NFL Week 2: Rams try to break into win column on the road
After a tough overtime loss in Week 1, the Los Angeles Rams will try to get back on the winning path. That path means another week on the road, this time traversing through a intra-divisional rival, the Arizona Cardinals. The Cards also loss their first game, jumping out to an early 17-3 lead over the Buffalo Bills, but couldn’t hold on, while the Rams overcame a 17-3 deficit to take a lead and couldn’t hold on either.
Since Sean McVay’s first year in 2017, The Rams are on a 13-2 winning run. After the 2022 season, the Cards cleaned house and brought in a new General Manager, Monti Ossenfort and Head Coach, Jonathon Gannon. Last year, in the beginning of a re-build, Arizona struggled to 4-13 record.
Mercurial quarterback Kyler Murray and the power running game of James Conner drive the Cardinal offense. Conner is also a receiving weapon out of the backfield. Although they took wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. in the draft at #4 overall, Michael Wilson could be the real star outside. The Cards use a higher percentage of two-tight end sets when compared to the rest of the NFL, utilizing Trey McBride, Elijah Higgins, and Tip Reiman.
A few key takeaways from Week 1 for defenses:
– The Packers (vs Hurts) and Steelers (vs Cousins) lead the league in interception worthy throw rate.
– The Bears’ opportunistic defense played a crucial role in their comeback victory.
– The Rams’ defense is still good w/o AD pic.twitter.com/sjFwQt2bI3
— Steven Patton (@PattonAnalytics) September 12, 2024
The Cardinals defense hopes for improvement in 2024 and there’s plenty of room for it. They were the worst team in the NFL against the run last season, allowing 2434 yards at a 4.7 clip, an average of 143 yards per game. They were slightly better defending the pass, yielding 3613 total yards for 212.5 per game (13th), but were a Bottom 5 unit in missed tackles, sacks, QB pressure percentage, scoring percentage allowed, yards per play allowed, and passer rating allowed. In Week 1, Arizona allowed the Buffalo Bills to score on six of nine drives, with one of the stops being a lost fumble in the red zone.
Can the Rams take advantage of the Cardinals porous defense? Will they keep Kyler Murray under control?
How to follow the game
Date: September 15
Kickoff: 1:05 p.m. PST
Location: State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona
Watch on TV
Regionally: FOX
Livestream
There are numerous available streaming services including, but not limited to NFL+, Peacock, Sling TV, Fubo, ESPN+, Hulu+ Live TV, and Paramount+
Listen on the radio
Local: ESPN LA 710 AM
Regionally: ESPN affiliate stations
- KMET/1490 AM & 98.1 FM – Banning, CA
- KFIG/1430 AM & 790 FM – Fresno, CA
- KAVL/610 AM & 106.7 FM – Lancaster, CA
- KRHQ/102.3 FM – Palm Springs, CA
- KTIE/590 AM – Riverside, CA
- KGB/760 AM – San Diego, CA
- KXTK/1280 AM & 101.7 FM – San Luis Obispo, CA
- KSMA/1240 AM & 99.5 FM – Santa Maria, CA
- KSHP/1400 AM & 107.1 FM – Las Vegas, NV
- KVLI/1140 AM & 103.7 FM – Bakersfield, CA
Local Spanish Radio coverage: Tu Liga Radio 1330 AM
Tu Liga Radio’s affiliate radio stations
- KTMZ/1220 AM – Pomona, CA
- KCAL/1410 AM – San Bernardino and Riverside, CA
- KOXR 910 AM – Oxnard and Ventura, CA
Follow the Rams on social media
Instagram: @rams
Facebook: /rams
X (formerly known as Twitter): @RamsNFL
TikTok: @rams
Current betting odds @ FanDuel Sportsbook
Line: LA Rams +1.5 -115 / AZ Cardinals -1.5 -105
Over/under total: 47.5 -110
Money line: LA Rams +104 / AZ Cardinals -122
