The Playbook
The Arizona Cardinals arrive in Hollywood this week, and judging by their last four games, they may have left their defense at home.
Then again, the Los Angeles Rams might want to inspect their own baggage — their special teams unit might be better off in another time zone.
Less than a week after a stunning 37-34 overtime loss to the Buffalo Bills that bordered on negligence, Sean McVay and the Rams (2-3) return to SoFi Stadium looking to salvage their season against a Cardinals (1-4) team that has dropped four straight.
For Arizona, another loss might have fans dreaming of Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith and the 2027 NFL Draft.
For Los Angeles, another defeat means sounding the alarm on a season that once carried legitimate Super Bowl aspirations.
The Rams had Buffalo on the ropes Monday night and stood on the precipice of delivering a knockout blow. Matthew Stafford was dissecting the Bills’ secondary, throwing for 383 yards and three touchdowns with a 111.0 passer rating. Los Angeles scored on all five red-zone possessions, put up 34 points, and should have had more.
Instead of walking off with a game-winning touchdown in overtime and a winning record, McVay grew conservative, settling for a 48-yard field goal — then watched another special teams disaster unfold when Bills defensive end Greg Rousseau blocked the potential winner.
McVay admitted afterward he may have overthought the situation. That’s charitable. When your quarterback is dealing dimes and playing like an MVP candidate while your opponent is barely hanging on, you don’t take the ball out of his hands and trust the most unreliable unit in football.
The fallout was immediate. Harrison Mevis, affectionately known as the “Thiccer Kicker,” was released early Tuesday and replaced by Blake Grupe, a 5-foot-7, 150-pound kicker whose arrival represents a dramatic shift in profile.
Unfortunately for the Rams, swapping kickers doesn’t automatically fix blocked kicks, blown coverages, or three seasons’ worth of special teams headaches.
“I have a lot of confidence in Bubba Ventrone,” McVay insisted, making clear his special teams coordinator isn’t going anywhere.
Meanwhile, Stafford has topped 300 passing yards in four consecutive games, and the Rams have scored at least 24 points in four straight. Now comes an Arizona defense surrendering a league-worst 32.4 points per game, including 31 or more in four consecutive contests.
Arizona’s defense is yielding an NFL-worst 8.5 yards per passing attempt, and its injury-ravaged secondary could be without safeties Wydett Williams and Andrew Wingard.
That’s a dangerous combination against Stafford, Puka Nacua, and Davante Adams.
The ground game presents another inviting opportunity. Detroit’s Jahmyr Gibbs gashed Arizona for 151 rushing yards and two touchdowns. With the Cardinals allowing 4.4 yards per carry, Kyren Williams and Blake Corum should find room to operate — though the Rams will be without starting left tackle Alaric Jackson, suspended one game for punching Bills linebacker Bradley Chubb after the loss.
Defensively, the Rams have their own concerns. Josh Allen embarrassed their pass rush with 121 rushing yards — could Jacoby Brissett do the same? Tight end Trey McBride has historically tormented Los Angeles, and rookie running back Jeremiyah Love remains dangerous despite an ankle injury.
Aaron Donald is back, but Myles Garrett remains sidelined, leaving the Rams without their most explosive edge rusher.
There’s also a familiar face across the field. Former Rams offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur returns as Arizona’s head coach, hoping his knowledge of McVay’s system can help engineer an upset.
But familiarity only goes so far when your defense resembles a revolving door.
The Rams should win this game comfortably. The bigger question is whether they can stop finding creative ways to lose.
Marquee Matchup
Matthew Stafford vs. Budda Baker
Arizona’s defense is a five-alarm fire, and Baker might be the only firefighter who remembered to bring a hose.
The six-time Pro Bowl safety recorded 11 tackles and a sack against Detroit, but he’ll have his hands full trying to organize a secondary that has surrendered explosive passing plays with alarming regularity.
Stafford is coming off one of his finest performances of the season, throwing for more than 380 yards against Buffalo. With Nacua and Adams attacking downfield, he’ll look to exploit Arizona’s depleted safety group and force Baker to choose between helping over the top and protecting against Williams underneath.
Baker can’t be everywhere, and Stafford knows it.
If the Rams establish the run early, play-action could turn this matchup into a long afternoon for Arizona’s defensive captain.
Duarte’s Decision
Rams 34, Cardinals 21
The Cardinals are exactly what the doctor ordered for a Rams team still nursing the emotional wounds of Monday night’s meltdown. Stafford should feast against Arizona’s porous secondary, while Williams and Corum exploit a defense that couldn’t contain Detroit’s running game. To be frank, like Sinatra, Arizona simply doesn’t have the defensive personnel to survive four quarters with the Rams. McVay wins a game against his former offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur, and Los Angeles finally wins a game that doesn’t require a blood pressure check.
Key Stat
148
That’s how many points Arizona has allowed in its last four games — a staggering 37 per contest. The Cardinals surrender the most points per game this season and the most yards per pass attempt in the NFL. That’s a lit fuse for Stafford and the Rams’ explosive receiving corps.