There are two NFC West showdowns being held in Week 17, but only one of them carries a lot of meaning. Rams-Cardinals is not that game.
They may not be playing for postseason positioning, but the season finale for both teams is important for player evaluation and pride; Sean McVay has said repeatedly that he wants to finish with a winning record.
In advance of this matchup, we talked to Jess Root of Cards Wire to gather intel on players such as Kyler Murray, Chandler Jones and Kenyan Drake. Here’s our conversation on the upcoming game.
How big of a spark has Kenyan Drake provided over David Johnson?
Drake has been huge. He has energized the locker room with his swagger. He has jumpstarted the offense with his explosiveness and big plays. For whatever reason, David Johnson just hasn’t had the juice to power the offense. The team talks about Drake like he is a long-term piece.
Is Chandler Jones the best edge rusher in the NFL, in your opinion?
The numbers certainly suggest it. No one has more sacks since 2016. He led the NFL in 2017 and leads the league this year. He has the length, the motor, the explosiveness and the power. No one else combines that with the same consistency with which he plays. Even with 19 sacks, he has dropped into coverage about 12 percent of the time this season as well. He might have equals in the league, but no one is overall better.
What’s the most encouraging thing the Cardinals have to build on for next year?
It comes down to Kliff Kingsbury and Kyler Murray. Murray looks like the real deal and Kingsbury is proving to be flexible enough for the NFL. He has adapted to change the offense, while Murray has been successful doing a number of things.
Overall, how would you grade Kyler Murray’s rookie season?
It’s the best rookie QB season for any Cardinals quarterback. He is one of only three rookies to have at least 3,000 passing yards and 500 rushing yards. If he plays Sunday, he will likely finish with over 3,500 and 600. He still has room for improvement but it can’t be graded any lower than an A. He has exceeded very high expectations.
What’s your prediction for this game?
I wouldn’t be surprised if the Cardinals won with how they are playing, but I don’t think it will happen. I do expect them to be competitive and it will come down to the fourth quarter. The Cardinals will run the ball well and get some pressure on Jared Goff, but the Rams will get a 23-20 win.
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