INGLEWOOD (Calif.) -- Arizona led the Rams by 20 factors with simply 4 1/2 minutes remaining on the raucous SoFi Stadium. Matthew Stafford's 13 12 months quest to win his first playoff victory was nearly over after Los Angeles' dominating efficiency on each ends of the ball.
The Cardinals protection was nonetheless in full swing because the quarterback ran on third-and-3 via the center of their protection, a joyous, perilous scramble that ended with no first down.
Stafford did not neglect to have enjoyable, even beneath monumental stress postseason. Stafford was robust sufficient to deal with all of it, and the Rams at the moment are using him to Tampa Bay.
Stafford handed for 202 yards, two touchdowns, and ran for one more rating in his playoff win. The Rams received the wild-card spherical with a 34-11 win over Arizona Monday evening.
Stafford acknowledged, "What a workforce effort." "Our protection carried out admirably tonight. We have been in a position to rating some factors on offense and win the sport due to particular groups. We're comfortable to maneuver on.
Cooper Kupp and Odell Beckham Jr. made landing catch for the NFC West champion Rams (13-5), which is able to host the defending Tremendous Bowl champion Buccaneers (Sunday, February 7) to safe a spot on the NFC championship sport.
David Lengthy scored on a 3-yard interception, whereas Kyler Murray was harassed by the Rams' protection. Los Angeles led 28-0 on the finish of the sport, earlier than main comfortably within the playoff sport at SoFi. SoFi will host Tremendous Bowl 56 subsequent 12 months.
Stafford carried out admirably in his first playoff sport for the Rams. He accomplished 13 of his 17 cross makes an attempt with out an interception, and even had three drops. On a goal-line steal, Stafford scored his first playoff speeding TD. He additionally directed LA's offense and received his first playoff victory in a profession that started 12 years in the past in Detroit. His Lions have been 0-3 within the playoffs.
McVay acknowledged that he thought McVay did a terrific job main us. McVay mentioned, "He is nonetheless a terrific participant to me, as he was earlier than this sport." It is nice that you do not have the necessity to focus on it anymore. We're so comfortable to have been in a position to do it with him. We would not be the place we're with out him as our chief.
Stafford was the star of the Rams postseason, regardless of a disappointing end to their common season.
Beckham had 4 54-yard catches, together with his first playoff landing catch and Rams' first level. Beckham additionally threw a 40 yard cross in his first postseason win.
Von Miller, a linebacker, added six tackles to his postseason debut since he received the MVP award in Tremendous Bowl fifty.
The Cardinals went 19-34 for 137 yards and two interceptions from Murray (11-7), following a 10-2 begin with a slide of 1-5. Arizona misplaced the sport on the street for the second time this season, after dropping 10 video games beneath Kliff Kingsbury.
Kingsbury acknowledged that "we did not do any proper within the first two quarters." The Rams performed properly and managed the environment. We have been simply out-of-sync as an offense on a couple of issues that would have altered the sport. They made large performs and we by no means discovered our rhythm.
The Cardinals have just one playoff win since 2009, and James Conner ran for a landing. Murray was 7 for 17, for 28 yards, and threw two interceptions throughout an unpleasant first half. The Cardinals have been trailing 21-0 with solely 40 yards of offense once they lastly received their first down.
Murray acknowledged, "Shedding might be one factor however dropping is one other."
Los Angeles was up three touchdowns after Troy Reeder, linebacker, put stress on Murray and he pressured Murray to throw the ball out of bounds to keep away from a security. Lengthy scored the NFL's shortest pick-6 by making a spectacular interception. He took only one step to make it.
Stafford's 4-yard cross to Beckham capped the Rams' second offensive drive. In his eight earlier video games, the veteran wideout has tallied six TD catches since he joined Rams at midseason.
The Cardinals lastly had a primary down after Lengthy's TD. Nonetheless, Marquise Copeland, a Rams lineman, received his first interception of the season on a deflected ball.
Aaron Donald, All-Professional Rams defensive participant, mentioned that he felt just like the Rams have been dominant. "I really feel just like the quarterback was not comfy in any respect."
QB OBJ
Kupp's TD catch was made after halftime by Beckham's sharp 40 yard cross down the sideline in direction of Cam Akers -- the sixth completion in Beckham’s eight-year-long profession.
Akers acknowledged, "He ought to've led me a bit." "Nah, I am enjoying."
WEDDLE'S RESCUE
Eric Weddle, a 37-year-old veteran, was given vital enjoying time by the Rams in his first NFL sport because the 2019 season's finale. Two-time All-Professional security Eric Weddle retired final week after Los Angeles misplaced Taylor Rapp and Jordan Fuller to concussions.
INJURIES
After a helmet-tohelmet collision with Akers, Cardinals security Budda Baker was taken off the sector and positioned on a stretcher. Baker was surrounded by gamers who knelt down to specific concern. Baker was admitted to the hospital for additional analysis. Nonetheless, he nonetheless had motion in his extremities.
Akers mentioned that it was a soccer play. He had 95 yards. It wasn't one thing private. Budda's workforce has my deepest respect."
In his first sport since October, J.J. Watt recorded three tackles for Arizona. Three-time NFL Defensive Participant Of The 12 months, Watt needed to have shoulder surgical procedure however was in a position to return rapidly to help the Cardinals.
Each Lengthy (knee), and Rams left deal with Andrew Whitworth(ankle) have been each out of motion within the second interval.
UP NEXT
Cardinals: A postseason evaluation of what went improper in a promising season.
Rams: A matchup with the Buccaneers, Tom Brady and Murray. Brady has extra playoff expertise than Murray.
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