Los Angeles Rams vs. Arizona Cardinals Live In-Game Updates, Highlights: Rams Win 37-14

The Los Angeles Rams will look to complete their season sweep of the Arizona Cardinals in Week 12. How much trouble will quarterback Kyler Murray cause Los Angeles' defense?

The Los Angeles Rams have endured some midseason struggles and come out, somehow, still alive. At 4-6, the Rams have a route to the conference’s seventh seed. Doing so will take a little bit of luck and winning the games they have to, and perhaps a few they won’t be favored to win.

On Sunday, they’ll play a game from the former category. Having won the first matchup between the two, 26-9, at SoFi Stadium, this one will come on the road. Essentially every game is a must-win moving forward. Subsequently, receiver Cooper Kupp has done everything in his power to play. He’s dealing with an ankle injury, and publicly revealed he’s not at 100 percent, but intends to give it a go.

Rams receiver Cooper Kupp breaks a tackle against the Cardinals / Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

Kupp should give the offense a nice boost, one that they’ll need against an Arizona team that is much improved since their earlier matchup. Quarterback Josh Dobbs has been traded and Kyler Murray has made a healthy return in his place.

Murray is as dynamic as they come at the quarterback position, and while the Cardinals are just 1-1 with him under center, the offense is much more potent. It’ll be an important challenge for a defense coming off one of its best performances of the season, stifling the Seattle Seahawks in a divisional win.

Rams vs. Cardinals Preview: Can Defense Stay Hot vs. Kyler Murray

It’s possible Los Angeles leans on the run game to limit Arizona’s possessions. Running back Kyren Williams is back in the fold after a stint on injured reserve. While head coach Sean McVay anticipates a managed workload, the Rams are happy to have their best running back on the field.

Expect this one to remain close, especially if Los Angeles’ inexperienced defense struggles to find consistency against a new challenge in Murray.

WHAT: Los Angeles Rams (4-6) vs. Arizona Cardinals (2-9)

WHERE: State Farm Stadium, Glendale, AZ (63,400)

WHEN: Sunday, Nov. 26, 2023, 1:05 p.m. (PT)

TELEVISION: FOX

RADIO: ESPNLA 710 AM, Tu Liga 1330 AM

ODDS: Rams -2.5 (-125), -152 Moneyline, Total: 44.5 (o -118/u -110)

Live updates will appear after kickoff.

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FIRST QUARTER

Rams First Drive: The Cardinals deferred, kicking off to Los Angeles to begin the game.

Quarterback Matthew Stafford began the day with an incompletion to Kupp, which was followed by a short Williams rush. On third down, Stafford unloaded one to receiver Tutu Atwell for a 42-yard catch.

Soon after, the Rams would face a fourth-and-1, and Williams was able to convert on the ground. A short completion to tight end Tyler Higbee would result in the game's first score.

The Rams lead 7-0 with 11:18 remaining in the first quarter.

Cardinals First Drive: Running back James Conner saw the first four touches of the drive. Receiver Marquise Brown ripped off a 17-yard catch, which was followed by two chain-moving completions to tight end Trey McBride and receiver Greg Dortch.

In a goal-to-go situation, a defensive holding preceded an incompletion and a Conner run that couldn't cross the plane. On third down, a read option resulted in a Murray touchdown. A defensive penalty on the goalline turned a made extra point into a two-point attempt. Backup quarterback Clayton Tune successfully converted a tush-push.

The Rams trail 8-7 with 4:50 remaining in the first quarter.

Rams Second Drive: Los Angeles' second drive began with a Williams 11-yard reception. 

That was followed up by five consecutive positive gains, three of which went for six yards. On third down, a screen to receiver Ben Skowronek would not be successful. The Rams decided to punt.

Cardinals Second Drive: Arizona's drive would quickly stall out on the final three plays of the quarter.

The Rams trail 8-7 at the end of the first quarter.

SECOND QUARTER

Rams Third Drive: Running back Royce Freeman began the drive with a 14-yard rush. Expect to see him get some work, even as the backup to Williams.

Atwell saw another chunk gain, this time for 13 yards. A few plays later, Stafford would connect with Higbee in the end zone for his second touchdown of the day.

