Rams vs Cardinals Week 18 Live Game Thread

Inglewood, CA -- The Los Angeles Rams' final game of the 2025 NFL regular season will be against a divisional rival, the Arizona Cardinals. This will be their last game at SoFi Stadium until the start of the next season, so they have a lot of reason to go out with a bang for their fanbase.

The Rams are currently on a two-game skid, and they need to get back into the swing of things before reaching the playoffs. The MVP discussion is still in full effect, so Matthew Stafford needs to have a great performance to give voters a positive point this past month. What can they do to guarantee a win?

What To Look Out For

Dec 29, 2025; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay reacts on the sidelines during the game against the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images | Dale Zanine-Imagn Images

The last time these two teams faced off, it was pure domination on behalf of the Rams. They beat them 45-17 in a game where the Rams never took their foot off the pedal. Sean McVay is playing his starters in Week 18, something he hasn't done in years prior. That means he understands the significance of winning big before the playoffs start, and that's what this locker room needs right now.

The Rams haven't won a game since early December, and another big blowout at home could get this roster confident and ready to travel on the road in the playoffs. The biggest thing to look out for on the Rams' sideline is how many players are injured. Their offensive line continues to be banged up, and I hope they're recovered by the time their wild-card matchup begins.

In addition to Davante Adams' continued absence, Kyren Williams, Blake Corum, and Terrance Ferguson are all questionable for the game. Puka Nacua went off against the Cardinals last time with 167 yards and two touchdowns. He's going to have to do something similar with the lack of weapons Stafford has at his disposal.

Nacua isn't the only receiver who had a big game. Cardinals wide receiver Michael Wilson had 142 yards and two touchdowns against the Rams' secondary. Jacoby Brissett has cooled off since he faced the Rams, but he's always a threat to air the ball out.

Dec 28, 2025; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Arizona Cardinals quarterback Jacoby Brissett (7) drops back in the second quarter against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paycor Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sam Greene-USA TODAY Network via Imagn Images | Sam Greene-USA TODAY Network via Imagn Images

Given the Rams' recent performance, an upset loss is certainly a possibility. They have to avoid turning the ball over and hope their defense forces Brissett to make mistakes. He had thrown an interception in four consecutive weeks before Week 17. The key to a Rams victory will be eliminating his impact as a passer by picking him off.

The game kicks off at 1:25 PM PST / 4:25 PM EST and can be watched on FOX Sports!

Be sure to follow along with our live game thread for updates throughout the contest.

START OF THE FIRST QUARTER:

PENALTY: Cardinals OL Kelvin Beachum's false start penalty sets the Cardinals back 5 yards

TURNOVER: Rams DT Kobie Turner recovers a fumble caused by Rams LB Josaiah Stewart sacking Cardinals QB Jacoby Brissett

SCORING UPDATE NO. 1: Rams K Harrison Mevis nails a 34-yard field goal to get the game's first score, Rams lead 3 - 0

BIG PLAY: Brissett throws a pass to Cardinals WR Michael Wilson, who runs upfield 17 yards for a 20-yard play

PENALTY: Wilson commits an offensive pass interference, which sets them back 10-yards

SACK: Rams LB Bryon Young takes down Brissett for a 5-yard sack

SCORING UPDATE NO. 2: Cardinals K Chad Ryland ties the game with a 45-yard field goal, Rams tied 3 - 3

PENALTY: Rams RB Blake Corum's illegal shift penalty sets the offense back 5 yards

BIG PLAY: Rams RB Kyren Williams flashes a run for 16 yards to end the first quarter

END OF THE FIRST QUARTER: Rams tied 3 - 3

START OF THE SECOND QUARTER:

BIG PLAY: Rams TE Tyler Higbee makes a 16-yard catch

PENALTY: Rams OL Coleman Shelton's false start penalty sets them back on third down

SCORING UPDATE NO. 3: Mevis kicks a 42-yard field goal to put the Rams back on top, Rams lead 6 - 3

BIG PLAY: Cardinals TE Trey McBride catches the ball and runs upfield for a 28-yard catch

SACK: Rams DE Desjuan Johnson takes down Brissett for their third sack of the game, a loss of 6 yards

SCORING UPDATE NO. 4: Ryland kicks a field goal 56-yards for the equalizer, Rams tied 6 - 6

INJURY: Cardinals CB Will Johnson was injured

2 MINUTE WARNING

SCORING UPDATE NO. 4: On 4th down, Rams QB Matthew Stafford throws a ball over to Rams WR Puka Nacua, who catches the touchdown from 2 yards out, Rams lead 13 - 6

INTERCEPTION: Rams CB Ahkello Witherspoon rips the ball away and picks off Brissett

PENALTY: Cardinals LB Baron Browning's defensive offside penalty costs the Cardinals defense 5 yards

BIG PLAY: Higbee runs out of bounds after catching the ball for 22 yards

SACK: Cardinals LB Josh Sweat takes down Stafford for his first sack of the game, a loss of 7 yards

SCORING UPDATE NO. 5: Mevis nails a 40-yard field goal to extend their lead before the half, Rams lead 16 - 6

HALFTIME: Rams up 16 - 6

START OF THE THIRD QUARTER:

PENALTY: Rams WR Xavier Smith's false start sets their offense back 5 yards

PENALTY: Cardinals TE Pharaoh Brown commits a 10-yard offensive holding penalty

SACK: Rams LB Jared Verse takes down Brissett for 10 yards

BIG PLAY: Cardinals RB Emari Demercado runs the ball for an 18-yard rush

BIG PLAY: On the next play, Demercado makes an impressive 28-yard catch on a 4th down gamble

SCORING UPDATE NO. 6: Wilson speeds past his defender, and Brissett throws it up to him for a 43-yard touchdown catch

BIG PLAY: Wilson catches a 20 yard pass

SCORING UPDATE NO. 7: Cardinals TE Josiah Deguara drags his toe to give them the lead, Rams down 16 - 20

BIG PLAY: Higbee makes a 21-yard catch

INJURY: Cardinals CB Budda Baker goes down with an injury

SCORING UPDATE NO. 8: Rams TE Colby Parkinson runs 17 yards after the catch for a 21-yard touchdown catch, Rams lead 23 - 20

PENALTY: Cardinals OL Jon Gaines II's illegal blindside block erases a big play from Wilson

END OF THE THIRD QUARTER: Rams up 23 - 20

START OF THE FOURTH QUARTER:

SACK: Rams DE Braden Fiske forces the Cardinals to punt with a takedown of Brissett for 3 yards

BIG PLAY: Williams rushes for a 22-yard gain

SCORING UPDATE NO. 9: Higbee catches a 22-yard touchdown pass, Stafford's third of the game, Rams lead 30 - 20

PENALTY: Cardinals OL Josh Fryar's false start penalty sets them back 5 yards

BIG PLAY: Corum rushed the ball for 21 yards

SCORING UPDATE NO. 10: Parkinson gets free in the endzone, Stafford finds him for a 1-yard touchdown catch, Rams up 37 - 20

2 MINUTE WARNING

SACK: Johnson sacks Brissett one final time, turning the ball over on 4th down

VICTORY FORMATION: Rams QB Jimmy Garoppolo is kneeling the ball

END OF THE GAME

The Rams beat the Cardinals 37 - 20, securing the 5th seed and improving their record to 12 - 5.