By Lucas Vola — December 7, 2020 at 1:36 am
Article updated on December 7, 2020 at 6:29 a.m.
Thanks to a well-controlled game, combined with the defeat of the Seahawks, the Rams settle at the top of their division.
Arizona Cardinals (6-6) – Los Angeles Rams (8-4) : 28-38
There’s a new sheriff in the NFC West: Los Angeles. Tonight, the division is led by Sean McVay and his men. And in view of this meeting in Glendale, they fully deserve it. From both sides of the field, they proved their superiority. The defense led by exceptional players is still just as solid.
And when it bends a bit, it’s the attack and Jared Goff (37/47, 351 yards and 1 TD) who take over. We felt a class of difference between the Rams, who are gaining more and more confidence, and the Cardinals who, conversely, seem to be plunging into a negative spiral.
DeAndre Hopkins frustrated with Jalen Ramsey
However, it is Arizona that lights the first fuse. From his second pass, Kyler Murray (21/39, 173 yards, 3 TDs and 1 INT) finds his tight end, Dan Arnold (2 receptions, 61 yards and 2 TDs) completely alone in the back of the field. A 59-yard action that puts the Cardinals on track. We then think they are off to race in the lead. Nothing will happen.
What a start for the Cardinals! Kyler Murray finds a wide open Dan Arnold for a 59-yard TD
(Via @AZCardinals) pic.twitter.com/wfPapy1lzG
— 12 SPORTS (@12SportsAZ) December 6, 2020
Punt, punt, punt, punt, missed field goal. Here are the results of the following five drives which allow to gain respectively -4 yards, 6 yards, 0 yards, -1 yard and 45 yards. Kyler Murray can’t find the solution. He is harassed by Aaron Donald and the entire Californian defensive line. Worse, his favorite target, DeAndre Hopkins is perfectly contained by Jalen Ramsey with 0 yards in the first half. And even if the second period was a little better for him (8 receptions, 52 yards and 1 TD), we felt the receiver frustrated throughout the game.
To see the Cardinals score points once more, it will actually be necessary to wait until the last minutes of the third quarter. Except that in the meantime, the Rams did not wait for them. Silent for the first fifteen minutes, Los Angeles solidified its domination in the second quarter with two touchdowns.
Los Angeles confiscates the ball
A race from Cam Akers (21 races, 72 yards and 1 TD) over 9 yards then a pass from Jared Goff to Tyler Higbee over 1 yard allowed Sean McVay’s players to pass in front (7-14). Above all, they literally confiscate the ball from their opponent. It’s simple, in the first period they had possession for 22 minutes, for only 7 for the Cardinals.
Darrell Henderson up the middle! @DarrellH8 #RamsHouse
????: #LARvsAZ on FOX
????: NFL app // Yahoo Sports app: https://t.co/5w0t6mAzQq pic.twitter.com/gMzgfVjT4t— NFL (@NFL) December 6, 2020
As soon as they return from the locker room, they score three new points to take a 10-point lead (17-7). A gap that they will keep until the end of the meeting. Because every time the Cardinals get a little too close, the Rams respond to them. When Kyler Murray finally finds DeAndre Hopkins on 4 yards in the end zone (14-17), Goff replies in stride (14-24). When Kenyan Drake (10 races, 49 yards and 1 TD) goes lady following a run of 4 yards (21-24), Darrell Henderson Jr imitates him three minutes later with a ride of 38 yards (21-31).
Each blow is returned, until the final thrust at the end of the match. In the fourth quarter, the Rams cause in quick succession a fumble and then an interception. Result, 7 more points and the match is folded (21-38). Dan Arnold’s second touchdown is only anecdotal (38-28) and Los Angeles leaves Arizona with a great victory in the pocket. Sean McVay is still undefeated once morest the Cardinals (7-0), above all, the Rams are back at the top of the NFC West. Now we have to go get them.
PICK-6! #RamsHouse
Troy Hill has a touchdown in back-to-back weeks ????
????: #LARvsAZ on FOX
????: NFL app // Yahoo Sports app: https://t.co/5w0t6mAzQq pic.twitter.com/BpE1jXqOuz— NFL (@NFL) December 7, 2020
