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Cardinals vs. Rams prediction: Rams favored to win in NFL Week 18 [2026]
Updated: | First published:
Written by Jason Bevilacqua, Head of Content and Communities
Get Arizona Cardinals vs Los Angeles Rams predictions for NFL Sunday.
NFL Week 18 action continues on Sunday at 4:25 PM ET as the Arizona Cardinals look to defy the odds against the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium.
Based on updated simulations, Dimers' advanced NFL model projects the Rams as the most likely winner of the Cardinals vs. Rams game.
This article offers further insights into Sunday's matchup, including projected touchdown scorers, best bets and player prop picks.
Cardinals vs. Rams prediction: Who will win and cover?
Since our Cardinals-Rams predictions earlier in the week, we have simulated the outcome of Sunday's NFL matchup between the Cardinals and Rams 10,000 times as part of our NFL predictions coverage.
Our leading predictive model currently gives the Rams an 89% chance of beating the Cardinals in Week 18 of the NFL season. Our predicted final score has the Rams winning 31-17.
According to our model, the bookmakers have got it right, and the Cardinals and Rams each have a 50% chance of covering the spread, while the 49.5-point over/under has a 52% chance of staying under.
To see win probabilities for every matchup this week, check out our expert NFL Week 18 straight up picks.
Cardinals vs. Rams odds
We have researched the best NFL odds in America for this game, which are listed here:
| Bet Type | Cardinals | Rams |
|---|---|---|
| Spread | +14.5 (-115) | -14.5 (-104) |
| Moneyline | +830 | -1100 |
| Total | o49.5 (-112) | u49.5 (-108) |
All odds are correct at the time of publication and are subject to change.
Cardinals vs. Rams picks and best bet
After matching our predictions against the best available odds, we can reveal our picks for each of the major markets. Plus, find our best bet for the game below:
| Bet Type | Pick | Bet Now |
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Rams -14.5 | -104 |
| Moneyline | Cardinals | +830 |
| Total | Under 49.5 | -108 |
According to our NFL best bets, the top play to make on this game is Under 49.5 total points.
Cardinals vs. Rams TD scorers
Who will score a touchdown in Cardinals vs. Rams?
According to our list of touchdown scorer predictions for Week 18, Kyren Williams is most likely to score an anytime touchdown in Cardinals vs. Rams.
Our projections give Williams a 59.1% chance of getting in for six at SoFi Stadium, while the running back is a 15.6% chance of scoring the first touchdown the game.
Anytime touchdown scorer predictions
Arizona Cardinals
| Player | Anytime TD Probability |
|---|---|
| Trey McBride (TE) | 38.2% |
| Michael Wilson (WR) | 34.3% |
| Michael Carter (RB) | 21.5% |
| Emari Demercado (RB) | 18.0% |
| Xavier Weaver (WR) | 12.7% |
Los Angeles Rams
| Player | Anytime TD Probability |
|---|---|
| Kyren Williams (RB) | 59.1% |
| Puka Nacua (WR) | 50.2% |
| Blake Corum (RB) | 29.4% |
| Colby Parkinson (TE) | 27.7% |
| Konata Mumpfield (WR) | 24.5% |
First touchdown scorer predictions
Arizona Cardinals
| Player | First TD Probability |
|---|---|
| Trey McBride (TE) | 8.2% |
| Michael Wilson (WR) | 7.2% |
| Michael Carter (RB) | 4.1% |
| Emari Demercado (RB) | 3.4% |
| Xavier Weaver (WR) | 2.3% |
Los Angeles Rams
| Player | First TD Probability |
|---|---|
| Kyren Williams (RB) | 15.6% |
| Puka Nacua (WR) | 12.1% |
| Blake Corum (RB) | 6.1% |
| Colby Parkinson (TE) | 5.6% |
| Konata Mumpfield (WR) | 4.9% |
Cardinals vs Rams player props
Discover our predictions for the players likely to lead in passing, rushing and receiving yards for both the Cardinals and Rams. Head to our NFL player projections page now to access a full list of player prop projections for every offensive player in this matchup and all other Week 18 games.
Quarterbacks
Of the starting quarterbacks, the Cardinals' Jacoby Brissett is projected for 244 passing yards, while the Rams' Matthew Stafford is expected to throw for a whopping 264 yards.
| Player | Proj. Pass Yards |
|---|---|
| Jacoby Brissett (ARI) | 244 |
| Matthew Stafford (LA) | 264 |
Cardinals rushing
| Player | Proj. Rush Yards |
|---|---|
| Michael Carter | 41 |
| Emari Demercado | 23 |
| Jacoby Brissett | 13 |
Rams rushing
| Player | Proj. Rush Yards |
|---|---|
| Kyren Williams | 86 |
| Blake Corum | 34 |
| Puka Nacua | 5 |
Cardinals receiving
| Player | Proj. Rec. Yards |
|---|---|
| Michael Wilson | 78 |
| Trey McBride | 68 |
| Xavier Weaver | 21 |
| Jalen Brooks | 19 |
| Elijah Higgins | 18 |
Rams receiving
| Player | Proj. Rec. Yards |
|---|---|
| Puka Nacua | 93 |
| Konata Mumpfield | 37 |
| Xavier Smith | 25 |
| Colby Parkinson | 25 |
| Davis Allen | 20 |
Cardinals vs. Rams game-day updates and essential details
The NFL Week 18 game between the Rams and Cardinals at SoFi Stadium is scheduled to start at 4:25 PM ET.
- Who: Arizona Cardinals vs. Los Angeles Rams
- Date: Sunday, January 4, 2026
- Time: 4:25 PM ET/1:25PM PT
- Venue: SoFi Stadium
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Conclusion
We predict the Rams, with an 89% win probability, will likely beat the Cardinals in Week 18 of the NFL season.
AI and automation have enhanced this article to quickly deliver accurate Cardinals vs. Rams insights, with human oversight ensuring high editorial quality. Our predictions are drawn from up-to-date data to help you make informed decisions. For additional resources and advice on responsible gambling, please call 1-800-GAMBLER.
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Jason Bevilacqua, an expert in MLB, NHL, NBA, MLS, and NFL, delivers game previews, best bets, and props. Since 2020, as Head of Social and Community at Dimers, he has contributed insightful articles utilizing data-driven models and simulations.
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