The Los Angeles Rams dropped their third consecutive game Sunday, falling 18-16 to the Arizona Cardinals at SoFi Stadium before a crowd of 72,573. Despite entering the season as strong Super Bowl favorites, the Rams have struggled to find consistency, now holding a 2-4 record with just over a third of the campaign complete.
First-year Cardinals head coach Mike LaFleur, who previously served as the Rams’ offensive coordinator, outmaneuvered his former mentor, Sean McVay, in a closely contested game marked by missed opportunities and special teams miscues. Arizona entered the matchup having allowed at least 31 points in each of its past four games but managed to stifle a Rams offense that led the league in total yardage.
Los Angeles, with six remaining players from its Super Bowl LVI roster—including quarterback Matthew Stafford, defensive lineman Aaron Donald, and tight end Tyler Higbee—struggled to convert scoring chances. Stafford completed 25 of 33 passes for 222 yards but was pressured frequently, facing seven hits and three sacks amid a Cardinals defense that applied consistent blitzes. Safety Quentin Lake recorded an interception despite the absence of All-Pro cornerback Trent McDuffie, sidelined with a groin injury.
The Rams’ special teams continued to be a weak point. Newly signed kicker Blake Grupe made a 44-yard field goal in the first quarter but was injured on the kickoff return and did not return to the game. David Quessenberry, filling in for suspended left tackle Alaric Jackson—who missed the game following an on-field altercation with linebacker Bradley Chubb—started his first game of the season. The absence of Jackson was felt as the offensive line struggled against Arizona’s pass rush.
In a pivotal moment late in the third quarter, McVay elected to go for it on fourth-and-one from the Cardinals’ 27-yard line, but running back Davis Allen was stopped short. Arizona extended its lead with another field goal to go up 15-9. The Rams managed to tie the game at 16-16 late in the fourth quarter on Stafford’s six-yard touchdown pass to Colby Parkinson, capitalizing on a drive highlighted by two completions to receiver Tutu Atwell.
However, penalties proved costly for Los Angeles. A personal-foul penalty after a completed pass gave Arizona favorable field position, allowing kicker Chad Ryland to convert his sixth field goal as time expired, sealing the victory for the Cardinals.
The Rams’ chances to regain momentum are under scrutiny as they continue to adjust a roster that has undergone significant offseason changes, including the addition of cornerbacks Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson, each with two Super Bowl rings. With more than half the season still to play, the team must address inconsistencies on both sides of the ball and within special teams to reestablish themselves as legitimate contenders.