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Rams at Cardinals: Full Preview of the Week 10 Matchup
Shane Gray posted on November 07, 2014 16:13
On Sunday, the St. Louis Rams will square off with the Arizona Cardinals at the University of Phoenix Stadium in a key NFC West matchup. St. Louis will arrive in Glendale with a 3-5 mark after winning two of their last three games. Arizona, meanwhile will enter the action with the NFL's best record at 7-1.
How are the Cardinals Doing It?
When considering a myriad of statistical barometers, it would appear that the Cardinals are securing victories with smoke and mirrors. In breaking down the numbers, one would be hard-pressed to believe that Arizona is really sitting at 7-1.
Seriously, does the following look like the NFL's best team to you?
Offensively, the Cardinals rank thirty-first in passer percentage, thirtieth in yards per carry and twenty-eighth in rushing yards per game. Defensively, they rank thirtieth in sacks, worst in passing yards per game, No. 25 in passer rating allowed and thirty-first in forced fumbles. In addition, they check in at just a so-so fourteenth in both scoring offense and points allowed per game.
So, how have the Cardinals managed to reel off the league's best won-loss percentage this season when considering the above? As is often the case, numbers don't always tell the entire story. For example, Arizona's aforementioned last place passing D is probably at least a little better than it appears on paper.
"They’re getting up and teams are just throwing it and going two-minute," Rams Head Coach Jeff Fisher explained this week. "They’re giving up plays just to protect the end zone and things like that. It’s very, very misleading.”
St. Louis quarteback Austin Davis essentially reiterated Fisher's thoughts on the Arizona air D.
“I think stats can be very misleading," Davis suggested. "Obviously, their record’s great so teams are down and they’re throwing the ball more late in the game. They’re softening up and giving up yards. We don’t look a lot at the stats. They’re definitely really good at stopping the run and we’re going to have to throw and complete the ball and do some things in the passing game.”
According to Arizona Head Coach Bruce Arians, much of their success boils down to knowing how to close out games. While the Rams have struggled to finish several contests that they could have won, the Cardinals consistently find ways to perform successfully late in the action.
“I think that we’ve played hard for 60 minutes and kind of found ways to win games," Arians said in a conference call this week. "I don’t think we’re anything special, but we’ve managed to win ball games in fourth quarters. That’s very hard to do. I think they’ve learned that’s when games are won and lost. Most teams, it’s very hard to teach a team how to win. You find ways to do that and then you start believing that it’s going to happen."
Cardinals quartback Carson Palmer echoed similar thoughts to Arians in regard to finishing games off.
"What we’ve done a good job at is beating the teams we’re supposed to and then we close games out against good teams. The last two years, we’ve really been a fourth quarter team."
Avoiding and Creating Interceptions
(For six more points including a look at Arizona's playmakers, winning and losing close games, the Cards run D and more, please read here. I think you all will really enjoy this one, ROD! Thanks for all the great support!):
http://www.insidestl.com/insideSTLc...nals-Full-Preview-of-the-Week-10-Matchup.aspx
Shane Gray posted on November 07, 2014 16:13
On Sunday, the St. Louis Rams will square off with the Arizona Cardinals at the University of Phoenix Stadium in a key NFC West matchup. St. Louis will arrive in Glendale with a 3-5 mark after winning two of their last three games. Arizona, meanwhile will enter the action with the NFL's best record at 7-1.
How are the Cardinals Doing It?
Seriously, does the following look like the NFL's best team to you?
Offensively, the Cardinals rank thirty-first in passer percentage, thirtieth in yards per carry and twenty-eighth in rushing yards per game. Defensively, they rank thirtieth in sacks, worst in passing yards per game, No. 25 in passer rating allowed and thirty-first in forced fumbles. In addition, they check in at just a so-so fourteenth in both scoring offense and points allowed per game.
So, how have the Cardinals managed to reel off the league's best won-loss percentage this season when considering the above? As is often the case, numbers don't always tell the entire story. For example, Arizona's aforementioned last place passing D is probably at least a little better than it appears on paper.
"They’re getting up and teams are just throwing it and going two-minute," Rams Head Coach Jeff Fisher explained this week. "They’re giving up plays just to protect the end zone and things like that. It’s very, very misleading.”
St. Louis quarteback Austin Davis essentially reiterated Fisher's thoughts on the Arizona air D.
“I think stats can be very misleading," Davis suggested. "Obviously, their record’s great so teams are down and they’re throwing the ball more late in the game. They’re softening up and giving up yards. We don’t look a lot at the stats. They’re definitely really good at stopping the run and we’re going to have to throw and complete the ball and do some things in the passing game.”
According to Arizona Head Coach Bruce Arians, much of their success boils down to knowing how to close out games. While the Rams have struggled to finish several contests that they could have won, the Cardinals consistently find ways to perform successfully late in the action.
“I think that we’ve played hard for 60 minutes and kind of found ways to win games," Arians said in a conference call this week. "I don’t think we’re anything special, but we’ve managed to win ball games in fourth quarters. That’s very hard to do. I think they’ve learned that’s when games are won and lost. Most teams, it’s very hard to teach a team how to win. You find ways to do that and then you start believing that it’s going to happen."
Cardinals quartback Carson Palmer echoed similar thoughts to Arians in regard to finishing games off.
"What we’ve done a good job at is beating the teams we’re supposed to and then we close games out against good teams. The last two years, we’ve really been a fourth quarter team."
Avoiding and Creating Interceptions
(For six more points including a look at Arizona's playmakers, winning and losing close games, the Cards run D and more, please read here. I think you all will really enjoy this one, ROD! Thanks for all the great support!):
http://www.insidestl.com/insideSTLc...nals-Full-Preview-of-the-Week-10-Matchup.aspx