Cardinals vs. Rams NFL Week 4 Picks and Predictions

With three wins each under their belts, both the Arizona Cardinals and Los Angeles Rams are looking good at the top of the NFC West. So, which team will strike the first blow in taking the top spot for themselves when they face each other in Week 4?

The Cardinals are over-achieving after starting the season as the least likely to win the division according to the oddsmakers so let's check out the NFL odds for this matchup. 

Arizona Cardinals vs. Los Angeles Rams

Sunday, October 03, 2021 - 04:05 PM EDT at SoFi Stadium

Can Kyler Become King?

Kyler Murray is one of the more entertaining players in the league due to his incredible mobility and ability to throw on the run and it’s done his team very well so far this year finding players while on the run with great accuracy.

That mobility has allowed him to rush in for a score in each of the three games this year as well as throwing seven TDs and 1,005 yards (good for third in the league), when they get to the 5-yard line, you know damn well he’s probably rushing one in but no-one seems to have been able to stop it so far.

https://youtu.be/VqJ7k0mtVtM

The additions of AJ Green in free agency and Rondale Moore seem to have opened up an offense that likes to play with four WRs and spread things out, and they’ve both started their Cardinals careers well. Moore has 183 yards, Green 181 and one of the best in the league Deandre Hopkins has 153 and 3 TDs.

The run game isn’t there yet, but really it’s just to give Kyler a little time off running the ball. James Conner has 122 yards and two TDs, while Chase Edmonds has 135 rush yards and 121 through the air, although no score as yet for Edmonds.

https://twitter.com/AZCardinals/status/1442938314688897024?s=20

Is Stafford the Man to Take the Rams to the Superbowl?

The Rams have put together a good roster over the years led by the best defensive player of his generation, Aaron Donald but they needed a stud at QB to take them to the promised land and it looks like paying to get rid of Jared Goff and bring in Matthew Stafford could be the best move they’ve made.

Stafford was a #1 overall pick, but that meant he landed on a team he wouldn’t be able to win with, he was brilliant for the Lions without the success and he’s brought that over to the Rams. He’s started the season on fire with a 70% completion percentage, nine TDs and just one interception in their three games so far, including 343 yards and four TDs against the Bucs last weekend.

https://twitter.com/RamsNFL/status/1442250557045948422?s=20

It helps that he’s formed a good relationship with Cooper Kupp who leads the league in yards and TDs early from 25 receptions this season. The arm strength of Stafford has opened up the deep game for them and Desean Jackson is still able to get free downfield at his age as proved against the Bucs.

Van Jefferson has some deep shots as well while it’s Robert Woods who seems to be the odd man out at the moment with just 124 yards this season. Tyler Higbee has been getting work at tight end catching 11 of his 12 targets.

It looks like Stafford could be the final cog in the machine for a Superbowl run, add to that a very good defense and the Rams are rightly third in the Super Bowl odds and shortening by the week.

Which Team Goes Atop the Division This Weekend?

Looking at the results the Cardinals have beaten the Titans easily, should have lost to the Vikings and had a few wobbles against the Jaguars this weekend before setting things straight.

Meanwhile, the Rams beat the Bears easily, scraped past the Colts and then comfortably beat the Superbowl champions this weekend at the SoFi. It’s an impressive recent record for the Rams in the head-to-head between these two teams, they are 9-1 straight up, covering the spread in eight of those games.

Despite a good start for the Cardinals, I don’t see that changing here so look for Los Angeles as the NFL pick.

NFL Pick: (visit our Sportsbook Review)

*The pick reflects the line at the moment the writer made the play, the odds at the beginning of this article show the live line movement. Since the lines might vary, don’t forget to refer back to our live odds.