“I think we’re just jelling at the right time,” Rams pass rusher Von Miller said. “We’ve been doing the same thing since I got here. It just feels like it’s working. The offense is playing well. Special teams is playing well. And our defense is feeding off that.”
The fourth-seeded Rams moved on to an NFC divisional-round matchup Sunday in Tampa against the second-seeded Buccaneers. The fifth-seeded Cardinals are done far earlier than they had hoped when they were the league’s top team through the early stages of the regular season.
“I thought our guys just did a good job… playing a complete game,” Rams Coach Sean McVay said. “And that’s what we wanted to be able to do coming in here…. Our guys are really mentally tough. And now we’ve got to be able to stack another block next week against the Bucs.”
Quarterback Matthew Stafford threw two touchdown passes for the Rams, one to Odell Beckham Jr. and the other to fellow wide receiver Cooper Kupp. Stafford also had a rushing touchdown. Beckham threw and completed a long pass on a trick play. McVay won two key instant replay challenges. Miller had a sack and the Rams intercepted Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray twice, returning one for a touchdown.
“It was everybody,” Stafford said.
Stafford secured his career postseason triumph. He’d been 0-3 in the playoffs with the Detroit Lions.
“I thought he did a great job leading the way,” McVay said during his postgame news conference. “He’s still the same great player to me. And he always was before this game as well. And so I think it’s good so you guys don’t have to talk about that any more.”
The Rams scored the game’s first 28 points and never looked back. It was 21-0 at halftime and the game was essentially over at that point. This was what the Rams envisioned when they geared up for a Super Bowl run.
They traded for Stafford in the offseason. They traded for Miller, adding him to a star-studded defense with tackle Aaron Donald and cornerback Jalen Ramsey, during the season, then signed Beckham after he was released by the Cleveland Browns. They won the division crown, although McVay had to hold things together amid a three-game losing skid in November. The Rams regrouped with a five-game winning streak.
McVay beat the Cardinals for the 10th time in 11 meetings since becoming the coach of the Rams. The Rams were victorious in the NFL’s first Monday night playoff game since last year’s expansion of the postseason field.
The Cardinals lost in the NFL playoff debuts of Murray and Coach Kliff Kingsbury. They’d defeated the Rams earlier this season at SoFi Stadium, and they’d gone 8-1 on the road during the regular season. But they could not carry that away-from-home proficiency into the playoffs. Even the return of veteran defensive standout J.J. Watt, who was activated from the injured reserve list earlier Monday, didn’t help.
“We put up an embarrassing performance,” Watt said. “There’s no other way to put it, really.”
The Cardinals ended the season losing four of their final five regular season games following a 10-2 start.
“That’s not indicative of who we want to be,” Kingsbury said. “And unfortunately that showed up tonight.”
The Rams, at least for one night, resembled the super-team they have tried so hard to assemble. They dominated the first half in every way and outgained the Cardinals, 180 total yards to 40. The Cardinals helped out with a series of blunders.
“That game wasn’t competitive at all,” Murray said. “It’s disappointing that we didn’t make it a game and come out and play the football we know we’re capable of playing. That’s really the most disappointing part. Losing is one thing. But when you don’t even make it competitive, that’s another thing. So that’s disappointing.”
Stafford lobbed a four-yard touchdown pass to Beckham on a first-quarter fade pattern. Stafford reached the end zone on a one-yard quarterback sneak in the second quarter, courtesy of McVay’s challenge after Stafford originally had been ruled short of the goal line.
McVay also had a successful challenge to negate a catch by the Cardinals on the play before Murray, being hit as he was attempting to pass out of his own end zone, flung the ball wildly toward no one in particular. Rams linebacker David Long Jr. grabbed the ball for an interception and eased three yards into the end zone.
“The defense was phenomenal,” McVay said.
Stafford’s seven-yard touchdown pass to Kupp in the third quarter increased the lead to 28-0.
“I felt like I was putting the ball in the right place for the majority of the night…. Our guys made great plays,” Stafford said. “That’s how I expect to go out and play every game. It doesn’t always happen that way. But I just felt good out there, felt comfortable. And our team played great.”
Continue reading for more game coverage and analysis:
Rams look like a super-team in overwhelming Cardinals, 34-11
Return to menuThe all-in, go-for-broke, Super Bowl-or-bust Los Angeles Rams play on. They still have a chance to make their huge investments pay off with the postseason glory they have pursued so intently.
The Rams, after making a series of high-profile player moves in a bold bid to return to the upper tier of NFL contenders and advance deep into the postseason, more than survived the opening round of the playoffs. They thrived. Their stars played like stars. The Rams raised their level of play and beat the Arizona Cardinals, 34-11, Monday night in Inglewood, Calif., in a postseason matchup of NFC West foes.
The fourth-seeded Rams moved on to an NFC divisional-round matchup Sunday in Tampa, against the second-seeded Buccaneers. The fifth-seeded Cardinals are done far earlier than they’d hoped when they were the league’s top team through the early stages of the regular season.
Quarterback Matthew Stafford threw two touchdown passes for the Rams, one to Odell Beckham Jr. and the other to fellow wide receiver Cooper Kupp. Stafford also had a rushing touchdown. Beckham threw and completed a long pass on a trick play. Coach Sean McVay won two key instant-replay challenges. Von Miller had a sack and the Rams intercepted Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray twice, returning one for a touchdown.
The Rams scored the game’s first 28 points and never looked back. It was 21-0 at halftime and basically over then. This was what the Rams envisioned when they geared up for a Super Bowl run. (Rams 34, Cardinals 11)
Rams get another field goal
Return to menuIt has become a field goal duel. Rams kicker Matt Gay added a 46-yard field goal.
