The Detroit Lions quarterback and the Los Angeles Rams had an eventful Sunday in Arizona. At one point, Matthew Stafford was sacked by a Cardinals defender into the end zone but he got up to throw it away before anyone could touch him. The play went for a touchdown which gave his team their first lead of the game against Carson Palmer’s squad.,
Matthew Stafford, quarterback for the Detroit Lions, and the Rams beat the Arizona Cardinals through air in 30.
LOS ANGELES, Calif. (AP) — The Los Angeles Rams beat the Arizona Cardinals 30-23 on Monday night, with Matthew Stafford throwing for 287 yards and three touchdowns, Cooper Kupp and Odell Beckham Jr. both catching a touchdown pass.
Cardinals (10-3) will have to wait at least another week to win their first postseason berth since 2015. Kyler Murray threw two interceptions, both of which were returned for scores by the Rams.
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Following a three-game losing run in November, the Rams (9-4) seem revitalized after winning their second consecutive game and pulling within one game of the Cardinals in the NFC West.
Kupp recorded 13 receptions for 123 yards, his sixth 100-yard game of the season.
(Photo courtesy of Getty Images/Norm Hall)
After recovering an onside kick in the waning seconds, the Cardinals had a chance to tie the game. However, a holding penalty on the first play of the drive negated a big Murray run, and Arizona was unable to pull off a last-second miracle.
Stafford, who had plenty of protection and time to throw much of the night, connected with Van Jefferson on a 52-yard touchdown pass early in the third quarter to put the Rams up 20-13. The veteran quarterback tore apart a Cardinals defense that had been among the best in the NFL this season against the pass.
Murray was intercepted for the second time a few plays later by Leonard Floyd, who tipped the ball into the air, grabbed it, and then rumbled downfield to the Arizona 19. Stafford connected with a diving Kupp for a 4-yard score, putting the Rams up 27-13.
Early in the fourth quarter, James Conner smashed through the Rams’ defense for an 8-yard score to trim the deficit to 27-20.
Murray threw for 383 yards as the Cardinals sought to make up ground late in the game.
(Photo courtesy of Getty Images/Norm Hall)
Arizona’s Matt Prater kicked his second 53-yard field goal of the half, tying the game 13-13 with 1 second remaining after Murray scrambled for 16 yards and went out of bounds. After a back-and-forth first half in which both teams had the lead and then lost it, the six-play, 35-second drive brought the game to a close.
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Prater kicked a 53-yard field goal to start the game. Later in the first quarter, Arizona threatened to score again, but Murray was intercepted by Ernest Jones on second-and-goal from the 4 after Aaron Donald deflected the throw.
Donald, a six-time Pro Bowl selection, had a strong first quarter with a sack, a tackle for loss, and a quarterback hurry. He ended the game with three sacks, raising his season total to ten.
(Photo courtesy of Getty Images/Christian Petersen)
When Stafford hit Beckham for a 2-yard touchdown, the Rams turned the interception into a touchdown. On the drive, Stafford completed all seven of his passes.
Beckham’s score was his third since joining the Rams last month. In Cleveland’s six games this season, he did not score a touchdown. It was also the first time since 2015 that he had three touchdowns in a row.
THE END ZONE’S NOSE
Late in the second quarter, Arizona’s Conner scored from 1 yard out to tie the game at 10-all, exploding into the end zone on a second attempt after rebounding off a pile. Connor scores a touchdown in seven consecutive games, matching John David Crow’s team record from 1960.
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Jalen Ramsey and Tyler Higbee, both of whom were placed on the COVID-19 list earlier Monday, did not play for the Rams. It was the first time both players have been absent from a game this season.
Ramsey came into Monday with three interceptions, the most on the team. Higbee has 395 yards and three touchdowns on 44 catches.
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(The Associated Press, Copyright 2021.) All Rights Reserved by the Author. It is forbidden to publish, broadcast, rewrite, or disseminate this content.)
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