The Arizona Cardinals lost their fifth game of the season on Sunday, falling 26-9 to the Los Angeles Rams.
It was more of what we have seen all season. The Cardinals started well, took a lead into halftime and then saw the opponent pull away.
The Cardinals had a 9-6 lead at halftime and then the Rams ran all over them. Kyren Williams had over 150 rushing yards in the second half, finishing with 158 and a touchdown, while receiver Cooper Kupp had seven catches for 148 yards and a score.
Below is what happened in the game.
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Cardinals 3, Rams 0
The Cardinals got on the board first, scoring three points on their first possession. Josh Dobbs had a 24-yard scramble to pick up their first first down and Keaontay Ingram added a 12-yarder.
But Rams cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon broke up a deep pass that was a little underthrown to an open Marquise Brown that would have been a touchdown and Matt Prater had to come in and make a 55-yard field goal.
Rams 3, Cardinals 3
Great to see @CooperKupp back and making plays like this one
📺: #AZvsLAR on FOX
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/B4mQvLOt8O pic.twitter.com/tAEiKkcFxp— NFL (@NFL) October 15, 2023
The Rams scored points for the 45th straight time in the red zone. Cooper Kupp had a 37-yard catch and run but the Cardinals forced three incompletions in the red zone and held them to a 29-yard field goal.
RAMS FUMBLE!
Special Teams making Special Plays!#BirdGang pic.twitter.com/Ux2jRaKJPT
— Arizona Cardinals (@AZCardinals) October 15, 2023
The Cardinals had to punt and got a big play from their cover guys. Bobby Price upended the returner and Joey Blount knocked the ball out for a fumble. Price, elevated from the practice squad on Saturday, recovered it inside the red zone at the Rams 17.
Cardinals 6, Rams 3
The Cardinals added three points with a 32-yard field goal after they couldn’t pick up a first down after the Rams’ fumble. Dobbs threw two incomplete passes before a three-yard completion to Hollywood Brown.
KYZIR WHITE SACK!
ready or not, here he comes 😈@KyzirWhite8 x #BirdGang pic.twitter.com/6Um6SOJVst
— Arizona Cardinals (@AZCardinals) October 15, 2023
The Rams’ next drive ends on a third-down sack of Matthew Stafford by White. He was allowed to run free because it was supposed to be a screen, but Whiote got there too quickly and ended the Rams’ drive.
Cardinals fail on 4th down
The Cardinals had a fourth-and-1 and would have had a first down were it not for a false start by Elijah Wilkinson, and they still went for it on fourth-and-5. Dobbs’ throw to Brown down the field was caught but Brown couldn’t come down with both feet inbounds.
Cardinals 9, Rams 3
Zoom Zoom Zoom 💨@josh_dobbs1 x #BirdGang pic.twitter.com/GrBiowQbCh
— Arizona Cardinals (@AZCardinals) October 15, 2023
Dobbs had a 20-yard run on third-and-13 early in the drive and they got into the red zone. However, they stalled and Prater extended the lead to six points with a 27-yarder.
Cardinals 9, Rams 6
LAUNCHED TO KUPP 🚀@CooperKupp | 📺 @NFLonFOX pic.twitter.com/Fa8Cp0KvKK
— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) October 15, 2023
Matthew Stafford completed a 49-yard pass to Cooper Kupp and the Rams closed out the half with a 35-yard field goal with four seconds left.
Rams 13, Cardinals 9
Stafford finds @CooperKupp in the endzone for the first time this season!!
📺 @NFLonFOX pic.twitter.com/n5NPWU9Umz
— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) October 15, 2023
After only three rushing attempts for five yards in the first half, the Rams changed things up to open the second half. They ran the ball nine straight plays for 62 yards (one was a Matthew Stafford scramble that was meant to be a pass). After nine straight runs. Stafford threw a 13-yard touchdown pass to Cooper Kupp to give the Rams the lead.
Rams 16, Cardinals 9
The Cardinals went three-and-out after the Rams’ score. Williams got up to over 100 rushing yards on the drive, including a 31-yard scamper, but a false start inside the five and an incomplete pass lead to a 25-yard field goal, giving them a seven-point lead.
DOBBS PICKED OFF
Pick, pick, hooray! 🥳@C_JJ_Rozeboom | @NFLonFOX pic.twitter.com/yBAshFZGNO
— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) October 15, 2023
After Dobbs connected with Brown on a 22-yard pass play to get into the red zone, he threw an errant pass to Zach Ertz and it was picked off by linebacker Christian Rozeboom.
Antonio Hamilton hurt
After Stafford connected with Kupp on a 21-yard gain, Hamilton went down. It appeared to be his groin.
Rams 23, Cardinals 9
The Rams continued to roll offensively. Kupp had a 21-yard catch and Kyren Williams gets up over 150 yards. He scored from five yards out.
DOBB FUMBLES
.@byron_97 forces the fumble! @quentin_lake recovers!
📺 @NFLonFOX pic.twitter.com/6PDb3SbilA
— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) October 15, 2023
Byron Young hit Dobbs’ arm, forcing the fumble. The Rams recovered at the Cardinals’ 33.
Rams 26, Cardinals 9
After the Dobbs fumble, the Rams added three more with a 43-yard field goal.
