The Los Angeles Rams (0-1) travel to the desert in Week 2 of the 2024-25 NFL season for an NFC West showdown with the Arizona Cardinals (0-1). Kickoff is set for 4:05 PM EST on September 15th at State Farm Stadium.
These longtime divisional rivals are both searching for their first win of the season in what should be a tightly contested matchup. Oddsmakers are expecting both offenses to find success early and often in this particular spot, as the current total is one of the highest numbers on the board heading into the weekend.
Arizona hung tough on the road in Buffalo in Week 1 despite eventually losing 34-28, as the Cardinals couldn’t find a way to contain Josh Allen on the ground in the second half. Los Angeles easily could have upset the Lions in Detroit on Sunday Night Football, as they actually led 20-17 with under a minute left in the fourth quarter before losing 26-20 in overtime.
Matchup Details, Betting Market Information and Where to Watch
Oddsmakers opened this game up with the Cardinals listed as 2.5-point home underdogs. The spread has narrowed substantially after early betting, as Arizona is currently available at +1 on most sportsbooks. The total for this matchup is 47.5 points. Viewers hoping to watch the game should note that it will be televised exclusively on the FOX Sports Network. In Canada, the game will also be available on DAZN.
Los Angeles Rams Lose Nacua in Week 1 Defeat
There were a lot of positives for the Rams despite their loss last Sunday, as they had a shot to win the game late despite surrendering their lead with just 0:17 left on the clock in the fourth quarter. QB Matthew Stafford played well, going 34/49 for 317 passing yards and a touchdown. Los Angeles lost sophomore wideout Puka Nacua in the second half but veteran Cooper Kupp certainly picked up the slack, torching the Lions for 110 receiving yards and a touchdown on a game-high 14 catches.
RB Kyren Williams never really got anything going on the ground despite finding the end zone once, rushing for only 50 yards the entire game. He should have a bounce back outing here in Week 2 in a much better matchup on the road in Arizona then the one he had Sunday night in Detroit. TE Colby Parkinson played well filling in for the injured Tyler Higbee, recording four receptions for 47 yards. Parkinson will likely continue to see decent volume in the passing game, especially with Nacua slated to miss at least several weeks due to his injury.
On the other side of the ball, the Rams struggled to contain Detroit on the ground as both David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs found the end zone while also combining for well over 125 rushing yards out of the backfield. However, Los Angeles did manage to slow down star Amon-Ra St.Brown, limiting him to just 13 receiving yards the entire game.
Arizona Cardinals Search for Answers on Defense After Scoring 28
The Cardinals offense certainly did their part on the road in Week 1 despite the loss, as QB Kyler Murray led Arizona to 28 total points against an above average Bills defense. Murray went 21/31 for 162 yards and a touchdown through the air, while also chipping in with five carries for 57 rushing yards. He also managed to avoid any costly turnovers, something that has been an issue at times over the past several seasons. However, Murray will need a lot more support from his receiving corps this weekend after Greg Dortch unexpectedly led the entire offense in reception yardage with just 47 total yards.
It was another solid outing for veteran RB James Conner, as he racked up 83 total yards from scrimmage while also finding the end zone on the ground as well. TE Trey McBride had a quiet afternoon despite a lot of offseason hype after his breakout campaign in 2023-24, recording only five catches for 30 yards.
Arizona had a very tough matchup defensively in Week 1, and it certainly showed on the scoreboard by the end of the fourth quarter. QB Josh Allen lit up the Cardinals despite a slow start in the first half, finishing the game with 232 passing yards and two touchdowns through the air while also adding another two scores on the ground in short yardage situations.
Our Rams vs Cardinals NFL Betting Prediction and Pick
I really don’t see a ton of value with either team against the spread in this particular spot, as it looks like basically a pick’em game between two fairly evenly matched teams. While I wouldn’t argue against taking a shot with the Rams if they were fully healthy on offense, the absence of Nacua is certainly a blow to their passing attack despite the re-emergence of Cooper Kupp in Week 1.
On the Arizona side, it’s hard to have a lot of faith in a defense that just gave up 34 total points in only three quarters after shutting out Buffalo for the first fifteen minutes of the game. However, the Cardinals should be able to do some damage on offense after an impressive outing on the road to begin the year despite their tough matchup.
Game Total Betting Market Tip: Over 47.5
With game spread betting markets looking pretty efficient overall, I think the play that offers the most value in this AFC West clash is the Over on 47.5 total points. Oddsmakers actually opened this game up at 50.5, but early betting has driven the total down by three full points. State Farm Stadium certainly provides a favorable environment for a high scoring game, and both offenses came out strong in Week 1 after combining for 48 total points against two above average defenses.
Even without Nacua, the Rams still have a ton of firepower on offense, as both Kupp and Kyren Williams appear poised to have big afternoons on Sunday with increased usage seeming highly likely. Arizona should also continue to find success on offense, as Murray looked calm and collected in a tough road environment despite underwhelming performances by both Trey McBride and rookie sensation Marvin Harrison Jr. in the passing game. I’m going to stay away from this tough spread and take a shot with the total instead – give me the Over on 47.5 points.
