The Los Angeles Rams (11-5) will play their final regular season game of the year at SoFi Stadium against the Arizona Cardinals (3-13), as they hope to get back in the win column after dropping two games in a row to the Seattle Seahawks and Atlanta Falcons.
One of the major issues surrounding the Rams three losses in the past five games has been their tackling. Against the Atlanta Falcons, the Rams missed 19 tackles. Against the Seahawks, they had 12. You get the picture. All three of those teams were able to move the ball on the ground against the Rams defense which has been one of the best in the NFL this year until as of late… In their last three games (Falcons, Seahawks, and Lions), the Rams rank 27th in rushing yards allowed per game (153.3).
The run defense is not the only unit that needs to play better. Multiple position groups have declined in recent weeks. Here’s a look at my positional grades going into Week 18 against the Cardinals.
QBs: Stafford had an uncharacteristic performance in Week 17 against the Falcons, throwing 3 interceptions including a pick 6. For the MVP voters out there, this should not change his status as the frontrunner. He is still clearly above Drake Maye considering the difference in schedules each have faced.
Jacoby Brissett has able to fill in as a serviceable backup but the Cardinals roster is riddled with injuries leaving him short handed to conduct the offense.
RBs: Kyren Williams and Blake Corum both suffered ankle injuries in the loss to the Falcons. Corum’s appeared to be more significant than Kyren’s as Kyren was able to return in the second half. The Rams haven’t leaned into the run game nearly as much as they should have in recent weeks. They will need it in the playoffs so look for them to get back into that game flow against Arizona, a team they mauled in the trenches in Week 14.
Michael Carter and Emari Demarcado are expected to split the carries for Arizona with James Connor on IR. Neither have been effective in the ground game but Carter is targeted in the passing game on occasion.
WRs: Puka Nacua was held in check in the Week 17 loss. Nacua only caught 50% of the passes thrown his way and he only tallied 47 receiving yards. Davante Adams is still expected to miss Week 18 to continue resting his hamstring but should be in line to return for the first round of the playoffs. I looks like Sean McVay is trying to figure out who is third receiver between Xavier Smith, Konata Mumpfield, and Tutu Atwell. The snap share was: 51% : 66% : 20% respectively but Smith was routinely getting open in Atlanta’s secondary.
Arizona will be without Marvin Harrison Jr (heel) and Greg Dortsch. Michael Wilson will be their primary option along with Jalen Brooks.
TEs: Terrance Ferguson continues to be a downfield weapon for McVay’s 13 personnel. Parkinson continues to be targeted often (6 receptions on 7 targets) by Stafford. The Rams have activated Tyler Higbee’s 21-day practice window and should get the veteran back for the playoffs.
Trey McBride leads all tight ends in the NFL in receiving yards and he is 6th amongst all pass catchers (1174 yards). He is the game’s best tight end and will be a good test for the Rams linebackers and defensive backs as they get ready to face opponents in the playoffs with quality tight ends as well (ex: Kittle, Barner, Loveland & Kmet, and Goedert).
OL: LA’s offensive line did not look itself on Monday Night because it wasn’t itself. Alaric Jackson and Kevin Dotson did not play, forcing DJ Humphries and Justin Dedich to be the next men up. DJ Humphries in particular struggled and cost the Rams on multiple occasions. Alaric Jackson will be back in Week 18 but expect Dotson to have another week to rest and recover with his ankle.
The Cardinals 5 man protection will include: Josh Fryar (2025 – undrafted), Jon Gaines II, Hjalte Froholdt, Isaiah Adams, and Kelvin Beachum. On average, Arizona allows 3.3 sacks per game (27th in NFL) and collects only 94.0 rushing yards/game (29th).
