Cardinals stun rival Rams on walk off field goal 18-16

By Zev Black
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NFL teams don’t typically win games exclusively scoring points via the field goal, but that’s exactly what the Arizona Cardinals (2-4) just did, as they took down the Super Bowl favorite and division rival Los Angeles Rams (2-4) 18-16 Sunday in Los Angeles.

Arizona came into the game as 13.5 point underdogs and walked off the Rams on a 43-yard field goal from kicker Chad Ryland. It was his sixth made field goal of the day, a single game career high for the fourth year kicker.

It was a career day for Ryland, but it was also the best-played game of the season from the Cardinals’ defense. They had allowed 30 or more points in four straight games, including 45 points last week against the Detroit Lions.

The Cardinals out-possessed the Rams by nearly ten minutes. Both of their first two second-half drives lasted longer than eight minutes.

They also held the Rams to only 286 total yards, a season-low for Los Angeles. The defensive effort was highlighted by three sacks and a key Cody Simon forced fumble in the fourth quarter.

Eighty-six of the Rams yards came on the final drive of the game. While down six points, QB Matthew Stafford drove Los Angeles down the field in just over two minutes to tie the game. Rams TE Colby Parkinson extended the football over the goal line with 47 seconds left in the game.

Punter Ethan Evans, who was filling in for the injured Blake Grupe, then converted the extra point, giving the Rams a one-point lead, 16-15. This was the first kick of his career.

Cardinals QB Jacoby Brissett then calmly delivered a strike to WR Jalen Brooks for a 21-yard play. An unnecessary roughness penalty on Rams CB Josh Wallace took the Cardinals down to the 29-yardline. Ryland came in and won the game with his sixth and final field goal.

Throughout the game, Arizona was able to move the ball downfield, but ultimately failed to convert those drives into touchdowns. They kicked four field goals from inside the red zone.

While Arizona’s kicking game flourished, the Rams’ unit was faced with some adversity.

After releasing Harrison Mevis earlier this week, Los Angeles claimed Grupe from the New York Jets practice squad. However, he suffered a knee injury attempting to tackle Cardinals return man Devin Duvernay on a first-quarter kickoff and did not return to the game.

This forced the Rams to go for the two-point conversion following a second-quarter touchdown, which did not succeed.

The lack of a kicking game came into play earlier with the game tied at nine at the end of the first half. The Rams got the ball with 46 seconds before the break and, instead of trying to push the ball downfield to get into field goal range, they played it safe and went into halftime tied.

Brissett didn’t do anything to jump off the stat sheet, but kept things clean, and managed the game effectively. An interception on their first possession was his only blemish. He finished with just 218 passing yards.

With rookie RB Jeremiyah Love on the sideline for the game with an ankle injury, Bam Knight filled in effectively. He carried the ball 15 times for 80 yards. Veteran RB Tyler Allgeier added 38 yards on 18 carries.

TE Trey McBride once again paced the team in receiving, with seven catches for 53 yards. His 49 receptions on the season are tied with Seahawks superstar WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba for the league lead.

With the win, the Cardinals move into third place in the NFC West, ahead of the Rams who now find themselves at the bottom of the division.

Arizona plays next at 1:05 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 25, at home against the Denver Broncos (4-2) at State Farm Stadium.