Kyler Murray and the Birds’ offense fell flat after an early scoring drive
GLENDALE — Matthew Stafford threw a season-high four touchdown passes Sunday and the visiting Los Angeles Rams won consecutive games for the first time this season with a 37-14 victory over the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium in Glendale.
(VIDEO) HIGHLIGHTS: L.A. Rams 37, Cardinals 14
Tyler Higbee caught two TD passes and Kyren Williams added two receiving TDs of his own after missing the past four games with an ankle injury. Royce Freeman added a rushing TD for the Rams (5-6), who earned their ninth consecutive victory at Arizona.
Los Angeles head coach Sean McVay improved to 12-2 all-time against Arizona in regular-season games.
Williams added 143 rushing yards on 16 carries, including a 56-yard run in the third quarter that is the Rams’ longest play this season. Stafford was 25-of-33 passing for 229 yards and one interception.
Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray was 27-of-45 passing for 256 yards and a touchdown in his third game of the season, missing the first nine games after knee surgery. Arizona (2-10) was held under 200 net yards through three quarters while losing for the eighth time in nine games.
The Rams went 75 yards in nine plays on their opening drive of the game, scoring on Stafford’s 7-yard pass to Higbee.
(VIDEO): JONATHAN GANNON POSTGAME PRESS CONFERENCE
The Cardinals answered with a 75-yard drive of their own in 12 plays, with Murray scoring on a 2-yard run, while Clayton Tune ran for the two-point conversion and an 8-7 Arizona lead.
The Rams scored a pair of touchdowns in the third quarter for a 21-8 lead, with Higbee catching a 5-yard scoring strike and Williams taking a catch and run into the end zone from 15 yards out with 59 seconds remaining in the first half.
In a microcosm of the Cardinals’ day, Matt Prater made a 56-yard field goal as time expired in the second quarter but it was negated by a holding penalty that ended the first half.
The Rams put the game away on a 13-play, 54-yard drive that ended with Williams’ 3-yard TD reception from Stafford and a 31-8 lead with 12:41 remaining. It was Williams’ ninth TD of the season, three receiving, in seven games.
Freeman scored for the Rams on a 23-yard run with 8:19 remaining and the Cardinals found the end zone on a 6-yard reception from Murray to Greg Dortch with 5:12 to play.
–Field Level Media
