The Arizona Cardinals rallied for an 18-16 victory over the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, in a tightly contested defensive game. The win marked Arizona’s second of the season and handed the Rams their fourth loss, highlighting ongoing struggles for the home team.
Arizona’s kicker, Chad Ryland, was the standout performer, converting six field goals, including a crucial 43-yard game-winner as time expired. The Cardinals relied heavily on Ryland’s accuracy throughout the game, with all their points coming from his five earlier field goals and the final decisive kick. Arizona’s offense, led by quarterback Jacoby Brissett, finished with 218 passing yards, complementing a strong defensive effort against a Rams unit that had entered the contest as one of the league’s top offenses.
Los Angeles quarterback Matthew Stafford passed for 222 yards and threw two touchdown passes but was unable to secure the victory. The Rams’ first score came on a 15-yard touchdown pass to Blake Corum in the second quarter. Later in the fourth quarter, Stafford connected with tight end Colby Parkinson for a six-yard touchdown with 47 seconds remaining, giving the Rams a temporary lead after an extra point by punter Ethan Evans, who was forced into kicking duties following an injury to the team’s regular kicker, Blake Grupe.
Grupe had successfully made a 44-yard field goal in the first quarter but injured his knee attempting a downfield tackle on a kickoff, forcing the Rams to rely on unconventional kicking options for the remainder of the game. Despite this setback, the Rams mounted a late rally but were hampered by turnovers deep in Arizona territory, including two critical losses of possession in the fourth quarter. These mistakes ultimately allowed the Cardinals to regain possession and set up the winning field goal.
Arizona’s defense, which had been among the league’s less effective units earlier in the season, held the high-powered Rams offense to just 286 total yards. The Cardinals’ ability to contain All-Pro receiver Puka Nacua, who had six catches with half coming on the final drive, was a key factor in the outcome.
The game also marked a notable coaching matchup, as Cardinals head coach Mike LaFleur secured his first victory against former mentor Sean McVay, under whom he served as offensive coordinator for three seasons. The win was notable given Arizona entered the game as double-digit underdogs and improved their record to 2-4, while the Rams fell to 2-4 after a disappointing stretch of three losses in four games.
Attendance for the game was reported at 72,573, reflecting strong local interest despite the defensive slog and limited scoring outside of field goals. The contest underscored ongoing challenges for the Rams in special teams and offensive consistency, while providing a confidence boost for the Cardinals as they seek to reverse their fortunes this season.