The Arizona Cardinals, a team that entered the week ranked dead last in the league for points allowed at No. 32 overall, pulled off an absolute shocker on Sunday, defeating the Los Angeles Rams 18-16. This was the Cardinals’ second win of the season, and it definitely wasn’t pretty, but they’ll take it against an NFC West rival. What a bizarre way to get on the board, especially for a team struggling as much as Arizona.
League-Worst Defense Absolutely Stifles the Rams
Seriously, how did this even happen? Arizona came into this game also ranked No. 26 in yards allowed, yet they absolutely shut down the Rams’ offense from the jump. Los Angeles barely scraped together 100 yards by halftime and had three agonizing three-and-out drives. The Cardinals didn’t just play defense, though, they controlled the entire tempo of the game. They dominated time of possession by a massive margin, holding the ball for 34:52 compared to the Rams’ 25:08. That’s how you keep a struggling offense off the field and give yourself a chance.
Rams’ Woes Compounded by Kicker Catastrophe
You think the offense struggling wasn’t bad enough? The Rams lost their new kicker, Blake Grupe, to a knee injury super early in the game. And how did it happen? He made a tackle on a kickoff! Talk about adding insult to injury. The Rams only managed to get to the end zone twice: once on a 15-yard touchdown reception by Blake Corum in the second quarter, and then they had to wait until just 47 seconds remained in the fourth quarter for Matthew Stafford to connect with Colby Parkinson for a 6-yard score. With Grupe sidelined, punter Ethan Evans had to step in and surprisingly nailed the extra point, putting the Rams ahead briefly.
Chad Ryland’s Six Field Goals Deliver the Stunner
Here’s the kicker, literally. While the Cardinals offense never once touched the end zone, they had a secret weapon: Chad Ryland. This guy was absolutely automatic in Rams territory, banging in six field goals. Yeah, you read that right, six. And the biggest one? A 43-yard make as time expired, delivering the Cardinals the stunning 18-16 victory. It wasn’t about flashy plays or big touchdowns for Arizona; it was about grinding it out and letting their kicker do the heavy lifting.
What a bizarre way to get a win, but a win’s a win, especially when you’re 2-0 at SoFi Stadium for the season. For the Rams, this is a tough pill to swallow. Not only did their offense look completely out of sync against a defense that’s been giving up points like candy, but they also have to deal with a key injury at kicker. This is the kind of mid-season loss that makes you scratch your head and wonder what’s next.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Pro Football Talk.
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