Minus Matthew Stafford, Rams also lose Cooper Kupp in loss to Colt McCoy-led Cardinals
Cooper Kupp sat hunched on the Rams bench, right elbow on his knee, his head dejectedly in his hand.
A few moments later, the star receiver stood and then limped on an injured ankle up the tunnel to the locker room.
Kupp’s day was over.
The Rams’ season might be as well.
A 27-17 defeat to the struggling Arizona Cardinals on Sunday — the Rams’ third loss in a row — dropped their record to 3-6 and sent them spiraling to last place in the NFC West.
Rams’ woes continue in 27-17 loss to Arizona Cardinals
🏈 Arizona Cardinals 27, Rams 17 — FINAL
The Super Bowl champion Rams have hit rock bottom — at least in the NFC West standings.
Behind another lackluster offensive effort that involved Cooper Kupp exiting in the fourth quarter with an ankle injury, the Rams suffered their fifth loss in six games Sunday against the Cardinals at SoFi Stadium.
John Wolford, filling in for starting quarterback Matthew Stafford (concussion protocol) was unable to do much for the Rams, who also continue to be hampered by the lack of a running game. Wolford connected on a three-yard touchdown pass to Van Jefferson in the game’s closing seconds, but it was too little, too late.
Wolford completed 24 of 36 attempts for 212 yards, with a touchdown and interception. The Rams were held to 77 total yards in the first half — the lowest total of coach Sean McVay’s career. The Rams also had 66 rushing yards on 20 carries, with Cam Akers picking up 22 yards on six carries. Tyler Higbee made eight catches for 73 yards.
The Cardinals were also playing their backup quarterback, Colt McCoy, with starter Kyler Murray out. McCoy completed 26 of 37 attempts for 238 yards and a touchdown. James Conner scored two touchdowns and rushed for 69 yards.
McVay did not have an update on Kupp’s injury after the game.
Be sure to check out the updates below for a recap of the game.
Cardinals pad their lead after Budda Baker interception
🏈 Cardinals 27, Rams 10 — 3:44 left in the fourth quarter
Tristan Vizcaino kicked a 46-yard field goal late in the fourth quarter after capitalizing on an interception by safety Budda Baker.
Baker picked off Rams quarterback John Wolford and ran back the ball 53 yards to the Rams’ 25. Five plays later, Vizcaino kicked the field goal to pad the Cardinals’ lead.
Rams down by 14 late in fourth quarter after James Conner TD
🏈 Cardinals 24, Rams 10 — 7:41 left in fourth quarter
James Conner scored on a nine-yard touchdown run to again establish a two-touchdown lead.
The Cardinals drove 60 yards in nine plays for the touchdown after Rams star receiver Cooper Kupp left the game because of an ankle injury.
Conner has rushed for 67 yards and two touchdowns in 19 carries.
Cardinals quarterback Colt McCoy has completed 26 of 37 passes for 238 yards and a touchdown.
Cooper Kupp leaves game with ankle injury
🏈 Cardinals 17, Rams 10 — 14:18 left in the game
Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp, the reigning NFL offensive player of the year, limped to the locker room with an apparent ankle injury. He is listed as doubtful to return.
Kupp was injured when he rolled under a Cardinals defensive back near the sideline on a pass that was incomplete. Team medical personnel helped him to the bench before he left the field.
Kupp had three catches for -1 yards.
Darrell Henderson scores touchdown to keep Rams in striking distance
🏈 Cardinals 17, Rams 10 — 4:24 left in third quarter
Darrell Henderson scored on a four-yard touchdown run to keep the Rams within striking distance.
John Wolford completed passes of 25 yards and 12 yards to tight end Tyler Higbee and 13 yards to receiver Allen Robinson during the seven-play, 59-yard drive.
Cardinals defensive lineman J.J. Watt helped the Rams when he was penalized for delay of game and offside on consecutive plays inside the 14-yard line.
Wolford has completed 11 of 19 passes for 101 yards.
Big touchdown catch by A.J. Green extends the Cardinals’ lead
🏈 Cardinals 17, Rams 3 — Halftime
Colt McCoy connected with receiver A.J. Green for a six-yard touchdown pass with 24 seconds left in the second quarter.
The Cardinals capitalized after linebacker Myjai Sanders sacked John Wolford and forced a fumble that was recovered by J.J. Watt. Officials initially ruled the play an incomplete pass, but after review it was determined that Wolford fumbled.
The Cardinals got the ball at the Rams’ 30-yard line and scored five plays later.
McCoy has completed 19 of 27 passes for 148 yards and a touchdown.
Rams quarterback John Wolford has completed eight of 14 passes for 52 yards.
James Conner touchdown gives Cardinals lead over Rams
🏈 Cardinals 10, Rams 3 — 1:56 left in the second quarter
Quarterback Colt McCoy made several key plays during a scoring drive that running back James Conner capped with a four-yard touchdown run.
McCoy scrambled for first downs on third- and fourth-down plays during the 13-play, 66-yard march.
McCoy has completed 16 of 23 passes for 123 yards.
DeAndre Hopkins has seven catches for 58 yards.
Cardinals tie up game on Tristan Vizcaino field goal
🏈 Rams 3, Cardinals 3 — 13 seconds left in first quarter
The Cardinals mirrored the Rams.
Backup quarterback Colt McCoy, playing for injured Kyler Murray, led the Cardinals on a 14-play, 57-yard drive that ended with Tristan Vizcaino’s 36-yard field goal.
McCoy completed a fourth-down pass to A.J. Green and a 12-yard, third-down pass to tight end Zach Ertz during the drive.
McCoy completed eight of 11 passes for 59 yards during the drive.
