Los Angeles Rams vs. Arizona Cardinals Week 6 Live In-Game Updates, Highlights: Rams Win 26-9
The mantra of “any given Sunday” shows up every week during the NFL season, and has a certain relevancy during divisional matchups. The NFC West is full of teams that remain potent in the division even when their fortunes falter.
When the Los Angeles Rams (2-3) host the Arizona Cardinals (1-4) on Sunday, they’ll be looking to fend off a hungry team desperate to get back in the win column. Arizona has been struck by the injury bug, most notably with the loss of running back James Conner, but the offensive coaching staff has continued to put journeyman quarterback Josh Dobbs in position to succeed.
Sunday's quarterbacks: Josh Dobbs and Matthew Stafford.
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If that trend continues in Week 6, the Rams may have a tougher time than anticipated.
Perhaps the best way to stifle the momentum of an underdog is to adamantly play fundamentally sound football. Last week, in a loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, mistakes in critical moments derailed what was an otherwise strong effort against an undefeated team.
“We can’t have that as a defense,” defensive lineman Aaron Donald said. “That’s not us. That can’t be acceptable. That just doesn’t sit well with me, we’re gonna fix those things.”
They may be tasked with addressing those issues without head coach Sean McVay. His wife is on the verge of giving birth to a baby boy, and in the event the schedules conflict … McVay will make the easy choice to be with his growing family.
How will the offense perform if McVay is forced to miss the action?
WHAT: Los Angeles Rams (2-3) vs. Arizona Cardinals (1-4)
WHERE: SoFi Stadium, Inglewood, CA (70,240)
WHEN: Sunday, Oct. 15, 2023, 1:25 p.m. (PT)
TELEVISION: FOX
RADIO: ESPNLA 710 AM, Tu Liga Radio 1330 AM
ODDS: Rams -6.5 (-118), -333 Moneyline, Total: 48.5 (o -110/u -110)
Live updates will appear after kickoff.
FIRST QUARTER
Cardinals First Drive: Arizona received the opening kickoff and took a touchback.
Running back Keaontay Ingram started things off with a rush for no gain. The second-down pass from Dobbs to receiver Marquise "Hollywood" Brown also went for no gain. However, he scrambled on third down for 24 yards and a new set of downs.
A few plays later, Dobbs would miss Brown in the end zone, ending the drive. Kicker Matt Prater nailed a 55-yard field goal for the first score of the game.
The Cardinals lead 3-0 with 11:25 remaining in the first quarter.
Rams First Drive: Running back Kyren Williams rushed for five yards on Los Angeles' first play of the game.
Receiver Cooper Kupp got in on the action, too, with a 15-yard catch. The drive would stall out after two incompletions and a Puka Nacua reception that failed to net a first down.
Cardinals Second Drive: Recently promoted running back Damien Williams got the first two touches for Arizona on this drive.
A nice out-of-structure pass from Dobbs landed in receiver Michael Wilson's hands for a first down.
They've been content to lean on the ground game, rushing five times on the first eight plays of the drive. Receiver Rondale Moore has two catches early in this one, too, and both have gone for first downs.
On third-and-2, Dobbs took a 13-yard sack, forcing a punt.
Rams Second Drive: Kupp's fingerprints have begun to show up on this one as he hauled in a 37-yard catch.
Nacua dropped an end-zone target, but defensive holding bailed him out. On fourth down, kicker Brett Maher hit a 34-yard attempt to tie the game.
The Rams tied the game, 3-3, with 0:11 seconds in the first quarter.
SECOND QUARTER
Cardinals Third Drive: Kupp was seen getting his ankle taped up as the quarter came to a close.
Dobbs hit tight end Trey McBride to start the drive with a 16-yard catch. Two plays later, Donald smoked Dobbs on a keeper that didn't fool the future Hall of Famer.
On the ensuing punt, Los Angeles fumbled and the Cardinals recovered at the Rams' 17-yard line.
Arizona's only capitalization would come in the form of a 32-yard field goal.
The Cardinals lead 6-3 with 12:35 remaining in the second quarter.
Rams Third Drive: After two fruitless touches by running back Ronnie Rivers, Stafford was immediately sacked.
