Los Angeles Rams vs Arizona Cardinals: Five Rams to Watch

The Los Angeles Rams are sitting pretty in the NFC playoff picture. They currently hold the 3rd seed and hold a one game advantage over the Seattle Seahawks in the NFC West. Following their week 13 matchup against the Arizona Cardinals, the Rams will have a crack at the #1 seed Philadelphia Eagles and what amounts to the NFC West title game the following week against the Seahawks.

Long story short, this could very well be a trap game. Luckily, Sean McVay has shown the ability to keep his Rams focused on their current opponent. In their last ‘trap game’ McVay had his team ready to roll and demolished the New York Giants 51-17.

If the Rams are going to dominate the Cardinals like they did in London, look for these players to go off on their NFC West counterparts.

Todd Gurley

As Gurley goes, so goes the Rams offense. He’s the key that makes everything else easy for Jared Goff and McVay’s offense. If the Rams get Gurley involved early and often - as they have done in recent weeks - Sunday’s game should have a very happy ending for the Rams offense.

Josh Reynolds

I expect the Cardinals to shadow Sammy Watkins with Patrick Peterson and Cooper Kupp to be shadowed closely by Tyrann Mathieu. After that though, Arizona’s depth chart falls off pretty quickly in the secondary.

Reynolds was targeted frequently last week against the New Orleans Saints and I’d expect more of the same this week.

Robert Quinn

Let’s turn the calendar back a handful of years. Anyone remember this? This is what pre-injury Quinn was capable of. I remember sitting at a tilted kilt in Chicago watching this game and having a blast watching the Rams continuously put Kevin Kolb on blast.

2017 Quinn is a far cry from the 2012 version, and it’s unlikely he’ll ever regain that form given his injury history. But I still find myself hoping that he finds a way to make it work in 2017.

Aaron Donald

Donald is to 2017 what Quinn was to 2012. He’s the most fearsome interior pass rusher in the NFL and will look to wreak havoc again this week. He has been close to several huge plays in recent weeks and could break through (relatively speaking) for a game changer this week.

Lamarcus Joyner

Joyner has balled out in his contract year and his play is making that payday this offseason look mighty nice. He’s been an elite safety and could be in line for a franchise tag if the Rams can’t lock him up long term. (Please don’t do this to us again Les)

If Joyner is missing one thing in his breakout season, it’s turnovers. He’s typically not asked to do that in Wade Phillips’ defense, but with Blaine Gabbert at QB for the Cardinals, he could change that trend on Sunday.