Arizona Cardinals vs. St. Louis Rams: Complete Week 15 Preview for Arizona

The last time these two teams met, the Arizona Cardinals took care of business at home, beating the St. Louis Rams during Week 10, 31-14.

Despite the 17-point victory, the game was close until about five minutes remained in regulation. The fourth-quarter comeback was a complete team effort starting with quarterback Drew Stanton, who relieved Carson Palmer—who tore his ACL in that fourth quarter—to throw a 48-yard strike to rookie receiver John Brown, putting the team ahead by a field goal.

Then the defense got in on the scoring action. Patrick Peterson intercepted Rams quarterback Austin Davis and returned it 30 yards for a touchdown before Antonio Cromartie picked up a fumble from Davis and ran it in from 14 yards, rounding out the scoring.

Arizona (10-3) needs a strong defensive effort once more against St. Louis (6-7), because the Rams have not allowed a point in 12-and-a-half quarters—not since Philip Rivers found Keenan Allen on a 29-yard strike in the fourth quarter of San Diego’s Week 12 win over St. Louis.

The Rams are surging to end the season. They might be out of the playoff picture, but they sure can help ruin a season or two by continuing their onslaught.

Here is your in-depth preview for the Cardinals’ Week 15 matchup with the Rams.

Cardinals’ Week 14 Review

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What better way to end a losing streak than to go home and beat a good team with defense, timely offense and help from a raucous crowd? That’s what the Cardinals did last week when they defeated the Kansas City Chiefs, 17-14.

This game may have been a bit easier down the stretch if not for rookie kicker Chandler Catanzaro’s two clanks off the posts. He did hit three of five field goals to help his team get the win, however.

After some halftime adjustments, Todd Bowles’ defense pitched a shutout in the second half. Is there a better second-half team than the Cardinals? This season, Arizona’s defense is tied with St. Louis for the most shutouts after the break—each has four.

Though Stanton was erratic at times and narrowly avoided throwing a pick about three times, he was good enough down the stretch to beat the Chiefs. He had help from an unexpected player, as little-known running back Kerwynn Williams—in his first career action at running back—carried 19 times for 100 yards.

After doing some research, it is believed Williams is the third running back in Cardinals history to rush for at least 100 yards in his first career game with the team. The others were Terry Metcalf (9/16/1973) and Ottis Anderson (9/2/1979), respectively.

News and Notes

Rick Scuteri/Associated Press

Cromartie Could Suit Up

From a possible serious Achilles injury on Sunday to the potential to play on a short week? That’s what Cromartie is facing as of now. We will see if that comes to fruition, but the fact that he’s even a possibility for the game Thursday is a positive sign for the veteran cornerback.

Darren Urban of AZCardinals.com blogged the following Monday:

"

During Sunday’s game, the Cardinals first believed cornerback Antonio Cromartie had an Achilles injury. That turned out not to be the case, which was good news for both the team and player. General manager Steve Keim said Cromartie’s injury affected the peroneal tendon in his ankle and both he and [head coach Bruce] Arians said Cromartie is day-to-day.

Cromartie sat out the light practice Monday but Arians said there is still a chance he plays Thursday.

"

That’s big news no matter the opposition. The Rams don’t exactly scare opponents with their receiving corps, but Cromartie is an integral part of what Bowles does defensively. The defense is already missing safety Tyrann Mathieu for at least another week (more on that in a second), and being without both he and Cromartie this week would be devastating.

Mathieu to Return to Practice Next Week

Arians was on Sirius NFL Radio Tuesday and mentioned Mathieu will begin practicing Monday of next week following surgery to repair the thumb he broke and dislocated against the Falcons, according to Alex Marvez on Twitter:

"

.@BruceArians said S @Mathieu_Era (thumb) will return 2 practice Monday. Hopeful Antonio Cromartie, Larry Fitzgerald can play v @STLouisRams

— Alex Marvez (@alexmarvez) December 10, 2014"

Does that mean he will be well enough to play against Seattle in perhaps the biggest game of the season? That remains to be seen, but it’s a good indicator he’s going to give it a shot.

Win and You’re in

It’s not set in stone that a win on Thursday Night Football over the division-rival Rams guarantees a playoff spot—as long as Sunday night’s Cowboys-Eagles game doesn’t end in a tie, the Cardinals will clinch a playoff spot with their 11th win.

Outside linebacker Sam Acho told Dan Bickley of AZCentral.com the locker room still believes this team is special:

"

People looked at the current situation and started freaking out. They were saying, ‘You guys are going to miss the playoffs, you have a two-game losing streak, you’re never going to win another game. Look at the way you’re playing.’ But we know what we have in this locker room, and we still haven’t put it all together. But we know what we’ve got and we believe. And there’s something to be said about a person who can believe in something.