The Rams lead 14-8 with 9:57 remaining in the second quarter.

Cardinals Third Drive: Arizona quickly punted after a three-and-out.

Rams Fourth Drive: Williams saw the first four touches of the drive, highlighted by a 24-yard screen to bring them into Cardinals' territory. 

The ensuing set of downs would set up a Lucas Havrisik field goal, which was no good.

Cardinals Fourth Drive: The Cardinals set themselves up with a fourth-and-short situation heading into the two-minute warning.

They decided to go for it, and Murray's pass was incomplete. Los Angeles will take over in Arizona territory.

Rams Fifth Drive: Higbee saw Stafford's first completion of the drive, followed by a short Kupp catch. Atwell then hauled in a 21-yard catch.

On the next play, Williams caught another pass, this time for 15 yards and a score.

The Rams lead 21-8 with 0:59 remaining in the first half.

Cardinals Fifth Drive: Firmly in a two-minute drill, Murray found McBride for six yards.

Murray then threw two incompletions, ending the drive.

Rams Sixth Drive: Williams began the drive with a 24-yard run, but the drive was cut short by a Stafford interception.

Cardinals Sixth Drive: Arizona would settle for a field goal after a couple of runs.

Matt Prater's 56-yard field goal was good to end the half, but it was taken off the board by a holding call.

The Rams lead 21-8 at halftime.

Cardinals Seventh Drive: Arizona's second half began with a seemingly slow start, but a fake punt on fourth-and-7 moved the chains.

A holding and a chop block would bring them back to first-and-34. Soon after, a false start set them back further, but Murray found receiver Rondale Moore for 20 yards to make matters a little bit better. The Cardinals decided to punt.

Rams Seventh Drive: Williams broke off a 56-yard run to begin the Rams' second-half efforts.

Like their last meeting, the Rams leaned on the ground game to begin the half. Los Angeles ran the ball five times to begin the drive.

Ultimately, the Rams would extend the lead with a field goal.

The Rams lead 24-8 with 7:33 remaining in the third quarter.

Cardinals Eighth Drive: Arizona, conversely, took to the air on this drive. The first six plays of the drive were all passes, netting 37 yards.

The drive would stall out just into Los Angeles territory, leading to a missed field goal from Prater.

Rams Eighth Drive: Stafford missed receiver Puka Nacua to start the drive, but went back to him for 14 yards.

After a Stafford scramble and a Freeman rush, the Rams found themselves in a third-and-5 situation. Receiver Demarcus Robinson moved the chains with a seven-yard catch.

The Rams lead 24-8 at the end of the third quarter.

FOURTH QUARTER

Lod Angeles began the quarter in the red zone. After two Williams rushes and an incompletion, Stafford found Williams in the end zone for a score.

The Rams lead 31-8 with 12:41 remaining in the fourth quarter.

Cardinals Ninth Drive: Conner lost four yards on the first play of the drive.

On third-and-14, Murray took a 14-yard sack. The Cardinals, once again, punted.

Rams Ninth Drive: Los Angeles called its second timeout before making a fourth-down decision. Williams would wind up converting.

Two plays later, Freeman ran for a 23-yard score.

The Rams lead 37-8 with 8:19 remaining in the fourth quarter.

Cardinals Tenth Drive: Arizona had itself a fourth-down decision to make, too, but defensive holding moved the chains. 

Running back Michael Carter has gotten the majority of snaps at running back on this drive as the Cardinals hope to get him acclimated. On third-and-1, Carter rushed for five yards and a new set of downs. 

Later in the drive, Murray would hit Dortch for a score, but a two-point conversion failed.

The Rams lead 37-14 with 5:12 remaining in the fourth quarter.

Rams Tenth Drive: Running back Zach Evans found himself in the game, starting with a two-yard rush. He followed that up with a loss of one yard. A fruitless third-down rush saw an offensive holding penalty declined. The Rams would punt.

Cardinals Eleventh Drive: Murray was sacked for a 10-yard loss on the drive's opening play. Carter saw two touches for nine total yards on the ensuing plays before the two-minute warning.

A few more Murray attempts would bring this one to a close.

The Rams won, 37-14, to advance to 5-6.