After their run of domination to the top of the NFC ended last weekend in what seemed like an instant, the Los Angeles Rams will get a chance at redemption Sunday against the Arizona Cardinals at Glendale, Ariz.
The Rams took a six-game winning streak into last Sunday’s road game against the Carolina Panthers and continued to assert themselves with a touchdown pass from Matthew Stafford on their opening drive. It gave Stafford an NFL-record 28 consecutive TD passes without an interception.
The sudden reversal in form was jarring. Stafford’s run ended with an interception on the next possession, and he threw a second pick two passes later that was returned for a touchdown in Los Angeles’ 31-28 loss.
The Rams’ defense allowed a pair of second-half touchdowns on long fourth-down plays.
“It was just not the level of execution we’re accustomed to,” Rams head coach Sean McVay said. “I think the best thing is, our players and coaches are more connected. There is an ownership, an accountability and there is a security to acknowledge where we can improve and move forward. … This is a great opportunity for us to respond.”
Los Angeles is still one of two teams with an NFC-best 9-3 record, but the Chicago Bears now hold the No. 1 playoff seed in the conference.
The Rams sound confident that the loss was merely a speed bump on their road toward more success.
“We have all the right guys in there and that’s what I love,” Stafford said. “You earn momentum in this league. You have to go out there and earn it during the week and go out there and play well on Sunday.”
Rams running back Kyren Williams played through an ankle injury at Carolina, while Davante Adams has a mild hamstring issue and did not practice Wednesday. The NFL TD reception leader with 14 is expected to play Sunday.
Nose tackle Poona Ford (calf) and cornerback Darious Williams (leg) also did not practice.
The Cardinals (3-9) have lost four in a row and nine of their last 10 games.
With quarterback Kyler Murray (foot) expected to miss at least another week, Jacoby Brissett will get his eighth consecutive start.
“They know who’s coming in here,” Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon said of his own team about the visit from the Rams. “This is the leader in the division; they’re a top-two defense. They have arguably the best player (Stafford) on the planet right now. We have a big-time challenge.”
Brissett threw for 301 yards with two touchdowns and an interception in last Sunday’s 20-17 road loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Cardinals pulled within three points on a TD pass from Brissett to tight end Trey McBride with just under five minutes remaining.
On a late drive to potentially tie or win the game, Arizona turned over the ball on downs. The Cardinals were eliminated from playoff contention with the loss.
“We have figured out how to compete, (now) we have to figure out how to win,” Gannon said.
Wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. returned from an appendectomy to catch six passes for 69 yards but now is dealing with a heel injury and did not practice Wednesday. Offensive lineman Kelvin Beachum (groin), running back Trey Benson (knee), wide receiver Greg Dortch (chest), cornerback Max Melton (heel), defensive lineman Walter Nolen III (knee) and safety Dadrion Taylor-Demerson (ankle) also missed practice.
Brissett now has three consecutive games of at least 300 passing yards, with 13 TD passes to four interceptions over his seven starts. But he has been sacked 26 times.
The Rams have won three of the four matchups between the teams, but the Cardinals’ one victory in the stretch was a dominating 41-10 performance at home last season when they had 231 rushing yards.