DL: I for one have been pretty underwhelmed by the Rams run defense in the past month. I’m not sure if Poona Ford is rundown from nursing a calf injury but the defensive line has been getting dogwalked in the games they have lost as of late. I get that Braden Fiske has hardly been on the field. The issue is that Ty Hamilton, the team’s 5th rounder this year is playing more lately and is posting a 29.7 PFF grade. Bring back a guy like Marquise Copeland or something instead!
In what could be his last game of his NFL career, Calais Campbell will play his 278th career game. He has been an anchor for 18 years and deserves every bit of praise when he officially retires.
EDGE: I’m still waiting for Byron Young to show up in the second half of this season. I’m worried that if he doesn’t, the Rams will need to reconsider extension talks. By only beef with Jared Verse is the missed tackles. He has to better in this department. He needs to use his size to bring down ballcarriers by tackling through them. Quit with the diving ankle/foot tackles – doesn’t work!
Josh Sweat was snubbed from the Pro Bowl. I guess that’s what happens when you are 3-13. Should he have been? Maybe not. Is the Pro Bowl even noteworthy? Not at all.
ILB: Ever since his extension, Nate Landman’s PFF grades and “IT” factor on defense have taken a nose dive. Like Verse, Landman has to better in run defense. I would still not be opposed to seeing Shaun Dolac get on the field next to him.
The Cardinals will start Cory Simon and Akeem Davis-Gaither in the middle of their defense. Stafford should be able to bait this group with play action throws.
DBs: The Rams chose to make Darious Williams a healthy scratch against the Falcons, reinserting Akhello Witherspoon into the lineup. Unfortunately, it doesn’t really matter what the defensive back combination is. The Rams secondary success hinges on the defensive line creating pressure. The Rams defensive backs grades this year are:
Emmanuel Forbes – 56.0
Darious Williams – 68.8
Cobie Durant – 67.4
Akhello Witherspoon – 56.5
Kam Curl – 73.2
Kam Kinchens – 71.0
Jaylen McCollough – 68.5
Derion Kendrick – 72.4*
Josh Wallace – 71.8
Roger McCreary – 66.2*
Quentin Lake – 75.1**
* – limited snaps
** – IR
In my opinion, of the 11 guys, the two that don’t make the playoff active roster each week are Derion Kendrick and Roger McCreary. That leaves 9 guys. Darious Williams and Akhello Witherspoon may be battling for one spot. Josh Wallace and Jaylen McCollough are likely battling for the other.
The Cardinals secondary is better on paper than actual on-field. On paper, Budda Baker and Will Johnson seem to be solid core pieces along with safety Jalen Thompson. The group only has 10 interceptions on the year.
ST: The Rams finally got a boost in EPA for their special teams play. Jared Verse’s field goal block and touchdown return were a breath of fresh air. However, as nice as the splash play is, it would be better to see the Rams making significant strides in their kick/punt coverage and kick/punt returns. Field position will be crucial in the playoffs.
The Cardinals signed Josh Karty(!) to their practice squad. Will we see him in Week 18?
Coaching: Sean McVay has been at the top of his game in 2025 as a playcaller. My only critique would be his usage of Kyren Williams between the tackles on 4th & short situations. They have been stopped on that play more often than you would like to see it. So let’s not beat a dead horse. Put the ball in Stafford’s hands as much as possible. When they do decide to run, maybe use Corum.
The reason I brought the Rams coaching grade down was because of Chris Shula. He needs to fix the run defense and tackling issues that have plagued his defense over the last 5 weeks. If he gets that fixed, the Rams will be going deep in the playoffs.
Jonathan Gannon will likely be coaching in his final game for the Arizona Cardinals. The team needs a complete overhaul. The organization should target an offensive minded head coach to get the most out of Kyler Murray, Marvin Harrison, and Trey McBride. Gannon failed to address the team’s offensive and defensive lines, leading to a disastrous season in Glendale.
What do you think? Do the Rams hold a clear edge?
What’s the Rams biggest issue right now: offensive line stability, run defense, or its secondary?
Comment below.
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