With a revamped rushing attack, the Cardinals head our picks for the weekend’s games at Twickenham and in the US.
Arizona Cardinals to beat Los Angeles Rams – 6/4
The Cardinals’ win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last week was their best performance of the season so far, with newly-acquired running back Adrian Peterson gaining 134 yards and two touchdowns on the ground.
Arizona have the NFL’s second-best passing offense, and will be difficult to stop if the former MVP continues to run the ball so well.
They face another fine offense at Twickenham on Sunday in the Rams, who are averaging the most points per game in the league.
Los Angeles have struggled, however, against teams that have shut down their rushing attack. They lost two of the three games in which they’ve been held to 100 yards or fewer on the ground.
Arizona have allowed just 3.3 yards per rushing play this season – the fourth-lowest in the league – and should earn the win in London if they manage to contain Rams running back Todd Gurley.
New Orleans Saints to beat Green Bay Packers – 5/12
The Saints are among the hottest teams in the league at the moment, having won three consecutive games including a 52-38 thriller against the Detroit Lions last Sunday.
Expect them to extend their winning streak against a Packers side that lost star quarterback Aaron Rodgers to a broken collarbone in last weekend’s defeat to the Minnesota Vikings.
Taking Rodgers’ place under centre is Brett Hundley, who has never started an NFL game and threw three interceptions last week.
Expect more turnovers for the 24-year-old on Sunday against an improving Saints defence that is coming off performance in which they recorded three interceptions and two forced fumbles.
Denver Broncos to beat Los Angeles Chargers – 10/11
The Chargers have played at home three times since moving to Los Angeles and are yet to win.
They eked out an away win over the slumping Oakland Raiders last Sunday, and also scraped through in New York against the Giants – who were winless at the time – for their first victory of the season the week before.
Los Angeles’ brief streak should end on Sunday against a Broncos side that beat them in Denver in Week 1.
The Broncos’ dominant defence has conceded the second-fewest yards per play in the NFL this season, and should shut down a Chargers offense that is averaging just 17 points per game at home.
Philadelphia Eagles to beat Washington Redskins – 4/9
The Eagles have won four consecutive games, and beat the Redskins 30-17 in Washington back in Week 2.
They should make it a clean sweep on Monday night in Philadelphia, where they’ve won eight of their last 10 games and are unbeaten this season.
The Eagles’ offense – led by second-year quarterback Carson Wentz – has been excellent so far, ranking sixth in points per game and third in total yards.
They’ve also been better than the Redskins on the other side of the ball, conceding 20.3 points per game, compared to Washington’s average of 22.6.
