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NFL Playoffs: Cardinals take on Rams on Monday Night Football

The scene is now set for the NFL playoffs. Fans will watch the Arizona Cardinals take on the Los Angeles Rams on Monday Night Football.

PHOENIX — Everything is now set for the Arizona Cardinals return to the playoffs. With Week 18 in the books, the Cardinals will face the Los Angeles Rams on Monday Night Football for the final game of Wild Card weekend.

Arizona shared the news on social media Sunday night. Kickoff for the Cardinals' first-round matchup is set for Jan. 17 at 6:15 p.m. Because of Arizona's loss to Seattle in the regular-season finale, the team will head on the road for the start of the NFL playoffs.

After a disappointing end to the season, Arizona looks to hit the reset button for the postseason. The Cardinals haven't been in the playoffs since 2015, so this is a major milestone for the squad.

RELATED: NFL Roundup: Raiders make playoffs after wild win; Jaguars spoil it for the Colts; 49ers get in

Arizona was the best road team in the NFL, going 8-1 away from State Farm Stadium. During the regular season, the two division rivals split the season series with each team winning on the road. 

Game info, how to watch:

  • Date: Monday, Jan. 17, 2022
  • Kickoff: 6:15 p.m. MST
  • Location: SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles, California
  • TV: ABC/ESPN
  • Radio: 98.7 FM Arizona’s Sports Station

Score:

Check the current score via Scorestream.

Playoff Power Rankings

Who sits at the top of Locked On's playoff power rankings and which teams at the back have a chance to make a Cinderella-type run this postseason? 

MORE: Power ranking the 14 NFL playoff teams

Cardinals News and Notes

Here's some of the latest news regarding Monday's game between the Cardinals and the Rams. Stay up to date on all things Cardinals with 12 News' sports reporter Cameron Cox.

Weakness at running back 

Pro Bowl running back James Conner will be a game-time decision after suffering a rib injury during the regular-season finale against the Seattle Seahawks.

Chase Edmonds is "good to go" for the matchup after returning from an injury-plagued season.

Backup Jonathan Ward is listed as questionable due to a knee injury.

Will Watt be back on the field?

Arizona Cardinals Defensive Lineman J.J. Watt is set to return to practice on Thursday, just 10 weeks after undergoing what was expected to be season-ending shoulder surgery.

Watt was activated off injured reserve Monday morning. MORE

Pass protection is a major concern

If the Cardinals have any hope of returning to the gun-slinging offense it had during the first half of the year, protecting Kyler Murray is the obvious start.

Unfortunately, the Rams have two of the most dynamic pass rushers in the league in Aaron Donald and Von Miller. It's a tall task, but keeping sacks to a minimum will be essential.

And even if Murray can get the throw out, five-time Pro Bowl cornerback Jalen Ramsey has returned after missing Los Angeles' win over Arizona in Week 14.

Los Angeles even brought back veteran safety Eric Weddle out of retirement to shore up its secondary.

Looking at the veterans 

A whopping 31 members of Arizona's 53-man roster, including Kyler Murray, have never been to the postseason. And neither has head coach Kliff Kingsbury.

Many players have gone on the mic saying it's just another game. But when the chips are down, it'll be up to the few veterans on the squad to keep emotions in check.

Regardless of their numbers on the field, look towards J.J. Watt, Zach Ertz, Rodney Hudson, Markus Golden, Chandler Jones and  A.J. Green to be the team's anchor.

What are the Cardinals chances against the LA Rams?

With a disappointing end to the regular season and the playoffs well underway, it now begs the question if the Cardinals can make a deep run in the postseason. MORE

ON SOCIAL: Join the 12 News Bird Watchers Facebook group

What are your predictions for the game? Let us know on Facebook and Twitter using the hashtag #BeOn12.

Arizona sports 

The city of Phoenix is home to five major professional sports league teams; The NFL's Arizona Cardinals, NBA's Phoenix Suns, WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury, MLB's Arizona Diamondbacks and NHL's Arizona Coyotes.  

The Cardinals have made the State Farm Stadium in Glendale their home turf and the Footprint Center in downtown Phoenix is home to both the Suns and the Mercury. The Indoor Football League’s Arizona Rattlers also play at the Footprint. Phoenix has a soccer team with the USL's Phoenix Rising FC. 

The Valley hosts multiple major sporting events on a yearly basis, including college football's Fiesta Bowl and Cactus Bowl; the PGA Tour’s highest-attended event, the Waste Management Phoenix Open; NASCAR events each spring and fall; and Cactus League Spring Training.

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