The Cardinals will take over at their own 41-yard line.
Cardinals Fourth Drive: Williams started Arizona's drive with three touches, this time for a combined 22 yards.
On third-and-1, a Dobbs rush came short of the sticks.
While attempting a "tush push" on fourth down, an offensive offsides call pushed them back. They went for it anyway, airing it out to Brown. However, he caught the ball out-of-bounds to give Los Angeles possession.
Rams Fourth Drive: Williams converted a third-and-2 for what would have been a new set of downs, but tackle Alaric Jackson was called for holding.
Stafford took a sack on the subsequent third-and-long.
Cardinals Fifth Drive: Rushes to Ingram and Moore weren't successful, accentuated by a holding call.
On third-and-long, Dobbs bailed on a screen, and while being chased by three Rams, scrambled for a 20-yard gain.
A couple of Ingram touches for 12 yards brought the game to the two-minute warning.
A facemask penalty would put the Cardinals at the Rams' 26-yard line. Ingram would be stuffed on third down, leading to another Prater field goal.
The Cardinals lead 9-3 with 43 seconds left in the first half.
Rams Fifth Drive: An explosive play kickstarted Los Angeles' drive and gave them a chance to score before half.
A 49-yard Kupp reception put them in field goal range. After a Tyler Higbee catch and a spike, Brett Maher would kick a half-ending field goal.
The Rams trail 9-6 in the final seconds of the half.
HALFTIME
THIRD QUARTER
Rams Sixth Drive: Los Angeles opened the half with a 10-play, 75-yard drive.
The first nine plays were rushes, with Williams, Rivers, and Stafford combining for 62 yards. On third-and-11, Stafford found Kupp for a score.
The Rams lead 13-9 with 8:57 remaining in the third quarter.
Cardinals Sixth Drive: Trailing for the first time, Arizona was not able to respond. Los Angeles forced a quick three-and-out.
Rams Seventh Drive: Nacua and receiver Tutu Atwell saw the first two completions of the drive, followed by a 31-yard Williams rush.
Los Angeles is firmly in the red zone. On third-and-six, a Higbee target fell incomplete. Maher would extend the lead on a chip-shot field goal.
The Rams lead 16-9 with 2:44 remaining in the third quarter.
Cardinals Seventh Drive: Dobbs had the Cardinals driving, helped by a facemask penalty.
With a fresh set of downs, he hit Brown in stride for 22 yards.
FOURTH QUARTER
Los Angeles made its biggest defensive play of the game. Dobbs' short throw was tipped and intercepted by linebacker Christian Rozeboom. The Rams took over at their own 12-yard line.
Rams Eighth Drive: The Rams began the drive leaning on the run again, but Stafford took a seven-yard sack.
From second-and-9, Stafford connected with Kupp twice for 29 combined yards.
The Williams show has continued into the fourth quarter, adding 12 more yards coming out of a commercial break. A 27-yard rush would make it first-and-goal.
Soon after, he would finish his masterpiece with a touchdown.
The Rams lead 23-9 with 8:24 remaining.
Cardinals Eighth Drive: A 12-yard catch by tight end Zach Ertz for a fresh start.
On the next second down, Dobbs fumbled on a 10-yard sack. Los Angeles recovered at the Arizona 33-yard line.
Rams Ninth Drive: Running back Zach Evans got in on the action but failed to get a first down.
The Rams lead 26-9 with 4:37 remaining in the fourth quarter.
Cardinals Ninth Drive: The first three passes of the drive fell incomplete, targeting three different receivers.
On fourth down, Dobbs hit Wilson for a 25-yard gain.
After an intentional grounding, Dobbs was almost intercepted on second down. A third-down scramble would make fourth down a little easier.
His fourth-down attempt similarly fell incomplete.
Rams Tenth Drive: It's officially "chew clock" time.
Evans began the drive with two rushes before a Rams' timeout. A Stafford incompletion would bring this one to the two-minute warning.
Cardinals Tenth Drive: After a nine-yard gain to start the drive, Dobbs' next two passes fell incomplete.
On fourth-and-1, he hit Brown for nine yards. A completion to McBride would allow the clock to run out.
The Rams beat the Cardinals, 26-9.
