Rams lose to Lions, battle Cardinals on Sunday

There’s something about the Motor City. The Los Angeles Rams began their 2024 campaign by losing their second consecutive game against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field last Sunday night. Once again, the Rams shot themselves in the foot in the 26-20 overtime loss, courtesy of the offense failing to retain possession of the ball in the closing minutes after taking the lead with 4:30 remaining on the clock.

“We had those opportunities to close that game out in that four-minute. We went up, defense got us a stop and we needed to find a way to ideally close out the game there,” said Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp, who scored one of the team’s two touchdowns while catching 14 passes for 110 yards.

Four of the Rams top six offensive linemen were not available for the second half after left tackle Joe Noteboom being carted off the field in the first half with an ankle injury. Quarterback Matthew Stafford and the Rams offense outplayed the Lions, leading in total offense 387-363 total yards. Trailing 10-3 just before halftime, Stafford drove the Rams to the Detroit 8-yard line but threw an interception to the Lions’ Kerby Joseph in the end zone.

“It kind of boils down to the last time we came here, similar circumstances and the fact that we didn’t come away with enough points in the Red Zone,” said Stafford. Stafford didn’t regret the decision to throw the ball that was intercepted but didn’t like the way he threw it, “higher and harder probably gets us a touchdown.

The Rams immediately turn their attention to another road match against the Arizona Cardinals, both teams (0-1) trail NFC Division rivals the San Francisco 49ers and Seattle Seahawks who both won their games in the opening week. The good news for the Rams is that they have not lost to the Arizona since 2014. Rams Head Coach Sean McVay also has a 12-1 lifetime record versus Arizona.

Cardinal quarterback Kyler Murray, with one win against the Rams in eight games, also lost a close one on the road to Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills in Week 1, 34-28. Murray completed 13 of 21 passes for 162 yards and one touchdown, but was sacked four times. Running back James Conner led the Cardinals in rushing with 16 carries for 50 yards, while Greg Dortch led the receivers with six receptions for 47 yards.

In comparison, Stafford was sacked only two times while completing 34 passes in 49 attempts playing behind a very inexperienced front line. The Rams defense sacked Goff twice last Sunday during 28 pass attempts with Jared Verse and Byron Young registering one each. The Cardinals sacked Allen, who likes to take off running at will, two times.

Last year, the Rams took the Cardinals apart at Arizona, 37-14, while sacking Murray four times. A win is critical for both teams as only 11% of the teams beginning the season with an 0-2 record have made the NFL Playoffs. Arizona has made the playoffs three times since 2014, the last time in the 2021 post-season when they lost to the Rams 34-11 in a Wild-Card game.

Eight ago in the NFC Wild Card matchup the Rams were eliminated from the post-season, 24-23, in Detroit with Lions quarterback Jared Goff savoring the win over his former teammates. In both games the Rams failed to capitalize multiple times in the red zone, clearly the difference each time. In five attempts in the red zone last Sunday, they scored one touchdown and one field goal.

Falling behind in Detroit last Sunday, 17-3 early in the third quarter, the Rams mounted a rally with running back Kyren Williams scoring on a 2-yard rush late in quarter. Williams led the team in rushing with 50 yards on 18 carries. Rookie kicker Joshua Karty converted a 26-yard field goal early in the fourth quarter, his second successful field goal after nailing his very first NFL field goal attempt to open the game’s scoring. Kupp then gave the Rams a 20-17 lead with a 9-yard touchdown reception with 4:30 remaining in regulation

Yet ultimately, Goff was able to drive the Lions in the last two minutes, resulting in a 32-yard tying field goal by rookie kicker Jake Bates to send the game into overtime. The Lions won the coin toss and drove the ball 70 yards into the end zone, winning the game on David Montgomery’s 8-yard rush up the middle.

“I am proud of this group,” said McVay. “It’s tough when you come out here and go toe-to-toe. It’s an excellent football team (Lions). I got a ton of respect for Coach (Dan) Campbell and the way that they do their deal, and they ultimately closed it out and hats off for them doing that.