The Arizona Cardinals are set to start third-round rookie Carson Beck at quarterback this Sunday against the Los Angeles Rams.
The team was forced into this lineup change following the departure of Jacoby Brissett and an injury to backup Gardner Minshew, as detailed by “Rams Wire.”
Beck faces a significant challenge as he attempts to become only the third rookie quarterback to defeat Sean McVay since 2017.
Historically, the Rams have dominated in this matchup, maintaining a 9-2 record against rookie signal-callers during the McVay era, according to “Los Angeles Rams coverage.”
Only Caleb Williams and Tua Tagovailoa have managed to secure victories against Los Angeles as rookies.
In those contests, the Rams have consistently pressured young quarterbacks, recording at least one sack against every rookie they have faced.
Defensive efforts have been particularly strong, with the team tallying six sacks against Kyler Murray in 2019, as reported by “Arizona Cardinals news.”
The Rams enter the game as heavy 9.5-point favorites despite playing on the road.
Of the nine victories the Rams have secured against rookies, six were decided by margins of at least 14 points.
Beck, who played only one preseason game, is viewed as a high-potential talent by the organization despite his limited professional experience.
The rookie previously found success in college at both Georgia and Miami before entering the draft, per the recent “Rams Wire analysis.”
The game is scheduled for a 4:05 p.m. ET kickoff this Sunday.
While the odds are stacked against the rookie, the Cardinals hope his collegiate background will translate to the professional level.
The Rams are looking to continue their defensive trend of forcing turnovers and sacks against inexperienced starters.
Whether Beck can overcome the historical difficulty of facing a McVay-led defense remains the primary question for Sunday afternoon.