The best offense in the NFL takes on one of the league's best defenses this Sunday in Glendale, where the Arizona Cardinals host the St. Louis Rams in a pivotal NFC West matchup.
Rams vs. Cardinals 2015 live stream: Game time, TV schedule and how to watch online
Can the Cardinals continue their hot start against the upstart Rams?
Perhaps no team in the NFC has enjoyed a stronger start to the season than the Cardinals, who have raced out to a 3-0 record with an average margin of victory of over 25 points. Granted, those wins have come against the dregs of the league -- the New Orleans Saints, Chicago Bears and San Francisco 49ers -- but great teams should be expected to blow out their weaker opponents, something Arizona has accomplished thus far in 2015.
Part of the Cardinals’ success can be tied to the play of starting quarterback Carson Palmer. The 2003 No. 1 overall pick has gotten off to the best start of his career, completing 63.6 percent of his passes in Bruce Arians’ vertically minded scheme. In three games, Palmer has 803 passing yards, nine touchdowns, two interceptions and a passer rating of 117.8, the latter good for second best in the conference.
But Palmer isn't the only older veteran making a tremendous impact for the Cardinals. Future Hall of Fame wideout Larry Fitzgerald has returned to form after a number of down seasons. So far, Fitzgerald is averaging 111 receiving yards per game and has a league-high five touchdown receptions. Many scoffed at Arizona when it reworked Fitzgerald's deal to keep him around for 2015, but so far the results have rendered any offseason criticism moot.
As for the Rams, the offense has appeared out of sorts since ravaging the Seattle Seahawks in a Week 1 stunner. Starting quarterback Nick Foles has struggled to move the ball down the field. Over his last two starts, Foles has averaged just 5.8 yards per pass attempt, among the worst figures in the league during that span. The current regime in St. Louis needs him to up his play, since it just traded for and signed him to a multi-year extension in the offseason.
On a positive note, top draft pick Todd Gurley made his NFL debut last Sunday. The running back didn't do much damage -- just 9 yards on six carries -- but getting the No. 10 overall pick back into the fold should have a long-term positive impact on the franchise. Don't expect to see Gurley suddenly start toting the rock 20 times a game, but if he can start handling 10 carries the offense could become more dangerous.
Of course, the engine that propels St. Louis is its star-laden defense. In particular, the defensive line features five first-round picks, including 2014 Defensive Rookie of the Year Aaron Donald. Donald currently leads the team in sacks with 3.5, followed closely by All-Pro defensive end Robert Quinn with three. Given the makeshift nature of the Cardinals' offensive line, the Rams could find plenty of success rushing just their front four and leaving the other seven defenders in coverage.
The Rams haven’t won a game against Arizona since Sept. 2013, a 27-24 win in St. Louis.
How to watch
When: 4:25 p.m. ET
Where: University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale, Ariz.
TV: FOX
Commentators: Thom Brennaman, Charles Davis, Tony Siragusa
Online: Verizon NFL Mobile, NFL.com/watch
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