The Los Angeles Rams beat the Arizona Cardinals by a final score of 37-20 in Week 18 of the NFL season. Both teams started slow, but L.A. had a 16-6 lead at the half, then they saw that lead disappear in quarter three as the Cardinals took a 20-16 lead and made it a game.
This wasn’t L.A.’s prettiest game, but in the end, they did enough to secure the win. Matthew Stafford put his finishing touches on what’s been a great season with four passing scores, and the Rams looked like the best version of themselves when the game required it.
The game began right for L.A. as they forced an AZ fumble on their opening drive and took an early lead 3-0 lead. Despite the early lead, L.A.’s offense seemed off and struggled to move the ball consistently.
Before halftime, the game was knotted at 6-6, but then L.A. put up 10 unanswered to make the game 16-6 before quarter two came to official end.
Unfortunately for this Rams’ team, no lead is safe.
The Cardinals converted a fake punt on their next offensive drive, then chipped away at L.A.’s lead until AZ had a 20-16 lead in the third quarter. You can blame the defense (it’s fair game), but it was L.A.‘s offense that came out of the half with the ball and a chance to put this one out of reach, they didn’t.
For whatever reason, the offense, defense and special teams had not been coming together the right way to get L.A. in the win column since their last victory against the Detroit Lions. There’s not been any one reason that the Rams are losing, it’s a combination of bad football by L.A. and better play at the right times by their opponents.
Finally, after what was mostly a wasted third quarter for L.A., the Rams retook the lead with Stafford’s second passing score of the day and L.A. led 23-20 after the successful extra point.
Then, L.A. showed their best version of themselves when they forced an AZ punt, and followed that up with Stafford’s third passing TD of the day and a 30-20 lead after the extra point.
The Rams were back in the driver’s seat, but there was still over 10-minutes to go, so the Cards had a very real chance to play spoiler for L.A. in Week 18.
Instead, the Rams continued to play good complimentary football by adding another Stafford throwing score, his fourth of the day, and a 37-20 lead with about 4-minutes to go in regulation.
The Rams could’ve played better, sure, but they did enough to win and that’s what matters most today. What matters next, is L.A. getting healthy and getting ready to find a way to win the playoffs.
L.A. finishes their regular season with a 12-5 record, and they hope that this Sunday’s latest victory, isn’t their last in 2026.
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