Rams strike first with 36-yard field goal from Matt Gay
🏈 Rams 3, Cardinals 0 — 6:16 left in the first quarter
Sean McVay said change was in order for the Rams’ unproductive offense.
A concussion that kept quarterback Matthew Stafford sidelined has afforded McVay plenty of opportunity.
John Wolford started in place of Stafford and led the Rams on a drive that ended with Matt Gay’s 36-yard field goal.
During the 14-play, 57-yard drive, quarterback Bryce Perkins came in for two plays.
The drive also featured the debut on offense of rookie running back Kyren Williams.
Wolford completed four of five passes for 29 yards. He also rushed for four yards and a first down.
Raheem Morris on Sean McVay: ‘This is the most adversity he’s had’
It is near the midpoint of the Rams’ season — and this one has been a new experience for Sean McVay.
The once-deified sixth-year coach is two games under .500 for the first time. Injuries have decimated the offensive line. Conflict with young running back Cam Akers surfaced. And now star quarterback Matthew Stafford might be sidelined because of a concussion.
The issues the 36-year-old McVay has dealt with this season are more than in all previous seasons combined, he said.
“Man,” he said, “has this stretched you in ways that you’re going to be better for it if you handle it the right way.”
Sean McVay not fazed by Jalen Ramsey’s criticism
TAMPA, Fla. — Sean McVay was aware of pointed comments Rams star cornerback Jalen Ramsey made after a wrenching defeat to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and Monday the Rams coach voiced his full support.
“I know where he’s coming from,” McVay said during a videoconference with reporters, “and it’s all with the right intentions.”
On Sunday, the Rams defense had preserved a lead with a late goal-line stand, but the underperforming offense failed to get a first down, giving Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady another chance to send the Rams to a 16-13 defeat that dropped their record to 3-5.
“We shouldn’t even have been out there,” Ramsey said afterward, essentially echoing postgame remarks by McVay and quarterback Matthew Stafford. “You can say it like it is — the game should have been over.”
Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford will not play Sunday vs. Cardinals
Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford, who had been in concussion protocol, is inactive for Sunday’s game against the Arizona Cardinals at SoFi Stadium.
John Wolford will start at quarterback for the Rams.
Stafford, 34, had been in concussion protocol since Tuesday, two days after he was sacked four times during a 16-13 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Stafford had done limited work during late-week practices, and coach Sean McVay had said that a decision on Stafford’s status could be made as late as 90 minutes before kickoff.
Stafford has passed for eight touchdowns, with eight interceptions.
Wolford will start for the first time since the 2020 season, when he started the season finale in place of injured Jared Goff and led the Rams to an 18-7 victory that clinched a playoff spot.
Wolford also started a wild-card playoff game against the Seattle Seahawks, but he left the game during the first quarter after he suffered a neck injury when he was tackled on a designed running play.
Rams vs. Arizona Cardinals matchups, how to watch and prediction
Breaking down how the Rams (3-5) and the Arizona Cardinals (3-6) match up heading into their game at 1:25 p.m. PST on Sunday at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood. The game will be shown on Fox (Ch. 11) and streamed on the Fox Sports app and NFL+.
When Rams have the ball
Quarterback Matthew Stafford is questionable because he’s been in concussion protocol since Tuesday. If Stafford does not play, John Wolford will make his third career start, the second against the Cardinals.
In 2020, Wolford passed for 231 yards and helped lead the Rams to an 18-7 victory that clinched a playoff spot. Wolford also can make plays as a runner.
The Rams’ anemic rushing attack could get a lift from rookie running back Kyren Williams, a fifth-round draft pick who has not played since suffering an ankle injury covering a kickoff in the season opener against the Buffalo Bills.
In a 20-12 victory over the Cardinals in September, Cam Akers rushed for a season-best 61 yards and a touchdown in 12 carries. Receiver Cooper Kupp is second in the NFL with 72 catches, six for touchdowns.
Who is L.A.’s choice coach, Rams’ Sean McVay or Chargers’ Brandon Staley?
The Rams are two games under .500 for the first time under coach Sean McVay and the 5-3 Chargers have some proving to do with a road game at the San Francisco 49ers next on the agenda. Rams beat writer Gary Klein and Chargers beat writer Jeff Miller address fans’ concerns and questions heading into Week 10:
If you had to pick a coach today for your team between Chargers coach Brandon Staley and Rams coach Sean McVay, whom would you pick and why?
Vic Turner, Los Angeles
Klein: That’s not a very tough question: Sean McVay. In his first five seasons, he led the Rams to two Super Bowl appearances, and he won one of them. The Rams are definitely struggling this season, but McVay is proven. Staley, who benefited from being associated with McVay, could turn out to be an excellent coach. But at this point, he has yet to lead a team to the playoffs.
Miller: McVay would be the obvious choice to me just given the success he’s had with the Rams. Gary noted everything his teams have accomplished in a short time. It’s too soon with Staley to know what kind of a head-coaching career he’s going to have in the NFL. I’d go with the proven commodity.
Rams vs. Arizona Cardinals: Betting odds, lines and picks against the spread
There are a lot of words that can be used to describe the 2022 season for the Rams. Is “over” one of them with a loss on Sunday? You never want to refer to a game as a “must win” until it is from a mathematical standpoint, but Sunday’s tilt against the Arizona Cardinals is undoubtedly huge for the Rams.
Arizona Cardinals at Rams (-1.5, 41)
If anything goes right for the Rams this season, it will be a breath of fresh air. This week, quarterback Matthew Stafford is in concussion protocol. That announcement from head coach Sean McVay caused this line to move from -3 to -1 1/2. We’ll see if Stafford gets cleared in time, but it will be John Wolford’s show if he does not. If he doesn’t, the Cardinals, who have a bevy of problems of their own, will be road favorites at SoFi Stadium.