak spot on offense is the line. Last week, it yielded seven sacks. The Cardinals should use three-, four- and five-man lines to force Bulger and center Andy McCollum adjust the play and/or blocking assignments and add to the line's confusion.
Injuries at a glance
Rams injuries
Cardinals injuries
9/11/05 James Darling LB Knee Week 2 status unclear
9/11/05 James Hodgins RB ACL tear Out for season
The Bottom Line
Expect to see a lot of turnovers. Both offensive lines struggle in pass protection, so both quarterbacks will be under pressure all day.
This game will remain wide open until the fourth quarter when Jackson wears down the Cardinals' feisty but undersized front seven.
Pick: Rams 31, Cardinals 23
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