Green Bay Packers vs. Los Angeles Rams Preview and Predictions 10-28-2018 in NFL
The Los Angeles Rams are running away and hiding in the NFC West, already building a four-game lead in the division as the only undefeated team in the NFL. After completing a sweep of a three-game road trip, running back Todd Gurley and the Rams look to remain perfect when they host Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers on Sunday afternoon.
Los Angeles survived a pair of close calls away from home, beating Seattle and Denver by a combined five points before blowing out San Francisco 39-10 (as a -9 point favorite at intertops) last week. "I think every week is a chance for our football team to continue to try to demonstrate the consistency that they've played with through seven weeks," Rams coach Sean McVay said. "Right now our sole focus and concentration will be on the Packers." Green Bay had to rally for a 33-30 victory over the 49ers prior to last week's bye and has yet to post back-to-back victories this season -- nor have the Packers won on the road. "We're going to have to play better," said Rodgers, whose team will play four of the next five away from home. "If you want to be a competitive team that's playing in January, you've got to win some of these games."
TV: 4:25 p.m. ET, CBS. LINE: Rams -9.5. O/U: 56.5
ABOUT THE PACKERS (3-2-1): Rodgers injured his knee in the season opener and has been hindered since, but he practiced fully Wednesday and has put up huge numbers -- 12 touchdowns versus one interception and 1,997 yards. He should get a boost with the expected returns of wide receivers Randall Cobb and Geronimo Allison, who have sat out three and two games, respectively. Davante Adams has been sensational over the past three games, hauling in 27 catches and three touchdowns while eclipsing 100 yards in each of the past two contests. Green Bay has been unable to put together a consistent ground game and has struggled against the run, ranking 22nd in the league (116.5 yards).
ABOUT THE RAMS (7-0): Gurley was named the NFL Offensive Player of the Year in 2017 and could be on his way to winning MVP honors this season, leading the league in rushing with 686 yards and touchdowns with 14, including 11 on the ground. With Los Angeles leaning on Gurley, Jared Goff has barely passed for more than 200 yards in each of the past two games but he has 14 scoring passes against five interceptions and still averages more than 300 yards passing. Robert Woods and Brandin Cooks are the top two receivers for the Rams, who will be without Cooper Kupp (5 TDs) for the second straight game. Reigning Defensive Player of the Year Aaron Donald is tied for the NFL lead with 8.0 sacks.
EXTRA POINTS
1. Rodgers is the first quarterback to notch back-to-back 400-yard games without an interception.
2. Gurley has scored eight times in the last three games and is the third different player in history with at least 14 TDs through seven games.
3. The Packers have won the last five meetings, although the teams haven't played since 2015.
PREDICTION: Rams 30, Packers 24
San Francisco 49ers vs. Arizona Cardinals Preview and Predictions 10-28-2018 in NFL
The San Francisco 49ers have lost all four of their road games this season and the Arizona Cardinals have dropped each of their four contests at home en route to sharing the basement in the NFC West. One team is likely to finally get in the win column on Sunday, and the 49ers will have revenge on their minds when they visit the Cardinals, who have won the last seven meetings.
San Francisco is looking to snap a five-game losing streak that includes a 28-18 setback against Arizona at home in Week 5. The 49ers, who were trounced 39-10 by the Los Angeles Rams (as a +9 point home underdog at intertops) last week, are getting closer to notching their first road win as their last two losses away from home were by a total of five points. Arizona had lost a pair of home contests by a total of five points before getting pounded 45-10 by Denver last week. The Cardinals, who are last in the NFL in total yards (220.7) and rushing yards (64.6), addressed the problem by replacing offensive coordinator Mike McCoy with Byron Leftwich following the loss to the Broncos.
TV: 4:25 p.m. ET, FOX. LINE: 49ers -1. O/U: 42.5
ABOUT THE 49ERS (1-6): C.J. Beathard passed for a career-high 349 yards and two touchdowns in the Week 5 showdown but also threw a pair of interceptions. The 24-year-old has run for a score in each of the last two contests against the Cardinals while running back Matt Brieda caught a TD pass in the Week 5 defeat. Brieda leads the NFL with an average of 6.54 yards per rush while George Kittle tops all tight ends in the league with 367 yards after the catch.
