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The Arizona Cardinals could conceivably win the Super Bowl.
Couldn’t they?
That possibility had set in with NFL observers over the course of a seven-game winning streak to start the season. But doubters want to doubt. And well, they had good reason to, after a Green Bay team that was missing almost its entire receiving corps came to the desert and beat them in a Thursday night game.
The Cards have no recent history of big success, so they are going to be in “prove it” mode on Monday night against the Los Angeles Rams in what has to be one of the most significant games of the year, as Kliff Kingsbury’s team edges toward what it hopes is the #1 overall seed in the NFC.
Oh, and did we mention they clinch a playoff spot if they win?
Read our Rams vs. Cardinals preview for week 14.
Kyler Murray Props Picks for Week 14
Best Bet: UNDER 26.5 RUSHING YARDS
MNF Props Odds: Over 26.5 Yards (-120) / Under 26.5 Yards (-110)
You may find it a little surprising that Murray has not been as active running the football as he was last season. Or the season before.
In his first two NFL seasons, he averaged 5.8 and 6.2 yards per carry. This year, though, that figure is only 3.5. And he’s at 23 yards per contest, or slightly below it.
Murray has faced only 52 blitzes in nine games, and he is logging 7.3 yards per scramble, which actually puts him a little below average as far as starting NFL quarterbacks go.
And let’s not lie – his ankle injury and the anxiety that comes with that have been factors.
Best Bet: OVER 262.5 PASSING YARDS
MNF Props Odds: Over 262.5 Yards (-115) / Under 262.5 Yards (-115)
We should have mentioned that one of the reasons Murray does not have to do as much with his feet is that he has been able to do much more with his arm. Much more.
In fact, his 72.7% accuracy rate leads the league. So does his 8.9 yards per attempt. His receivers have been able to generate 5.7 yards after the catch per completion, which is pretty good.
Plus, you would be hard-pressed to find a quarterback who is better at the long ball.In fact, his completion rate on passes of 20 yards or more downfield is the best in the NFL. And although the Rams have much of the same personnel left over from Brandon Staley handling this defense last year – which meant an emphasis on preventing explosive plays – they haven’t been overly successful in doing that.
Tyler Higbee Props Picks for Week 14
Best Bet: UNDER 36.5 RECEIVING YARDS
MNF Props Odds: Over 36.5 Yards (-115) / Under 36.5 Yards (-115)
Higbee has caught 44 passes and had just a shade under 33 yards per contest. So the numbers are not imposing.
And Arizona does perhaps a better job of defending the tight end position than any team in the NFL, allowing just 3.7 catches and 35.8 yards per game. So this one is worth taking a shot.
Cooper Kupp Props Picks for Week 14
Best Bet: UNDER 93.5 RECEIVING YARDS
MNF Props Odds: Over 93.5 Yards (-115) / Under 93.5 Yards (-115)
Okay, it’s time to speak up for Kupp (see what we did there?).
In every game but one, he has been targeted at least ten times. And in ten games out of 12, he has exceeded this posted total.
So this one should be like a slam dunk, right?
Well, not exactly.
In the first meeting between these two, a 37-20 Arizona victory at SoFi Stadium, the Cards made it a priority to shut down Kupp, who had become Matthew Stafford’s favorite receiver. And in 13 targets, he had only five catches for 64 yards. That’s a 38.5% connection rate, which is below pedestrian. And Stafford has Odell Beckham to throw to now.
And speaking of Stafford…….
Matthew Stafford Props Picks for Week 14
Best Bet: TO THROW INTERCEPTION (YES)
MNF Props Odds: Will be intercepted (-120) / Won’t be intercepted (-110)
I don’t think it’s as simple as saying that things got rougher for Stafford when opposing defenses started to figure him out, but he had tossed five picks in three games, including two pick-sixes, until relief came against Jacksonville.
Not enough has been said about this Arizona defense,which is in the top five in both points AND yards allowed per drive, not to mention fourth in turnovers forced per drive. They also have a sack percentage that is sixth best. So Stafford won’t have it easy.