"

He’s right: A group of people who believe in something is difficult to stop. When that same group is coached by Arians, Bowles and a slew of football geniuses? Watch them make believers out of everyone.

Birdgang Boo-Boo Brigade

Ross D. Franklin/Associated Press

Player	Position	Injury	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Game Day
Lorenzo Alexander	OLB	Knee	LP	LP	FP	Probable
Antonio Cromartie	CB	Ankle	DNP	LP	LP	Questionable
Paul Fanaika	RG	Ankle	DNP	DNP	DNP	Out
Larry Fitzgerald	WR	Knee	LP	LP	FP	Probable
Larry Foote	ILB	Foot	LP	LP	FP	Probable
Tyrann Mathieu	FS	Thumb	Out	Out	Out	Out
Matt Shaughnessy	OLB	Shoulder	LP	LP	FP	Probable
Drew Stanton	QB	Ankle/Knee	LP	LP	FP	Probable
Ed Stinson	DE	Toe	LP	LP	LP	Questionable
Jared Veldheer	LT	Ankle	LP	LP	FP	Probable

All injury statuses gathered from AZCardinals.com

X-Factor and Matchups to Watch

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Jonathan Cooper vs. Aaron Donald

At this point, we know center Lyle Sendlein will be beaten by almost everyone he faces; he’s not the player he once was. Young guard Jonathan Cooper, on the other hand, played well against Chiefs nose tackle Dontari Poe last week and looks to face Aaron Donald a lot this week.

"

Only 2 DT this season are graded in top 10 by @PFF in both pass rush and run D categories. One is Ndamukong Suh. The other? ...Aaron Donald

— Shaun Church (@NFLChurch) December 10, 2014"

The two match up well. Cooper is known for his athleticism and light feet—so is Donald.

Deone Bucannon vs. Jared Cook

The rematch of the game is rookie strong safety/”dollar” linebacker Deone Bucannon against Rams tight end Jared Cook. Bucannon was beaten for a long touchdown in the last meeting by Cook, and this is the first time in his young career the rookie will have a chance to face an opponent for the second time.

He has to step up and shut down Cook, because if the defense is to help the offense, it must handle the short and intermediate passing game better than it has of late.

Last week, Chiefs quarterback Alex Smith started hot, completing 12 of 13 passes (92.3 percent) for 109 yards, a touchdown and no interceptions for a 127.2 passer rating—he had the second-highest first-half rating of the week, behind Rams quarterback Shaun Hill (128.9).

Bowles’ halftime adjustments caused a massive cool-down for Smith in the second half. The signal-caller completed 14 of 26 passes (53.8 percent) for 184 yards, no touchdowns and a pick for a 60.4 rating after the break. It was a big reason the Cardinals pulled it out down the stretch.

A better start by the defense this week is needed, and coverage of tight ends is a big part of that.

Cardinals’ X-Factor of the Week: Drew Stanton

It’s no secret Stanton has struggled of late. The new full-time starter has completed 55.8 percent of his passes over the last three weeks with two touchdowns and three interceptions.

Among 33 qualifiers, Stanton’s 72.3 passer rating over that time ranks 28th.

At this point, asking him to be more accurate may be equivalent to asking a homeless man for $1 million.

However, getting Stanton to make better reads is not out of the realm of possibility. He has stared down his receivers far too often, leading to two of his three interceptions in the past three games and a handful of near-picks.

If Stanton can look off defenders and go through his progression in this game, the Rams could have a hard time defending Arizona’s offense.

Prediction

Ross D. Franklin/Associated Press

The Cardinals have a nasty habit of laying an egg in Thursday-night games. Since 2008, they are 0-3 on the short week and have been outscored 99-48—including a devastating loss at the Rams in 2012 that began a string of nine straight losses for the then-Ken Whisenhunt-led Cardinals.

But anyone who watched that game and has watched any Cardinals game this season can tell you the team is much different than its last Thursday-night trip to Missouri.

This team will fight tooth-and-nail until the final whistle no matter the score; it can hang with anyone.

Expect another hard-fought division game this week. Stanton may be the X-factor of the week, but the rushing attack is also important. Williams may get a shot to duplicate his impressive debut of a week ago, and it’s needed. He impressed and surprised everyone, but now that there is game film of him, the Rams will know what to expect.

Can he save Arizona’s woeful run game once again?

Look for rookie John Brown to have a bigger impact this week. He has been quiet of late, and now is the perfect time for him to re-insert himself into the Offensive Rookie of the Year debate.

Brown hasn’t scored a touchdown since hauling in the game-winner five weeks ago against these Rams. Now is the time, rookie.

Despite St. Louis outscoring its last two opponents by a combined 76-0, this one will be much closer than that. Expect field goals. Many, many field goals.

Prediction: Cardinals 15, Rams 9

All stats gathered from Pro-Football-Reference.com