I was going to pass on this game but, yeah, now that it's down to -3 ... I think at worst it's a push. The Cards will get a boost with the return of JJ Watt, but no DeAndre Hopkins is huge -- even with the LA secondary a bit thin due to injury. Arizona's top two running backs also are less than 100 percent. The Rams have Cam Akers back and could run it all night with he and Sony Michel. The Cards were near the bottom of the NFL in allowing 4.6 yards per carry.

This is an intriguing matchup of teams that have proven themselves tough to trust. Whereas Arizona has cratered on both sides of the ball, Los Angeles remains strong defensively giving up just 18.2 points per game since the start of December (vs. 27.3 for the Cards). The Rams won this matchup by a touchdown back on Dec. 13 despite playing at Arizona, which had DeAndre Hopkins on the field and James Conner totalling 125 yards and two TDs. The Cards offense has been uneven without Hopkins, and Conner is at least banged up entering Monday night. The Rams have a coaching edge, homefield in primetime, a better defense and a healthier offense. Matthew Stafford just has to protect the damn ball. With the hook now gone, let's side with L.A. What's the point of being "all-in" if you don't win your wild card game?

These teams split during the regular season, with the Rams winning the last matchup. This game will come down to ball security, and that's where I can't trust Matthew Stafford in this spot. I like the Cardinals to take control of this game like they did in their first matchup of the season....in this very same building.

I think the Rams crush the Cardinals. With all of its acquisitions (Matthew Stafford, Von Miller, etc.), Los Angeles was built to make a deep run in the playoffs. Receiver Cooper Kupp is having a spectacular season, and coach Sean McVay is proven in the postseason, already having led the Rams to the Super Bowl. I love L.A.

The two regular-season meetings saw 57 points scored in the first meeting and 53 more in the second. So why in the hell am I taking an under here when the total is at 49.5? Because familiarity breeds two things: contempt and lower scores. Both teams know where the other will attack them and how to counter it. Plus, games just tend to be lower-scoring in the postseason because the intensity ratchets up a notch, and coaches will get a bit more conservative, whether intentionally or not. So with all of that in mind, I don't think our Monday night finale will have the same kind of fireworks the first two meetings did.

For a team pulling out all the stops to win now, as indicated by the Wednesday signing of retired safety Eric Weddle, it’s almost inconceivable to imagine the Rams going down in the opening round. While QB Matthew Stafford has been all over the map and the star-studded defense has displayed inconsistency, this is a No. 4 seed to be reckoned with. The Cardinals are a road threat, but WR DeAndre Hopkins’ absence has led to a 1-4 straight-up slump. RB James Conner is banged up (again). The surprisingly quick return of Rams RB Cam Akers from injury is a welcome bonus. I'm on L.A.

The Cardinals enter the playoffs losers of four of their last five games, while the Rams won five straight before an OT loss to the 49ers to end the year. But I have just as many questions about the Rams despite their winning streak, particularly at the quarterback position. Matthew Stafford has thrown four pick-sixes and eight picks in all on his own side of the field. Will Sean McVay dial his involvement back and rely more on the run game against a vulnerable Arizona rush defense? The Cardinals are 7-1 on the road this year and have the better QB in this matchup, so I like catching more than a FG in this one.