The Los Angeles Rams, who everyone pegged as Super Bowl favorites coming into this season, just dropped to a stunning 2-4 record after an 18-16 loss to the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday. This team looks like anything but contenders right now, and their playoff hopes are taking a serious hit. They’re well out of the NFC West race already, and any shot at a wild-card spot is looking like an uphill battle.
Another Controversy, Another Crushing Loss
Man, talk about a brutal finish. This game had “officiating controversy” written all over it, echoing their Week 3 loss against the Broncos. The Rams actually pulled ahead 16-15 with a touchdown late, but then the Cardinals got the ball back with only 41 seconds on the clock. Jacoby Brissett connected with Jalen Brooks for a 21-yard pass, moving them across midfield, and then BOOM: a questionable unnecessary roughness penalty on the hit tacked on another 15 yards. That gift put the Cardinals squarely in field-goal territory, setting up Chad Ryland for a 43-yard game winner as time expired. Just an absolutely gut-wrenching way to lose.
Where Did That Offense Go?
Look, the late penalty was tough, but let’s be real: the Rams looked rough all day. Their offense, which came into Sunday LEADING the entire NFL in yards per game, was completely ineffective against a Cardinals defense that ranked 26th in the league. That’s just wild to even type. Quarterback Matthew Stafford was under constant pressure, especially with left tackle Alaric Jackson suspended after a postgame punch last week. The passing game struggled to gain any traction for most of the contest, only finding some rhythm on that late drive that put them up 16-15. Ultimately, they just didn’t put enough points on the board to beat an Arizona team that was only picking up its second win of the season.
Bottom of the Division and Big Trouble Ahead
This loss means both the Rams and Cardinals are now tied at the bottom of the NFC West at 2-4, miles behind the 5-0 San Francisco 49ers. The Cardinals even have the head-to-head tiebreaker now. For a team with Super Bowl aspirations, being 2-4 and staring up at the rest of the league is a nightmare. They’re in real danger of missing the playoffs, and every game from here on out is absolutely critical if they want to salvage this season.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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