As Chad Ryland's 43-yard field goal went through the uprights as time expired, the Cardinals capped a wild finish and opened up a whole new set of questions for Los Angeles. The kick, which gave the Cardinals an 18-16 win over the Rams, marked the largest upset of the season. Arizona, which entered as 13.5-point underdogs, also tied for the largest upset of any game in the past five years.
It was the largest upset loss of Matthew Stafford's career thus far. The Cardinals, who did not score a single touchdown, led 15-12 with under three minutes left. Stafford led a quick touchdown drive, fueled by big completions to Puka Nacua and capped by a 5-yard touchdown pass to Colby Parkinson with 47 seconds left.
Punter Ethan Evans made the extra point after new kicker Blake Grupe got hurt making a tackle earlier in the game. The Rams then kicked off into the end zone — sending the ball to the Cardinals' 35-yard line — and Jacoby Brissett found Jalen Brooks for a 21-yard play on the first play of the drive. Add in a 15-yard unnecessary roughness penalty on Josh Wallace, and that was all it took to set up Ryland's game-winner.
BRISSETT TO BROOKS PAST MIDFIELDAZvsLAR on FOX/FOX OneStream on @NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/YcxBytI37I Give tons of credit to the Cardinals, who earned their first win since the season opener. The maligned defense had a major bounce back after allowing 45 points last week to the Lions, and the offense rolled up 338 yards and scored on six of its 10 drives. Yes, all the scores were field goals, but Arizona's ability to stay on track — Brissett didn't take a single sack and didn't turn it over after the first possession — was key.
Arizona had nearly 10 minutes more of possession time than Los Angeles did. But this is really on the Rams, who are 2-4 after entering the season as the Super Bowl favorite. In fact, it's the same record as the Cardinals.
The offense was disjointed, the defense failed to make the big plays, and special teams issues loomed large again. Before the madness at the end of the game, it looked like this would be the defining play of the game: fourth-and-8, and the Rams do this. Pass is incomplete and the Cardinals force a turnover on downs 👀AZvsLAR on FOX/FOX OneStream on @NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/u0bfxJgdFJ A running back screen — and a failed one at that — in that situation sums up the Rams offense's woeful day.
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