THIS WEEK’S PREVIEW
A pivotal two-week stretch in the NFC West – the NFL’s toughest division in 2021 – begins in Week 4 and the highlight is the matchup between the undefeated Cardinals and Rams on Sunday at SoFi Stadium.
This meeting between the Cardinals and Rams – two of the NFL’s five remaining undefeated teams – is full of storylines. The main one is that the winner gets the upper-hand in what is shaping up to be a season-long battle for the top spot in the division.
Both the Cardinals and Rams are playing their first division game of the season and have another on tap in Week 5.
Sunday’s game will mark the fi rst Ɵ me the teams meet with undefeated records since they became NFC West rivals in 2002 (excluding season-openers).
Arizona is looking to start a season 4-0 for just the eighth Ɵ me in franchise history and to do so it will have to go through a Los Angeles team that has taken the last eight straight games in the series.
Another key storyline is the battle between QBs Kyler Murray and Matthew Stafford – two former #1 overall picks who are squaring off or the third consecutive season. Sunday’s game is the first in which they will face each other as division rivals. Both QBs are off to the best starts of their careers and are among just four QBs with at least nine total TDs this season: Murray (10) and Stafford (9). They enter Sunday’s game with a combined 1,947 passing yards and a 121.3 passer rating.
Although he spent his first 12 NFL seasons playing in the NFC North, Stafford and the Cardinals are very familiar foes. He has faced Arizona more times (8) than any team outside the NFC North. Sunday’s matchup will mark the ninth time in the last 10 seasons the Cardinals have faced Stafford – the lone exception being 2016.
The performance of Murray and Stafford on Sunday could hinge largely on the pressure applied by the three All-Decade pass rushers who will have their sights set on the star QBs. Arizona LB Chandler Jones, DL J.J. Watt and Rams DT Aaron Donald have combined for 6 Defensive Player of the Year awards, 290.5 sacks, 670 QB hits, 419 tackles for loss and 74 forced fumbles in their careers.
Following this week’s game, Arizona returns to State Farm Stadium for just its second home game of the season as they host the 49ers. The Rams face a short week as they will travel to Seattle for a Thursday Night matchup against the Seahawks.
THIS WEEK’S HIGHLIGHTS
The Cardinals play their third road game in the first four weeks of the 2021 season as they travel to Los Angeles this weekend. This is the first time since 2013 Arizona has played three of its first four games on the road.
Arizona is the only team in the NFL this season that has scored 30+ points in each of the first three games.
The Cardinals have scored 13 TDs in 2021 – which ranks second only to Tampa Bay (14). Arizona (7 passing, 5 rushing) is the only team in the NFL that ranks in the top-5 in both passing and rushing TDs this season.
Through three games, CB Byron Murphy Jr. has 11 tackles and leads the team in INTs (2) and passes defensed (5). He joins Cowboys CB Trevon Diggs (6 PD, 3 INT) the only players in the league with at least five passes defensed and two INTs this season.
There have been eight games in franchise history in a which a QB finished with a completion percentage of 80.0+. QB Kyler Murray owns three of those performances, and two have come in the last two weeks. He is the first player in team history to have a completion percentage of 80.0+ in back-to-back games.
WR A.J. Green is heating up. In the first 10 quarters of the 2021 season, Green had six receptions for 79 yards. He then hauled in four receptions for 102 yards in the second half last week. His four catches covered 34, 13, 36 and 19 yards and all four resulted in first downs in the comeback victory.
Cardinals WRs coach Shawn Jefferson is the father of Rams second-year WR Van Jefferson, who was selected by the Rams in the second round (57th overall) of the 2020 NFL Draft. Shawn’s daughter, Paige, is interning with the Rams communications department this season.
MURRAY VS. STAFFORD – ROUND 3
For the third consecutive season – and for the first time as division rivals – QBs Kyler Murray and Matthew Stafford will face off when the Cardinals travel to Los Angeles in Week 4.
The two QBs – both former #1 overall picks in the NFL Draft – met in each of Murray’s first two NFL seasons.
Murray (2019) and Stafford (2009) are among the seven QBs taken with the #1 overall pick in the NFL Draft currently active. Murray led the Cardinals to a 31-19 victory in Jacksonville last week against 2021 #1 overall pick QB Trevor Lawrence.
Active QBs Drafted 1st Overall
Draft Yr Quarterback Current Team
2021 Trevor Lawrence Jacksonville
2020 Joe Burrow Cincinnati
2019 Kyler Murray Arizona
2018 Baker Mayfield Cleveland
2016 Jared Goff Detroit
2015 Jameis Winston New Orleans
2009 Matthew Stafford L.A. Rams
WHAT TO LOOK FOR THIS WEEK
Arizona would start a season 4-0 for the first time since 2012 and for just the eighth time in franchise history.
Arizona would improve to 3-0 on the road in 2021. Arizona would have wins in each of its first three road games in a season for the first time since 2009.
The Cardinals would snap an eight-game losing streak against the Rams and earn their first victory over Los Angeles since the 2016 season finale.
RECORD-BREAKING START FOR THE OFFENSE
The Cardinals have recorded 400+ yards and 30+ points in each of the first three games of a season for the first time in history. Arizona is the only team in the NFL this season that has scored 30+ points in each of the first three games.
The 2021 season is just the second time in team history (2015) the Cardinals have had 30+ points in each of the first three games of a season.
Arizona’s 1,297 total yards, 103 points and 13 total TDs each represent the second-highest total in franchise history in the first three games of a season.
Franchise Records Through 3 Games
Total Yards Total Points Total Touchdowns
Rnk Year Yds Rnk Year Pts Rnk Year TDs
1 1984 1,300 1 2015 126 1 2015 17
2 2021 1,297 2 2021 103 2 2021 13
3 1958 1,250 3 1965 96 3t 1965 12
4 1976 1,240 4 1984 94 3t 1947 12
5 1987 1,229 5 1947 90 5 1984 11
DEFENSE TURNING UP THE HEAT
Through three games, the Cardinals defense has allowed just 52 offensive points, accumulated 10 sacks, 17 passes defensed, 7 total
takeaways, 3 INTs (one returned for TD), four fumble recoveries and 15 tackles for loss.
Arizona’s defense has been at its best in the second half this season. Last week in Jacksonville, the unit had three sacks and three takeaways (INT, 2 fumbles) in the final two quarters while allowing just six total points on six Jacksonville possessions.
Of the 52 offensive points allowed by the Cardinals defense this season, just 16 have come in the second half.