ABOUT THE CARDINALS (1-6): Larry Fitzgerald is hoping the change at offensive coordinator benefits him, as he has made only 26 catches for 255 yards through seven games. The 35-year-old needs 135 receiving yards to pass Hall-of-Famer Terrell Owens (15,934) for second place on the all-time list. David Johnson has been an offensive force against San Francisco of late, rushing for six scores and adding a TD reception in the last four meetings.
EXTRA POINTS
1. Kittle leads the 49ers in both receptions (32) and receiving yards (527).
2. Arizona signed S Eddie Pleasant and OL Oday Aboushi while releasing CB Deatrick Nichols and DT Ifeadi Odenigbo.
3. San Francisco signed QB Tom Savage and placed DB Adrian Colbert (ankle) on injured reserve.
PREDICTION: Cardinals 23, 49ers 21
New Orleans Saints vs. Minnesota Vikings Preview and Predictions 10-28-2018 in NFL
The New Orleans Saints will not soon forget their last visit to Minnesota, a game that ended in one of the most dramatic finishes in league history and denied them a trip to the NFC Championship Game. The Saints have a chance for a little payback in a rematch against the Minnesota Vikings, taking a five-game winning streak into Sunday night's matchup.
New Orleans coach Sean Payton attempted to play down the revenge angle from last season's "Minneapolis Miracle" -- when Vikings wide receiver Stefon Diggs scored on a 61-yard touchdown pass as time expired for a stunning 29-24 victory. "It wasn't like there was bad blood when the game was over or anything like that," Payton said. "Two teams fought hard and made a play at the end that ended up costing us the game. ... This is a new team playing this '18 season and for different reasons." Minnesota has overcome a slow start to rattle off three consecutive wins to move atop a tightly bunched NFC North, but is understandably wary of Saints quarterback Drew Brees. "This guy's amazing," Vikings coach Mike Zimmer said. "I always thought when you talk about Hall of Fame quarterbacks, obviously he's going to be one, but he's very cerebral, accurate."
TV: 8:20 p.m. ET, NBC. LINE: Pick. O/U: 52
ABOUT THE SAINTS (5-1): Brees reached a pair of major milestones this season, becoming the NFL's all-time leading passer and the third quarterback to throw for 500 touchdowns. Brees has 13 scoring passes and zero interceptions for a league-leading passer rating (121.6) and has a special connection with wide receiver Michael Thomas, who is tied for third in the league with 53 catches for 588 yards and four touchdowns. Running back Alvin Kamara is a dangerous two-way threat for New Orleans, rushing for 363 yards and six scores while adding 40 catches and a touchdown. The Saints, who have the league's top-ranked rushing defense (72.3 yards), acquired cornerback Eli Apple from the Giants this week.
ABOUT THE VIKINGS (4-2-1): Dalvin Cook has missed much of the season but Minnesota finally got its ground game untracked over the past two games as Latavius Murray rushed for 224 yards and all three of his touchdowns. That has taken some of the onus off quarterback Kirk Cousins, but it hasn't prevented wide receiver Adam Thielen from joining Charley Hennigan as the only players in league history to have at least 100 yards in each of the first seven games of the season. Thielen, the league leader in yards (822) and catches (67), and Diggs (48 receptions) provide a 1-2 punch for Cousins, who has thrown for 14 TDs and three interceptions. Minnesota's defense ranks 16th against the pass (256.1 yards).
EXTRA POINTS
1. Cousins has passed for 646 yards and seven TDs in two meetings against New Orleans.
2. Brees has nine touchdown passes and zero interceptions in his last four games against Minnesota.
3. Vikings DE Danielle Hunter is tied for the NFL lead with 8.0 sacks.
PREDICTION: Saints 26, Vikings 23