Behind an impressive performance from quarterback Matthew Stafford, the Rams handed the NFC-leading Cardinals their third loss of the season in a 30-23 victory on Monday night. Arizona is in position for the No. 3 seed in the NFC playoff picture, while Los Angeles sits as the fifth seed.
Despite their loss, the Cardinals sit atop the NFC West still at 10-3, while the Rams improve to 9-3 — just one game behind their divisional rival. Arizona, which has suffered all three of its losses at home, is tied for the league's best record with fellow NFC teams Green Bay and Tampa Bay. The Packers are in position for the No. 1 seed in the NFC while the Buccaneers are second.
The Rams had a scare with 37 seconds left to go when Arizona recovered its fourth onside kick of the season to give it a chance to tie the game while trailing 30-23. However, Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald squashed any hope of a comeback with an 18-yard sack, his third of the day, of Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray to seal the victory.
Los Angeles had another chance to put the game away on fourth-and-9 but Murray found Christain Kirk for the team's longest reception of the day at 47 yards to keep the drive alive. The drive resulted in a field goal, which set up the onside kick.
To open the second half, the Rams seemed to have communication mishaps that resulted in a timeout taken 44 seconds into the quarter. Stafford then tossed the ball 52 yards through the air to Van Jefferson for a touchdown to give Los Angeles the lead. It was the third-deepest TD pass of Stafford's career and his first of 50-plus air yards since 2014.
Murray was intercepted by the Rams on the second play of the next drive at their own 25-yard line, which Los Angeles quickly turned into another seven points when Stafford found Cooper Kupp for the four-yard TD — the fifth consecutive possession the Rams scored on.
L.A. and Arizona went back and forth in the first half, with the two combining for three 50-plus field goals. Wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. scored the Rams' sole touchdown, a two-yard TD pass from Stafford, while Cardinals running back James Conner had a 1-yard rushing TD to cap off a 75-yard drive in the second quarter.
On the Cardinals' six-play, 40-yard drive to tie the game at 13 heading into halftime, Murray hit veteran receiver A.J. Green for a nine-yard completion, which put Green over 10,000 career receiving yards. He is the 50th overall player and fifth active player to surpass the mark.
Stafford completed 23 of 30 passes for 287 yards and three touchdowns on the day, while Kupp finished with 123 yards and the one touchdown on a career-high 13 receptions. Murray struggled to find the endzone — ending with 383 yards, no touchdowns and two interceptions on 32-of-49 passing.
The Rams competed Monday night without cornerback Jalen Ramsey and tight end Tyler Higbee, who were placed on the COVID-19/reserve list ahead of the game. Starting right tackle Rob Havenstein and cornerback Dont'e Deayon were also placed on the list before Monday.
(Photo: Christian Petersen / Getty Images)
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Should the Cardinals be worried about hiccups so late in the season?
Lindsay Jones, NFL senior writer: The Cardinals were beating themselves up after the game for their own mistakes, like back-to-back penalties on the offense after the recovery of the onside kick. Several times, coach Kliff Kingsbury mentioned how sloppy his team's play was. But sloppy play can be corrected, and the Cardinals are being careful to avoid any sort of language that might indicate panic.
The good news for Arizona is they remain in first place in the division and will have two more chances to get the statement win they failed to achieve on Monday night, with another primetime game against Indianapolis in two weeks, and an important conference game against Dallas in Week 17.
How special is the Stafford-Cupp connection?
Jourdan Rodrigue, Rams beat writer: The Stafford-Kupp connection is a special one to witness, especially when I recall the hours and hours upon days and weeks the two spent huddled together pouring over this offense after Stafford got to Los Angeles.
They stay late after almost every practice to dissect routes and break down the day's work, getting into such minute details that the effect is seen even in these sliding catches Kupp makes, where Stafford knows he's putting the ball where only Kupp can get to it.