The Rams and Cardinals will square off for the first time this season on Sunday, a matchup at SoFi Stadium in Week 6. The Cardinals are nowhere near full strength, missing Kyler Murray, James Conner and Budda Baker, so this is certainly a game the Rams should win.
Here’s a look at four key matchups on the field this Sunday, including a pair of Cardinals receivers who will need to be contained by Rams corners.
Cooper Kupp vs. Jalen Thompson
The Cardinals use a few different players to cover the slot, but Thompson has played more snaps inside than any other player on the team – by a wide margin, too. That’s a massive mismatch against Kupp, who will split time in the slot with Puka Nacua, too.
Regardless of who’s tasked with covering Kupp, the receiver is going to be open more often than not. Kupp should be able to win fairly consistently against Thompson, a safety, when he’s aligned in the slot. Kupp has had the Cardinals’ number in his career, too.
In all but two of his 11 games against Arizona, Kupp has had at least four catches for 50 yards, scoring five times.
Derion Kendrick vs. Marquise Brown
Brown will primarily line up outside for the Cardinals, which puts him in a matchup against either Kendrick or Ahkello Witherspoon. Witherspoon has been a stud at cornerback all season, but Kendrick has had some trouble in coverage, so Josh Dobbs could choose to pick on him when Brown is lined up across from Kendrick.
Kendrick has to do a better job of limiting big plays because he was beat a few times by A.J. Brown last week. Marquise Brown is a speedy, explosive receiver for Arizona and a player that could have a major impact on this game.
Aaron Donald vs. Elijah Wilkinson or Dennis Daley
The Cardinals don’t know who their left guard will be on Sunday, as they’re deciding between Wilkinson and Daley for Week 6. Either way, it’s advantage Aaron Donald. After a quiet game against the Eagles, who did a great job against Donald, he should be in for a bounce-back performance against the Cardinals – a team he has 16 sacks against in 18 regular-season games.
The Cardinals don’t have the offensive line to contain Donald the way Philadelphia is, so expect No. 99 to have a big performance against the Rams’ division rival.
Cobie Durant vs. Rondale Moore
Moore hasn’t had a huge impact from a receiving perspective this season, catching just 11 passes for 81 yards, but he has 116 yards rushing on just eight carries, including one touchdown. From both a coverage perspective and a tackling one, Durant has to help the Rams keep Moore bottled up.
Whether it’s on jet sweeps, quick passes or outside runs out of the backfield, Moore is someone Los Angeles has to keep tabs on. Durant has had tackling issues this season so he’ll need to improve in that area if the Rams are going to bottle up the speedy Moore.
