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The Rams are 2-0-1 against NFC West opponents

Nov 24, 2012, 1:28 PM EDT

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RAMS (3-6-1) AT CARDINALS (4-6)

By Football Night in America’s Eliott Kalb

 

 

  • Arizona looks for a much-needed win, having dropped six straight following a 4-0 start.
  • These teams met in Week 5, with the Rams winning 17-3.  Off to their best start since 1974, the 4-0 Cardinals headed to St. Louis on a short week for a Thursday night showdown with the 2-2 Rams. Arizona had won 7 straight at the Edward Jones Dome but would not find a way to record #8. A strong St. Louis defensive effort kept Arizona from getting on track offensively, sacking QB Kevin Kolb 9 times and limiting the Cards to 45 rushing yards on 17 attempts.
  • The Rams are 2-0-1 against NFC West opponents.
  • This week marks the return of RB Beanie Wells, who missed seven games recovering from a severe turf toe injury. In his last game against the Rams—in Week 12 of last season—Wells established a franchise record with 228 rushing yards.
  • Defensive end Calais Campbell and tight end Todd Heap could be back, too.
  • Heap has actually missed more time than Wells. A turf-toe injury landed Wells on the injured-reserve/designated-to-return list for the span of seven games, while Heap has missed eight weeks with a strained left posterior-cruciate ligament that he suffered after being hit out of bounds against the Patriots in Week 2.
  • Patrick Peterson had two punt return TDs against St. Louis last season, including a 99-yard game-winner in OT in Week 9 during the Rams last visit to University of Phoenix Stadium.
  • Ryan Lindley will start at QB versus the Rams.  He started all four years at San Diego State. He replaced John Skelton last week against the Falcons after Skelton was off target on a throw to Fitzgerald in the end zone.
  • At San Diego State, Lindley specialized on one thing: The long pass.
  • “I don’t really get nervous,” he said. “I think more right now it’s just getting the reps in practice is what I want to do. I just want to make sure I’m ready because if I’m prepared, I’m ready to go, come Sunday it’s just about getting it done and there’s nothing really to it but to just do it when I’m out there.”
  • Lindley was sacked 49 times and threw 48 interceptions in his college career, although he was picked off only a career-low eight times as a senior.
  • The Cardinals look to improve to 10-2 against the Rams under head coach Ken Whisenhunt.
  • Last week, Sam Bradford had a very bad day versus New York’s defense.  The Rams ran the ball effectively on the Jets, but offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer called more passes (22) than runs (16) over the first three quarters.
  • St. Louis (0-4-1) hasn’t forced a turnover during its winless run to tie for the NFL’s longest such stretch since 1950.Only the 2011 Indianapolis Colts and 2006 Washington Redskins have gone five games without a takeaway in the last 62 years. The Rams’ last turnover forced was a lost fumble by Kolb.
  • “We’re stripping, the ball’s flying around, it’ll just happen,” coach Jeff Fisher said. “But I don’t think I’ve been in a stretch before that long.”
  • St. Louis had eight interceptions through four games, but a defense that is being guided in part by assistant head coach Dave McGinnis – the Cardinals coach from 2000-03 – then failed to pick off Kolb in 50 pass attempts to start this dreadful drought.
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