Who won Monday Night Football? Rams vs Cardinals | Week 14

The Los Angeles Rams shook off a handful of off the field problems with their best performance of the season. The Rams defense kept Kyler Murray quiet as Matt Stafford threw for three touchdowns in L.A.’s 30-23 win at State Farm Stadium.

Sean McVay’s side were dealt a devastating blow just hours before kickoff when news broke that Jalen Ramsey and a handful of other Rams tested positive for COVID. Even without Ramsey the defense limited Arizona’s top rated offense and had Kyler Murray under constant pressure all night long.

Murray returned home for the first time in a month after missing all of November with an ankle injury. It was an unsuccessful homecoming for the one time MVP favorite earlier in the season. Despite the struggles, Arizona had a chance to tie the game on the last play of the night, but Aaron Donald came up with the game winning sack.

Down 3-0, the Rams came up with the play of the game late in the first quarter, when the Murray was picked off in the endzone by Ernest Jones. That set up a long Los Angeles touchdown drive that resulted in a 14 point swing after Matt Stafford hit Odell Beckham Jr. for a two yard touchdown and put the Cardinals on the ropes for the rest of the night.

Los Angeles added a field goal, the first of Matt Gay’s three successful attempts, to extend the lead to a touchdown. James Conner came to life after that, leading the Cardinals down the field with his receptions rather than his rushing. He capped the drive off with a one yard run.

Rams start 2nd half with two quick TDs

After exchanging late first half field goals, both teams went to halftime tied at 13-13. Los Angeles came out guns blazing in the third quarter, scoring a touchdown in the first minute and a half coming out of the break. Two plays later they intercepted Murray and returned it down to the ARI 19. Stafford hit Cooper Kupp on a four yard touchdown pass and five minutes into the second half the Rams led 27-13.

The Cardinals cut into the lead early in the fourth quarter with the Conner’s second touchdown run of the game to give the home side hope.

Matt Gay hit his final field goal of the game on the next drive to put the Rams up 30-20 midway through the fourth quarter.

Cardinals comeback comes up short

The Cardinals didn’t score against until there was under a minute to go in the game. A Matt Prater field goal cut the lead to seven, and the successful onside kick gave Arizona a slim chance to tie the game in the final seconds.

Murray had a chance for a Hail Mary, but didn’t even get the chance to let his receivers make a play of it after being sacked by Aaron Donald for the third time in the game.

The win brings the Rams to within a game of the lead in the NFC West as they seem to have shaken off their three game losing streak they suffered before their bye week. The Cardinals now drop to 10-3 after their loss in six games. They are now tied with the Green Bay Packers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the NFC, but will sit third because of tie breaks.