Rams vs Cardinals: Rams by 11, and Beck Learns Fast

Carson BeckARI · QB

Carson Beck's first start, against this?

Gardner Minshew hurt his elbow in Seattle and probably needs season-ending surgery, according to ESPN. So Carson Beck, who spent the first eight weeks as the emergency third quarterback, is expected to start. His NFL debut comes against a Rams defense that has given up 43 points total over its last three games, all wins.

Our numbers had the Rams by 10.7 before any of this, built on a full season of Arizona football with veteran quarterbacks. Swapping in a rookie doesn’t make the Cardinals better.

Points allowed per game

Rams20.1

Cardinals28.3

2026 season through Week 9 (ESPN team stats)

Michael WilsonARI · WR

Arizona just lost its best receiver too

Michael Wilson is done for the year with a fractured vertebra in his neck. He had 51 catches for 546 yards. That leaves Trey McBride and not much else for a passing game that already averages 5.8 yards an attempt, and an offense that scored three points in Seattle last week.

On the other side, Arizona has given up 255 points in nine games and has three interceptions all year. Matthew Stafford won’t have to force anything.

Yes, Arizona beat them in October

I know. The Cardinals won 18-16 in LA back in Week 6. That was a different Arizona team, with a veteran under center and Michael Wilson on the field. The Rams have won three of their four road games this year, and now they get a division rival that beat them and then lost its quarterback and its top receiver in the same week. Revenge game against a rookie. Do the math.