The outcome is very much in hand now, with 4:21 remaining. (Rams 34, Cardinals 11)
Cardinals’ Budda Baker taken off on stretcher after collision with Rams’ Cam Akers
Return to menuCardinals safety Budda Baker was taken from the field on a stretcher after being injured in a violent collision with Rams running back Cam Akers.
Baker remained down on the turf after tackling Akers at the end of a running play.
Cardinals players immediately signaled for the team’s medical staff to assist Baker. Players and coaches from both teams gathered on the field around him.
Baker, while on the stretcher, motioned with his hand before being taken from the field.
ESPN reported that Baker was moving his hands and was speaking to emergency responders after being taken from the field.
The Cardinals said initial indications were that Baker suffered a concussion. He will not return to the game, the team said. The Cardinals said through a spokesman that Baker had movement and feeling in all his extremities as he left the field.
Cardinals players originally were upset with a hand gesture made by Akers as he walked past Baker following the play.
Matt Prater hits 55-yard field goal for Cards
Return to menuThe Cardinals moved a bit closer with a long field goal. Kicker Matt Prater connected from 55 yards.
The Cardinals have steadied themselves a bit. But field goals obviously won’t get it done at this point, with 10:11 to play. (Rams 31, Cardinals 11)
Rams open fourth quarter with field goal
Return to menuThe Rams increased their lead with a field goal on the opening snap of the fourth quarter. Kicker Matt Gay connected from 37 yards.
Matthew Stafford had a 41-yard completion to wide receiver Van Jefferson during the drive.
The Rams were pushed back by a holding penalty. (Rams 31, Cardinals 8)
James Conner’s touchdown gets Cards on the board
Return to menuThe Cardinals got on the board with two-yard touchdown run by tailback James Conner. They converted on fourth down on their way to dozen-play, 75-yard touchdown march, then added a successful two-point conversion.
Kyler Murray scrambled for seven yards and a first down on fourth and four from the Arizona 44-yard line.
Murray had a 23-yard completion to wide receiver Christian Kirk. (Rams 28, Cardinals 8)
Rams get Stafford-to-Cooper Kupp touchdown after trick-play pass by Odell Beckham Jr.
Return to menuThe Rams used a gadget-play pass thrown by wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. to move into position for another touchdown, scored on a seven-yard pass from Matthew Stafford to wideout Cooper Kupp.
Kupp got open at the goal line on the right side of the field and pulled in a low throw by Stafford.
The touchdown was set up by a 40-yard completion from Beckham to running back Cam Akers.
Stafford threw a backward pass to his left to Beckham, who made the grab and threw the ball back across the field to Akers on the right side.
Stafford remained in the game after absorbing a heavy hit to his chest on a passing attempt during the drive. (Rams 28, Cardinals 0)
Rams dominate Cardinals on their way to 21-0 halftime lead
Return to menuThis is what the Rams had in mind when they assembled a would-be superteam. They lead the Cardinals, 21-0, at halftime Monday night at SoFi Stadium in a first-round NFC playoff game.
The Rams dominated in every way and outgained the Cardinals, 180 total yards to 40. The Cardinals helped out with a series of blunders. Quarterback Kyler Murray threw two interceptions, one of which the Rams returned for a touchdown.
Quarterback Matthew Stafford threw a touchdown pass to wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. for the Rams. Stafford also scored a rushing touchdown on a quarterback sneak, courtesy of a successful instant replay challenge by Coach Sean McVay after Stafford originally had been ruled short of the goal line.
McVay also had a successful challenge to negate a catch by the Cardinals on the play before Murray, being hit as he was attempting to pass out of his own end zone, flung the ball wildly toward no one in particular. Rams linebacker David Long Jr. grabbed the ball for an interception and eased three yards into the end zone. (Rams 21, Cardinals 0)
Murray throws another interception
Return to menuKyler Murray threw another interception, this one to defensive tackle Marquise Copeland. Murray attempted to throw a short pass to running back James Conner.
But the ball deflected off Conner and was grabbed on the carom by Copeland.
The Rams took over at their own 49-yard line, seeking to add to their 21-0 lead. (Rams 21, Cardinals 0)
Kyler Murray throws egregious pick-six as Rams make it 21-0
Return to menuIt went from bad to worse — actually from very, very bad to much, much worse — for the Cardinals.
The Rams increased their lead on an interception returned for a touchdown by linebacker David Long Jr., courtesy of an egregious gaffe by Kyler Murray.
Murray, trying to pass out of his own end zone, was being hit by Rams linebacker Troy Reeder. Murray flung the ball into the air, Long made the grab at the Arizona 3-yard line and coasted into the end zone.
The touchdown came on the play after a successful instant replay challenge by Rams Coach Sean McVay negated what would have been a 22-yard catch by Cardinals wide receiver A.J. Green.
The on-field officials originally ruled the play a catch by Green and then a fumble out of bounds. On the review, they called it an incompletion. (Rams 21, Cardinals 0)
Cards have minus-4 yards of total offense through four drives
Return to menuThe Cardinals are doing absolutely nothing on offense.
Through four drives, they have minus-4 yards of total offense. They have no first downs and have punted four times.
Kyler Murray was sacked to open Arizona’s fourth possession. Aaron Donald shared the sack for the Rams. (Rams 14, Cardinals 0)
Bagikan Berita Ini
0 Response to "Rams demolish Cardinals in Matthew Stafford's first playoff win - The Washington Post"
Post a Comment