When the Los Angeles Rams face the Arizona Cardinals on Saturday night, one team is aiming for a division title while the other is finishing a disappointing non-playoff season.
If you only saw their first meeting in Week 2, it would be surprising to know which team is which.
The Rams (9-6) have rarely been blown out during coach Sean McVay’s eight years, with seven of those seasons having winning records and playoff hopes. But that’s exactly what happened when the Cardinals (7-8) defeated them 41-10 in mid-September, marking the second-largest defeat of McVay’s career.
“We got our butt kicked, and it happened quick,” Rams offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur said. “It was one of those things that you don’t really want to experience, but it does happen from time to time, where before you blink, you’re almost out of it.”
The Cardinals’ 489-yard performance was one of coach Jonathan Gannon’s high points and one of McVay’s most disappointing losses. He had never lost in Glendale before, and his Rams’ biggest defeat was a 45-6 loss to Baltimore in 2019.
This loss might have been even worse than the one to the Ravens, who had a standout performance from Lamar Jackson during his MVP season.
The Rams had no answers for Kyler Murray, a quarterback they had been able to handle in previous years, while their offense did almost nothing against an Arizona defense that hasn’t been impressive.
“It was a test of who we truly were,” Rams defensive coordinator Chris Shula said. “You were almost shocked how bad you played, and to go out and put on that type of performance, it was embarrassing, to be honest. To see what type of guys we are, we challenged them.”
Both teams’ situations have changed dramatically since September. The Rams have won eight of their last 10 games after their bye week, while the Cardinals have lost four of their last five, eliminating them from playoff contention.
Injuries have played a big role: The Rams are healthier now, while the Cardinals have lost several key players.
The Rams don’t necessarily have to beat Arizona at SoFi Stadium to win the NFC West, but they are eager to keep their momentum going for their season finale against Seattle (8-7).
Meanwhile, Murray and the frustrated Cardinals say they’re not focused on being spoilers in the rematch of their big win.
“Going into Week 2, we didn’t think that they were a bad team or anything like that,” Murray said. “I don’t think the mindset changes. Obviously, I think they’re playing better football, but no, I wouldn’t say that our mindset looking at them Week 2 versus now is any different. We still respect them.”
