Rams close in on NFC West title with defense-driven win vs. Cardinals: Key takeaways

By Jourdan Rodrigue, Doug Haller and Tobias Bass

The Los Angeles Rams are on the verge of clinching a postseason berth and the NFC West crown after a 13-9 victory over the Arizona Cardinals on Saturday night.

The Rams (10-6) have won five straight despite allowing a combined 44 points over their past three contests, and they also have wins over the New York Jets and San Francisco 49ers. But Los Angeles’ defense has kept the team in the playoff hunt (in three weeks, the Rams have allowed 24 points, with a defensive-driven effort again marking Saturday’s win).

Quarterback Matthew Stafford completed 17 of 32 passes for 189 yards and no touchdowns. The Rams’ lone touchdown came on a 1-yard run by running back Kyren Williams late in the second quarter.

Star receiver Puka Nacua hit the century mark with 10 catches for 129 yards, while Cooper Kupp had a quiet night, catching one pass for 29 yards.

The Cardinals, meanwhile, had plenty of opportunities to win, but two interceptions late in the fourth quarter by Rams rookie safety Kamren Kinchens and veteran corner Ahkello Witherspoon helped close the game.

While the win gives the Rams control of the division, they still need help to win the title, especially with a strength-of-victory tiebreaker over the Seattle Seahawks. Los Angeles needs a combined 2.5 or more wins from the Minnesota Vikings, Buffalo Bills, San Francisco 49ers, Washington Commanders and Cleveland Browns for the strength-of-victory tiebreaker.

According to Athletics‘s NFL playoff projection tool, the Rams had an 11 percent chance of making the playoffs heading into Week 6 after a 1-4 start. That’s up to more than 99 percent after winning nine of their last 11 games. It is the first time the Rams have won five games in a row since the 2021 Super Bowl season.

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Defensive play makes the difference

Two things are true about the final moments of Saturday’s win against Arizona. No. 1, rookie safety Kinchens should have batted away a deep throw by Kyler Murray on fourth-and-10 instead of intercepting it and sliding down. No. 2, the Rams’ offense was barely able to put together an offensive drive on the similarly long field, nor did they seem able to sustain drives all game. They gave the ball back to Arizona after just three plays, and a second north of the 2-minute warning down four points. Arizona sped down the lane.

Fortunately, veteran cornerback Witherspoon was in position to slide under a Murray pass intended for Trey McBride from the Los Angeles 5-yard line that would otherwise have been a clear touchdown. Witherspoon’s interception was his first of the season. — Jourdan Rodrigue, Rams senior writer

Los Angeles’ offense continues to struggle

The Rams’ offense has struggled with slow starts and stop-start offensive drives for most of the year, regardless of the health of their team. On Saturday, they had their 13th first quarter without a touchdown this season and their 11th first quarter shutout, this time at the hands of Arizona’s defense.

By the time they got the ball on their first possession of the fourth quarter, up 10-9 with 14 minutes left, they had just 186 total yards. Nacua accounted for most of those yards, while everyone else combined for 85. — Rodrigue

Aries has a rising star

Rookie defensive tackle Braden Fiske has emerged as a rising star despite entering the season as “the player drafted along with first-round pick Jared Verse (teammates at Florida State).”

Fiske’s second-quarter sack on Saturday brought him to a team-high eight sacks on the season (Kobie Turner tied Fiske with a sack in the fourth quarter), the second-most by a rookie behind former great Aaron Donald (nine) and Turner ( nine). — Rodrigue

The late games slow the Cardinals down

Among the NFC’s hottest teams, the Rams weren’t at their best. The Cardinals still had a golden chance as they pitched, played without their starting tackles and lost running back James Conner most of the night. They could not take advantage.

Under pressure most of the night, quarterback Kyler Murray was fine, finding nine receivers for completions. McBride caught his first touchdown pass of the season, an astonishing development for a tight end who entered the contest with 92 receptions. He also went over 1,000 receiving yards for the season. Marvin Harrison Jr. had one of his better games with six catches for 96 yards.

But during this late-season collapse, in which Arizona has lost five of six, the Cardinals have lacked a difference. One who steps up and makes a decisive play at the last minute. No, it’s not easy with the offensive line down three Week 1 starters. But good teams find a way.

Trailing 13-9 in the final six minutes, the Cardinals had two chances to take the lead. On the first, Murray threw a fourth down, throw-it-up-and-hope-for-the-best interception. On the second, the Cardinals drove deep into the red zone and gave themselves a chance.

But on first-and-goal from the Los Angeles 5, Murray fired a quick pass that McBride wasn’t quite ready for. The ball deflected off McBride and was picked off. It was a disappointing finish for a team that limped towards the finish line. – Doug Haller, Arizona Senior Writer

Required reading

(Photo: Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)