Carson Beck is nearing his regular-season debut with the Arizona Cardinals, but expectations are low among a panel of NFL experts. All five analysts at NFL.com predicted that the Los Angeles Rams would defeat Arizona on Sunday.
Brooke Cersosimo and Gennaro Filice forecast a one-score game. Jeremy Bergman and Dan Parr picked the Rams to win by 10 points, while Bobby Kownack predicted a 14-point victory. None of the experts expected the Cardinals to score more than 17 points. The predictions are no guarantee of what will happen at kickoff, but they reflect the challenge Beck faces in his first regular-season game.
## Rams Bring Strong Form Into the Matchup
Since losing to Arizona in Week 6, Los Angeles has won three consecutive games and outscored its opponents 79–43. The Rams recorded their largest margin of victory during that stretch in Week 8, beating the Los Angeles Chargers 24–9 despite being outgained.
Arizona, meanwhile, has lost two of its last three games by two possessions. The Cardinals beat the Dallas Cowboys in Week 8, but their strongest stretch of play was concentrated in roughly one quarter. Given the teams’ recent results, the experts’ unanimous support for Los Angeles is understandable.
## Beck Has a Chance to Challenge Expectations
The Cardinals have been hit by injuries, and their season has been difficult. Beck’s debut comes with added pressure: the Rams are seeking to hand Arizona its 11th consecutive home loss and avenge their Week 6 defeat at SoFi Stadium.
At 5–4, Los Angeles is also trying to keep pace with the 7–1 San Francisco 49ers and the 5–4 Seattle Seahawks. Arizona is 3–6 and remains mathematically in the playoff race, though it faces a substantial challenge to climb back into contention.
For Beck, a key goal will be to build confidence and become more comfortable in the NFL. He showed promise in his preseason debut in August, completing 15 of 19 passes for 188 yards and a touchdown in the Hall of Fame Game.
Arizona can also draw confidence from its Week 6 win over the Rams. Although several important offensive players will be unavailable for this Week 10 matchup, Beck will have tight end Trey McBride as a key target. Few analysts expect an Arizona upset, but Beck and the Cardinals have an opportunity to prove those predictions wrong.
