The Cardinals, coming in as absolutely massive 13.5-point underdogs, just pulled off the largest upset of the entire season, stunning the Los Angeles Rams 18-16. This wasn’t just any upset; it tied for the largest in any game over the past five years and marks the biggest upset loss in Matthew Stafford’s career. When Chad Ryland’s 43-yard field goal sailed through the uprights as time expired, it didn’t just cap a wild finish, it blew up a whole new set of problems for the Rams.
How the Cards Pulled Off the Unthinkable
Arizona’s win, their first since the season opener, was pure grit. They didn’t score a single touchdown all game, yet they managed to lead 15-12 with under three minutes left, thanks to six field goals on ten drives. The maligned Cardinals defense, which got torched for 45 points last week by the Lions, had a monster bounce-back performance. Their offense rolled up 338 yards, with Jacoby Brissett staying clean: not a single sack and no turnovers after his first possession. The Cardinals absolutely dominated time of possession, holding the ball for nearly ten minutes more than Los Angeles. Even after Stafford led a quick touchdown drive, fueled by big completions to Puka Nacua and a 5-yard TD pass to Colby Parkinson with 47 seconds left, Arizona wasn’t done. Rams punter Ethan Evans made the extra point after new kicker Blake Grupe got hurt earlier. The Rams then kicked off into the end zone, giving the Cardinals the ball at their own 35. Brissett immediately hit Jalen Brooks for 21 yards, and a 15-yard unnecessary roughness penalty on Josh Wallace set up Ryland for the game-winner. Talk about a gut punch.
The Rams’ Super Bowl Hopes Hit Rock Bottom at 2-4
This devastating loss drops the Rams to a shocking 2-4 record. Remember, this team entered the season as a Super Bowl favorite! Now, they’ve got the exact same record as the Cardinals, who were written off weeks ago. The issues are piling up like a bad Seattle traffic jam: the offense looked totally disjointed, the defense couldn’t make big plays when it mattered most, and special teams problems, especially that kickoff after the late touchdown, loomed large yet again. Stafford finished 25-for-33 for 222 yards, two touchdowns, and no interceptions, but before that final drive, it was a total slog: 18-for-26 for only 137 yards, three sacks, and a putrid 4.2 yards per attempt. He was getting rid of the ball in just 2.50 seconds and barely threw any deep passes. A failed running back screen on fourth-and-8 before the late-game madness perfectly summed up their woeful day.
The Rams are at 2-4, and that’s just a brutal spot for a team that was supposed to be contending for the championship. What’s next for them is a whole lot of soul-searching and a desperate fight to turn this season around before it completely collapses.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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