The Cardinals can’t overlook the Rams who are playing much better than they were early in the year.  They almost beat the Saints last week and they won the game before it against the Lions.  The offense is starting to really click for the Cardinals now and they will be attacking the Rams through the air the minute they get off the team bus.  The Rams are allowing 236.2 yards passing per game and the Cards are averaging 271.0 yards passing per game so Kurt Warner will be throwing the ball early and often in this game.  The Rams don’t really have the corners to deal with Larry Fitzgerald, Anquan Boldin and Steve Breaston so it could be a long day for the Rams if they can’t put any pressure on Warner.  Don’t be surprised if Beanie Wells has a huge game against a Rams’ D that is allowing 142.3 yards rushing per game and 4.5 yards per carry.

The Rams are going to do what they always do on offense and that’s get the ball to Steven Jackson.  Jackson is a absolute beast even if you stack the box against him.  The Cardinals are allowing 101.0 yards rushing per game and 4.2 ypc so Jackson will likely get his yards.  The Cardinals will no doubt be cheating up against the run so it will be up to QB Marc Bulger to make them pay for it.  The Cardinals are allowing 253.4 yards passing per game so Bulger could have a good game against them.  That will depend on young receivers Donnie Avery and Brandon Gibson who must get separation at the line of scrimmage.

PREDICTION:  CARDINALS 35, RAMS 14

This appears to be a huge mis-match on paper.  The Saints will likely be able to do whatever they want on offense as the Rams are allowing 134.8 yards rushing per game (4.2 ypc) and 238.6 yards passing per game.  The Saints have been very balanced this season as they have run the ball 259 times and passed the ball 265 times.  With that in mind look for Pierre Thomas to have a pretty heavy workload in this game.  I also have a feeling that Reggie Bush will get loose on a pass or two out of the backfield against the Rams.  Marques Colston, Devery Henderson and Jeremy Shockey will also get their share of yards with Drew Brees likely picking apart the secondary of the Rams on Sunday.

The Saints have 16 interceptions and 19 sacks this season so look for the Rams to stay away from the passing game unless they fall behind to quick.  This game will belong to Steven Jackson of the Rams against a Saints’ D that is allowing 112.1 yards rushing per game and 4.4 yards per carry.  Ever since the injury to DT Sedrick Ellis teams have been having their way with the front seven of the Saints in the running game.  With that in mind Steven Jackson will likely be very tired after this game as the Rams will ride him hard in this game.

PREDICTION:  SAINTS 27, RAMS 13

This is a game between two really awful football teams.  The Rams have lost 17 games in a row dating back to last season and they are 2-21 in their last 23 games.  The Lions are 1-21 in their last 22 games so something will have to give in this game.  The last time that the Rams played on the road they lost 23-20 in OT at Jacksonville.  This could be the game that the Rams’ offense gets back on track.  The Rams will likely mix it up more than usual.  Steven Jackson will still be the focal point of the offense against a Lions’ D that is allowing 112.3 yards rushing per game and 4.6 yards per carry.  If the Rams can keep Marc Bulger upright he will likely be able to shred the Lions’ D through the air.  The Lions are allowing 258.5 yards passing per game this season and opposing QBs have a 118.7 QB Rating against them this year.

The Lions still aren’t sure who will start at QB this week as all three of the active QBs (Matt Stafford, Daunte Culpepper and Drew Stanton) are all hurting right now.  It’s looking like Stafford might get the start for the Lions.  The Rams are allowing 249.6 yards passing per game this season so if Calvin Johnson is able to play he will have a huge game.  But, Kevin Smith will be the major guy in the offense in this game for the Lions.  The Rams are allowing 135.9 yards rushing per game this season and 4.3 yards per carry so Smith will have more running room than he has had this whole season.

PREDICTION:  LIONS 30, RAMS 27

This game looks like a mis-match in every possible way.  The 5-0 Colts had last week off giving them two weeks to get ready for the 0-6 Rams.  The Rams have lost 16 games in a row dating back to last season and they won’t have much of a chance of winning on Sunday.  The Colts will likely come out throwing the ball with Peyton Manning (114.1 QB Rating) working against a Rams’ defense that is allowing 252.0 yards passing per game.  WRs Reggie Wayne, Austin Collie, Pierre Garcon and TE Dallas Clark will likely be running free against the Rams’ secondary with Peyton Manning picking them apart with precision.  The Colts have only allowed 2 sacks this season but that won’t stop the Rams from trying to put pressure on Manning.  If the Colts jump out to a quick lead (which is likely) they might get Joseph Addai and Donald Brown more involved in the offense as the Rams are allowing 132.5 yards rushing per game and 4.1 yards per carry.

The Rams probably have seen the game film of the Monday Night Football Game between the Dolphins and Colts and they will likely try to duplicate the Fins’ game plan.  That means that Steven Jackson will have a huge workload but he’s more than capable of handling it with his wide shoulders.  The best way to beat Peyton Manning and the Colts is to keep their offense on the sidelines.  The Colts are allowing 103.2 yards rushing per game and 4.1 yards per carry this season.  Jackson has rushed for 501 yards this season and he has caught the ball for 170 more so it’s no mystery who the Colts’ defense will be focusing on stopping.  The Rams don’t have the WRs or the offensive line to give Marc Bulger much of a chance to get a passing game going this week.

PREDICTION:  COLTS 35, RAMS 13

This could be a interesting game as both teams are off to slow starts this season.  The best offensive players on each team are running backs (Steven Jackson, Maurice Jones-Drew) but both of these teams have pathetic pass defenses.  Does that mean this game could turn into a shootout?  Don’t bank on it as they combined to get outscored 79-10 last weekend!  The Rams will still likely try to get the ball into Steven Jackson’s hands as much as possible in this game.  The Jags allow 107.6 yards rushing per game but only 3.8 yards per carry so maybe the Rams should think about throwing the ball more than usual in this game.  Rams’ QBs have been sacked 12 times already this season but the Jaguars only have 4 sacks this year so Marc Bulger might actually have some time to throw the football this week.  The Jaguars are giving up 273.0 yards passing per game this season and opposing QBs have a Rating of 103.0 this year.  Look for the Rams to attack the Jags downfield with WRs Donnie Avery, Keenan Burton and Danny Amendola.  Bulger just must be aware of where Rashean Mathis of the Jags is because he is a solid cover corner who can make game altering plays.  TEs Randy McMichael and Daniel Fells could be trouble for the Jags underneath.

The Jaguars need to get back to getting the football in Maurice Jones-Drew’s hands and that could start this week against the Rams.  The Rams allow 125.8 yards rushing per game this season (4.0 ypc) so Jones-Drew could be in line for a big game.  After the running game is established look for David Garrard to attack the Rams deep with Mike Sims-Walker who is back in action after serving a 1-game ban last weeked in Seattle.  This should be the week that Torry Holt finally gets into the end zone for the Jags.

PREDICTION:  JAGUARS 24, RAMS 17