Cardinals-Rams rewind: L.A. hands Arizona its third home loss this season

14 Dec 2021

The Arizona Republic

CardinalsRams rewind LA hands Arizona its third home loss this season

Arizona Cardinals (10-2) host NFC West rival Los Angeles Rams (8-4) on Monday night, their second matchup this season.

The Cardinals (10-3) lost to the Los Angeles Rams, 30-23, on Monday night.

That marks Arizona's third loss at home among its five games at State Farm Stadium. The Cardinals have split their two NFC West matchups against the Rams.

The Cardinals trailed for most of the game, and kicker Matt Prater made their final scoring play on a 49-yard field goal at 41 seconds left to play. The game ended the way it started, as Rams pass rusher Aaron Donald sacked Kyler Murray on second-and-16 for a loss of 18 at Arizona's own 24 as time expired. Donald sacked Murray at Arizona'

Arizona could have clinched its first playoff spot in six years, but will have to do it when they face the Detroit Lions on Sunday.

Gay's third FG extends Rams lead to 10

Matt Gay kicked in his third field goal attempt — this one 33 yards — on fourth-and-goal at 7:23 left to play.

The FG came after Matthew Stafford was sacked on third-and-goal at the 7 for a loss of eight by defensive end Jordan Phillips.

Conner's second TD cuts L.A.'s lead to 7

The Cardinals entered the final period with possession but down 27-13.

After they allowed two touchdowns and threw an interception in the third quarter, Arizona began to regain some momentum at the end of the third.

Kyler Murray rolled right toward the sideline as the Rams sent five on the pass rush, and completed a 23-yard pass to A.J. Green, who then ran it to the Rams 49 with nine seconds left.

Arizona took over the ball at the first-and-10 from the Rams 41 at the start of the fourth, made two first downs, and running back James Conner rushed in his second TD off a direct snap from the Rams 8 at

The extra point was good, which chopped the Rams' lead to 27-20.

Cardinals WR Green reaches 10K career yards

A.J. Green surpassed the 10,000 receiving yards mark in his pro career in the second quarter.

He reached the personal milestone on a nine-yard pass with 35 seconds to play. He has five catches for 43 yards in the game thus far.

L.A. takes control with 2 TD passes

The Rams didn't waste time taking control of the game early in the second half.

After two first downs and their fourth play of their opening possession in the third quarter, L.A. scored when Matthew Stafford rolled left and threw a 52-yard touchdown pass through the middle to Van Jefferson.

The subsequent extra point put the Rams up, 20-13.

Then Kyler Murray threw his second interception on a short pass left which targeted tight end Zach Ertz on second-and-10 from the Cardinals' own 25. Rams outside linebacker Leonard Floyd caught the ball and returned it for 11 yards to the Cardinals 19.

Los Angeles scored its third TD when Stafford threw to WR Cooper Kupp on second-and-goal from the Cardinals 4.

The good extra point extended L.A.'s lead to 27-13, the game's biggest scoring margin.

L.A., Arizona tied at halftime after trading FGs late in second quarter

Rams kicker Matt Gay and Cardinals kicker Matt Prater were their team's leading scorers, producing seven points each in the first half.

Gay successfully kicked his second field goal attempt (35 yards) on fourth-and-3 with 35 seconds left.

Then Prater kicked in his second 53-yard FG of the game on first-and-10 with one second remaining in the half, and tied the score at 13.

Conner score ties score late in 2nd

James Conner scored Arizona's first touchdown on a 1-yard run up the middle on fourth-and-goal. The Cardinals' second scoring play occurred at 3:21 left in the first half. That capped off their nine-play, 75-yard drive.

The extra point was good to tie the score at 10.

The Cardinals got into the red zone for the second time following their biggest passing play when Kyler Murray connected with wideout Christian Kirk for 41 yards on on second-and-8 at the 6:14 mark. That play put them at the Rams 22, and Conner scored six plays later.

Gay nails 55-yard FG, extend Rams' lead in 2nd quarter

Matt Gay's kick barely made it past the bottom of the post on a 55-yard field goal attempt midway second quarter. However, it was good enough to add to the Rams' lead.

Gay made his first FG attempt on fourth-and-6 at the 7:28 mark to put the Rams up, 10-3.

Rams score game's first TD early in 2nd

After the Rams got the game's first interception late in the first quarter, they ended their 68-yard drive on a touchdown early in the second period. Matthew Stafford connected with wideout Odell Beckham Jr. on a two-yard pass at the 12:53 mark. That's Beckham's third TD scored since he signed with the Rams as a free agent on Nov. 11.

The extra point was good. Rams lead the Cardinals, 7-3.

Murray throws INT after Conner's amazing one-handed catch

Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald made an negative impact on the Cardinals in the first quarter.

Los Angeles' fearsome pass rusher already had a sack, tackle for loss, a quarterback hit, and pass deflection. That's a major turnaround from his modest four-tackle performance in the Rams' home loss to Arizona in Week 4.

On the first play of the game, Donald sacked Murray at Arizona's own 25 for a loss of six yards.

Then after James Conner made a remarkable one-handed catch for 18 yards on third-and-4 from the Rams 23 at 5:26, Murray threw his first interception after Donald tipped the pass intended for tight end Zach Ertz. The ball was caught by linebacker Ernest Jones, caught it at the 1 and returned the rock for 31 yards.

Arizona scores first on Prater's 53-yard FG

Arizona's long snapper Aaron Brewer and kicker Matt Prater are back together on special teams after being a month apart.

Prater kicked a 53-yard field goal on fourth-and-10 at the 11:03 in the first quarter to go up, 3-0, over the Rams.

Brewer and defensive lineman Rashard Lawrence were activated from the injured reserve just hours before the game. Brewer suffered a broken forearm on Nov. 7 and went on the IR four days later.

Hopkins, Prater honor ex-late teammate Thomas in Cardinals-Rams game

Cardinals' wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins and kicker Matt Prater are paying their respects to their former teammate Demaryius Thomas, who passed away on Thursday.

Cardinals Senior Vice President of Media Relations Mark Dalton tweeted a few hours before Monday night's game that Hopkins and Prater will have a No. 88 decal on the back of their helmets during the Cardinals-Rams game.

Hopkins played with Thomas on the Houston Texans in 2018, and Prater was Thomas' teammate on the Denver Broncos from 2010 to 2013.

Hopkins tweeted last Friday after he learned about Thomas' death, "Love you forever brother!! This one hurt deep," with a photo of them in a game together.

5 L.A. players on COVID-19 list, Cardinals-Rams inactives,

The Rams have several players absent from tonight's game because of COVID-19. That includes cornerbacks Jalen Ramsey and Dont'e Deayon, starting tight end Tyler Higbee, starting running back Darrell Henderson, and RT Rob Havenstein are all on the COVID list.

RB Sony Michel will replace Henderson as their starter.

Other Rams players who are inactive for the game include backup quarterback Bryce Perkins, linebackers Chris Garrett and Terrell Lewis, center Brian Allen and offensive lineman Tremayne Anchrum.

Cardinals inactives are backup QB Trace McSorley, OL Josh Miles, and nose tackle Zach Kerr.