There were no winners

Kyler Murray throws a “perfect game” as Rams collapse in Week 2

The Los Angeles Rams were embarrassed on the road against the Arizona Cardinals in Week 2. Kyler Murray finished the game with a perfect passer rating as LA lost by a whopping 31 points.

The Rams are now 0-2 on the young season after losing to the Detroit Lions last week. With the San Francisco 49ers coming to town next Sunday, LA is in danger of starting 0-3 and their season ending before it even got off the ground.

There’s plenty of individual blame to go around for a putrid effort in the desert. Let’s take it piece by piece.

Winners

No member of the Rams deserves to be called a winner after this game. Truly, I can’t think of any individual efforts that are worth mentioning anyways. Josh Karty made his only field goal attempt, so I guess that’s something. Ethan Evans and Charles Woods downed a 63-yard punt on the one-yard line. If that’s all that is going right for your team you are in bad shape.

Losers

Those who underestimated the Cardinals

In the week leading up to this game there were individuals who said that this was “get right” opportunity for LA. Those people were assuming these were the same old Cardinals, but in Arizona’s second year under Jonathan Gannon that’s no longer something you can bank on.

Kyler Murray looks like the best quarterback in the NFC West. Arizona’s defense isn’t the most talented, but they play spirited and will change it up on you schematically.

Underestimate the Cardinals at your own risk moving forward.

Kamren Curl, DB

Curl was called one of the best bargain signings of free agency this offseason. Many thought he would take another step forward in his career after being a regular starter with the Washington Commanders but not getting much credit.

Curl was a massive coverage liability this week for the Rams. On an extended play by Murray, the Cardinals QB found Marvin Harrison, Jr. on a 60-yard touchdown pass with the veteran safety trailing by several steps.

Tre White, CB

Other than New York Giants QB Daniel Jones, there might not be a single player in the NFL who is having a worse start to the season more than Tre White. After getting turned into burnt toast last week for a long touchdown by Jameson Williams, this week White surrendered a touchdown to Harrison for the receiver’s first career score.

Harrison finished with four catches on eight targets for 130 yards and two touchdowns. Last week he had just one reception for four yards.

The Rams are short-handed in the secondary. Cobie Durant didn’t play much in the second half and he’s been limited with a hamstring injury. LA brought back last year’s start Ahkello Witherspoon this week.

It might be time to pull White from the starting lineup.

Chris Shula, Defensive coordinator

Sunday’s loss wasn’t all on the defense, but since the end of regulation last week against Detroit and for four quarters against the Cardinals Chris Shula’s defense has been absolutely dominated. The Lions ran the ball down the field with ease to close out Week 1. James Conner rattled off chunk play after chunk play in this game, and Murray threw as many incompletions as he had touchdowns (three).

Arizona rushed 40 times for 231 yards (5.8 average) on Sunday.

This is a worst-case scenario start for the first-time defensive coordinator.

Matthew Stafford, QB

The game opened with Stafford bouncing a third-and-short throw off the turf instead of converting an easy pass to Demarcus Robinson. LA’s offense was unable to string together any semblance of a drive, and that put a lot of pressure on the Rams’ young defense. There was another play late where Stafford tried to run for a first down, but he looked like he had cinder blocks tied to his feet and was pushed out of bounds by an Arizona defender.

The Rams offense didn’t have a chance today. Stafford, with the gray in his hair and beard, looks old and diminished. The majority of LA’s offensive plays were short screens and swings to receivers and running backs. To the Cardinals’ credit, they did a fine job taking away Cooper Kupp, but throwing to Kupp just isn’t an efficient play for LA’s offense right now.

When the score was 41-10, LA left Stafford in the game instead of putting in Stetson Bennett. For a team that won’t risk playing key individuals in the preseason, what does this say about how they feel about Stafford at this point?

The Rams are looking like they need a new solution at quarterback into 2025, and it might be time to turn focus towards whether LA will be in position to draft Shedeur Sanders, Quinn Ewers, or another young quarterback next spring.

Kyren Williams, RB

I can’t recall one explosive play at the hands of Kyren Williams over the last two weeks. Sure, the offensive line is riddled with injuries and not performing well, but it’s difficult to imagine that rookie Blake Corum couldn’t provide some sort of spark in a limited role.

Right now it’s after midnight and Williams looks like the carriage that’s changed back into a pumpkin. He looks like the limited athlete that fell to the late fifth round before his breakout season last year.

Williams finished with 12 rushes for 25 yards (2.1 average) and a touchdown versus Arizona. Corum had eight carries for 28 yards (3.5 average).