Arizona Cardinals (0-0 SU, 0-0 ATS) vs. St. Louis Rams (0-0 SU, 0-0 ATS), 1:20 p.m. EST, NFL Week One, Sunday, September 12, 2010, Edward Jones Dome, St. Louis, Missouri
By Scotty L of Predictem.com
Point Spread: Cards –4.5/Rams +4.5
Over/Under: 39.5
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The Arizona Cardinals take on the St. Louis Rams in week one (Week 1 NFL Odds) of the NFL season in a NFC West divisional game. Both teams are in a stage of major transition. The Cardinals are coming off a pair of excellent seasons under coach Ken Whisenhunt—a SuperBowl appearance two seasons ago followed by a nice playoff performance last year that ended in a 51-45 mindblower loss to Green Bay. St. Louis, conversely, is looking to improve. It shouldn’t bee too hard after a 1-15 season.
How the once mighty have fallen. The Rams had 3 wins in 2007, 2 in 2008, then the dismal 1-win campaign of last season. They are hoping the Sam Bradford era ushers in more success. He is no doubt a top prospect who will perhaps be a future star, but the growing pains figure to enormous with a team that is frankly in the toilet.
The Cardinals have their own challenges. That smooth-running offense will no longer have Kurt Warner throwing perfectly-timed passes to in-stride receivers. Question mark Matt Leinart takes over the reins, or will he? At time of print, former Browns QB Derek Anderson is listed as the week 1 starter. Anquan Boldin is gone. Defensive difference-makers Carlos Dansby and free safety Antrel Rolle are also playing elsewhere now. Those are big gaps to fill.
But when you see what Ken Whisenhunt and his outstanding staff have managed to accomplish with the perpetually struggling Cardinals, you feel inclined to extend them the benefit of the doubt. While Leinart has failed to impress thus far, he is far from a flop. The dye hasn’t really been cast yet. He has technical issues, including the tendency to sail passes over the heads of receivers, but he has help. The rising running back combo punch of Chris Wells and Tim Hightower stand to get more play and Larry Fitzgerald is always a threat to catch anything thrown his way. Receivers Steve Breaston and Early Doucet—who shined in the postseason—should provide some depth to keep this offense moving.
Losing Dansby could prove to diminish this defense, but Joey Porter joins the team this year to make up a little difference. He’s getting up there in age, but is still a legitimate pass-rushing threat. Losing Rolle at free safety is made up for at least partially by the addition of Kerry Rhodes from the Jets. Darnell Dockett is a fierce presence on the D-line. It’s a unit that will rely on several players stepping up to succeed.
Any fall-off on the part of the Cardinals might not even get exposed against the hapless Rams. St. Louis could get a boost from top-pick Sam Bradford at QB. Playing in the mediocre NFC West might help. Coach Steve Spagnuolo can’t afford another season like last year, so expect a little more urgency out of this squad. Top running back Steven Jackson figures to have another big year, so it’s not inconceivable to see the Rams have a little upswing this year.
But it won’t be easy. The St. Louis defense ranked 29th in total yards and 31st in points allowed last season. They played a little better in the second half, particularly at home, so maybe they can be a little stingy against a new-look Arizona offense. Perhaps former top-pick Chris Long can further blossom to captain an overachieving D-line. With a few new additions and guts bouncing back from injuries, this defense should continue to make strides. Again, this is all relative, as making strides from 6 wins in 3 seasons doesn’t make you a strong team. But maybe they can be a bit more respectable.
The Cardinals won both meetings last season, including a 21-13 win in St. Louis. If the Rams are a tiny bit improved, shouldn’t they do better than that this year against a diminished Cardinals squad? Maybe. But basically, you have a 1-15 trying to rebound with a rookie quarterback. Even if that rookie is a blue-chip prospect, the growing pains figure to be pronounced, especially in the early going.
Scotty L’s Pick to Cover the Spread: The Rams figure to bring Bradford around slowly, with huge doses of Steven Jackson. The Cardinals offense also doesn’t figure to blow away the St. Louis “D” at home with an offense that still hasn’t found an identity. At the same time, until St. Louis shows they are significantly improved this year, the Cardinals are simply the better team and should be able to cover 4.5 points. The Arizona offense just has too many weapons. The Rams will show glimpses of things to look forward to in the future, but the Cardinals will establish a cushion late and cruise to a cover. Take the Cardinals minus 4.5 points.
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