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As the sands passing through the NFL hourglass run out, the time for playoff football is almost here. Before that, the 2025 regular season caps off with a loaded Sunday slate.
The 4:25 p.m. ET window on FOX features an NFC West battle between the 3-13 Cardinals and 11-5 Rams. With Arizona eyeing the 2026 NFL Draft and Los Angeles preparing for a postseason run, both sides stand in each other’s way in Week 18.
Below, we’ll break down our Cardinals vs. Rams prediction and picks to consider for Week 18. Make your picks on PrizePicks and PrizePicks Team Picks and earn real money if you’re right.
Cardinals vs. Rams Prediction, Spread, Over/Under
Sunday marks the 96th all-time meeting between these two clubs. With Los Angeles boasting a 52-41-2 series lead, including four wins in the last five matchups, Arizona has a chance to turn the tide a bit in Week 18.
On the injury front, the Cardinals will be without WR Marvin Harrison Jr. (injured reserve) and OL Evan Brown (personal). For the Rams, OL Kevin Dotson (ankle) and S Quentin Lake (elbow) are out. Several others are listed as questionable.
Cardinals vs. Rams Over/Under, Spread
The Cardinals enter Sunday’s game as 13.5-point road underdogs, returning a 6.66x payout on PrizePicks Team Picks if they win outright.
The Rams are home favorites with a 1.08x payout if they win, via PrizePicks Team Picks.
- Spread: Los Angeles Rams -13.5
- Over/Under: 47.5
- Game Winner Payout: Cardinals 6.66x | Rams 1.08x
Team Picks data is live at the time of writing and is subject to change.
Cardinals vs. Rams Prediction on Spread
Here are some stats to know to get you prepared for Cardinals vs. Rams.
- Through 16 games, the Rams are a terrific 11-5 against the spread. Arizona’s 6-10 ATS mark, meanwhile, is second-worst in the sport.
- In divisional games since 2020, head coach Sean McVay’s team is 23-15 ATS. The Cardinals are an NFC West-worst 13-23 in that same span.
- Los Angeles ranks in the top five in points per drive on both sides of the ball: first on offense and fourth on defense.
- Arizona is a bottom-10 group in the same statistics: 23rd in points per drive on offense and 29th on defense.
- This is the first time the Rams have dropped back-to-back games. In every other instance of a defeat this year, they responded with a win.
Cardinals vs. Rams NFL Week 18 Picks
Here are three Cardinals vs. Rams picks for Week 18. Some top same-game PrizePicks projections to consider include QB Jacoby Brissett, TE Trey McBride, and QB Matthew Stafford.
Cardinals QB Jacoby Brissett vs. Rams Projection: 244.5 Pass Yards
- Since averaging 312.6 passing yards in his first seven starts, Brissett’s mark is down to 233.8 in his last four.
- In Week 14’s showing against Los Angeles, the 33-year-old threw 44 times but posted 6.05 adjusted yards per attempt with an 80.8 passer rating, both his second-lowest figures of the year.
- Per Jefe’s Handiwork, the Cardinals are 28th in explosive play rate on offense. L.A. is eighth there on defense.
- The Rams’ defense is ninth with an average EPA per pass allowance of -0.08.
Cardinals TE Trey McBride vs. Rams Projection: 68.5 Rec Yards
- McBride enters Week 18 leading the league in receptions with 119, also setting a new career-high for yards (1,174) and TDs (11) through the air.
- In his first eight games, the two-time Pro Bowler averaged 59.5 yards an outing. In his last eight, that’s spiked to 87.3.
- According to SumerSports, McBride’s 27.33% target share and 105.33 total EPA both lead the TE position.
- The Rams see an average of 7.1 targets and 5.0 receptions to the TE position each game.
Rams QB Matthew Stafford vs. Cardinals Projection: 263.5 Pass Yards
- The Rams aren’t among teams expected to rest many key starters, and Stafford is still in the MVP race. He could have ample opportunities on Sunday.
- The three-time Pro Bowl man averages 278.0 passing yards per game. Since Week 12, that threshold is a staggering 315.2.
- Stafford has racked up more pass EPA on the year than all but Patriots budding superstar Drake Maye.
- Arizona’s pass defense is 27th in EPA per dropback at 0.13.
Make Cardinals vs. Rams Picks on PrizePicks
When Arizona and Los Angeles duke it out, there will be plenty of opportunities for Cardinals vs. Rams NFL Week 18 picks.
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