INGLEWOOD, Calif. — Sean McVay and the Los Angeles Rams simply have the Arizona Cardinals' number, as the Rams got their 12th win over the Cardinals in 14 tries since McVay was hired, with a 16-9 victory over Arizona on Sunday at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California.
The game started well for the Cardinals as, after quarterback Joshua Dobbs and Marquise 'Hollywood' Brown were unable to connect for a touchdown on the opening drive, Arizona opened the scoring with a 55-yard field goal from Matt Prater.
The Cardinals were then able to hold L.A. scoreless on the Rams' first possession. That was the first time this season L.A. has not scored on their first drive.
The Rams were able to tie the game before the end of the first quarter on a 29-yard field goal from Brett Maher.
Field goals would continue to be the story in the second quarter.
Arizona's drive to open the second quarter stalled and they were forced to punt. However, L.A. returner Austin Trammell fumbled the punt and the Cardinals recovered.
The Rams' defense stood tall on the ensuing drive and held Arizona to a 32-yard field goal to give the Cardinals a 6-3 lead.
Later in the quarter, the Cardinals would go on a 12-play drive that took four minutes and 22 seconds off the clock and resulted in a 27-yard field goal to give Arizona a 9-3 lead.
But, the Cardinals weren't able to stop the Rams before the half ended as quarterback Matthew Stafford hit wide receiver Cooper Kupp for a 49 catch and then tight end Tyler Higbee for a 9-yard catch to put L.A. in field-goal range. Maher would then hit a 35-yard field to pull L.A. within three points just before the half expired.
The Rams came out of halftime on a mission, as they opened the third quarter with a six-plus-minute drive that ended with Stafford finding Kupp in the endzone for a 13-yard touchdown to give L.A. a 13-9 lead.
The Rams would expand their lead with 2:44 left in the third on a 25-yard field goal by Maher.
Then, on the first play of the fourth quarter, Dobbs got picked off by Rams linebacker Christian Rozeboom.
The Rams would then go on a six-and-a-half-minute drive, which ended with a four-yard touchdown run by running back Kyren Williams to give L.A. a 22-9 lead. The play was originally ruled a fumble that went out of the endzone, which would have been a touchback for the Cardinals, but was overturned after a review and ruled a touchdown.
The Cardinals' next drive would end with Josh Dobbs fumbling when Rams linebacker Byron Young sacked him.
That would lead to another Rams field goal, this one from 43 yards, to give L.A. a 26-9 lead.
Arizona would turn the ball over on downs, and L.A. would run out the clock to end the game and grab the win.
The Cardinals will look to end their three-game losing streak next week when they travel to the Pacific Northwest to play the Seattle Seahawks. Kickoff for that game will be at 1:05 p.m. at Lumen Field in Seattle.
Key Stats
Arizona Cardinals:
- QB Joshua Dobbs: 21/41, 235 yards, 1 interception, 1 fumble (led Arizona in rushing with seven carries for 47 yards)
- RB Keaontay Ingram: 10 carries for 40 yards
- RB Damien Williams: Eight carries for 36 yards
- WR Michael Wilson: Three catches for 62 yards
- TE Trey McBride: Four catches for 62 yards
- WR Marquise Brown: Four catches for 34 yards
- WR Rondale Moore: Four catches for 30 yards
- LB Kyzir White: Eight tackles, one sack
Los Angeles Rams:
- QB Matthew Stafford: 15/24, 226 yards, one touchdown
- RB Kyren Williams: 20 carries for 158 yards and a touchdown
- WR Cooper Kupp: Seven catches for 148 yards and a touchdown
- WR Tutu Atwell: One catch for 30 yards
- WR Puka Nacua: Four catches for 26 yards
- LB Ernest Jones: 10 tackles
- LB Byron Young: Six tackles, One sack, one forced fumble
- DL Aaron Donald: Five tackles, three tackles for loss, two QB hits,
- LB Christian Rozeboom: Three tackles, one interception, one QB hit