Arizona @ Los Angeles preview

Last Meeting ( Dec 1, 2019 ) L.A. Rams 34, Arizona 7

Having won back-to-back NFC West titles the past two seasons, the Los Angeles Rams seemed unlikely candidates to fall victim to the Super Bowl hangover after losing to the New England Patriots in February. Yet, the Rams have nothing to play for except the chance to finish with a winning record when they host the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday afternoon.

Los Angeles is the ninth team since 2000 to fail to make the playoffs after losing in the Super Bowl the previous season, its hopes doomed by back-to-back losses at Dallas and San Francisco. "We're going to finish this season off the right way," vowed Rams coach Sean McVay. "To be able to finish with a winning record, that's the next thing. You always have the playoffs, but that's out the window. Well hey, let's have some pride." The Cardinals fell out of contention during a six-game slide that included a 34-7 drubbing at home by Los Angeles, but they have a chance to match a season-high winning streak after knocking off Cleveland and Seattle the past two weeks. "I think it's pretty evident and easy to tell that as a whole we're just jelling better than we have all season," said rookie quarterback Kyler Murray, the top overall pick in this year's draft.

TV: 4:25 p.m. ET, FOX. LINE: Rams -7.5. O/U: 49

ABOUT THE CARDINALS (5-9-1): Arizona made what appeared to be a depth move by acquiring running back Kenyon Drake from Miami at the trade deadline, but he has been spectacular in the last two wins by rushing for a combined 303 yards and six touchdowns. Drake's emergence has eased the load on Murray, who has not passed for 200 yards in four of the past five games and has been limited in practice this week due to a hamstring injury. Larry Fitzgerald, who leads the teams in receptions (71) and yards (759), will be appearing in his 250th regular-season game amid speculation it could be his last. The Cardinals rank 31st against the pass, allowing 279.9 yards per game.

ABOUT THE RAMS (8-7): Jared Goff posted a season-best passer rating of 120.7 against Arizona on Dec. 1, throwing for 424 yards and two touchdowns, but he has tossed four interceptions over his last three games. Todd Gurley rushed for a pair of touchdowns in last week's last-second loss at San Francisco and has rushed for five scores in the last four games, including one against the Cardinals in which he ran for 95 yards on 19 carries. Robert Woods and Cooper Kupp each have over 80 receptions and 1,000 yards while tight end Tyler Higbee has emerged as a vital cog in the passing game. Los Angeles is 22nd against the run (115.9 yards) but limited Drake to 31 yards on Dec. 1.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Higbee started a franchise-record stretch of four straight 100-yard games with seven catches for 107 yards and a TD versus Arizona.

2. Cardinals LB Chandler Jones had four sacks last week to boost his league-best total to 19.0.

3. Goff has a passer rating of 100-plus in his last three against Arizona.

PREDICTION: Rams 27, Cardinals 16