Rams dominated by Cardinals in Arizona

The Rams had no answer for quarterback Kyler Murray and the Cardinals as Murray's 325 total yards and two touchdowns helped lead Arizona to their 41-10 home-opening victory. The Cardinals attacked the Rams defense early and often behind the play of Murray and superstar rookie receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. Harrison finished the game with four catches for 130 yards and two touchdown. Most of his yardage came in the first quarter.

Murray was the star of stars in the blowout win for Arizona as the Rams had no answer for his ability to extend plays and find open receivers down the field. "He's an elusive quarterback and we didn't do a good enough job in our rush lanes," Rams defensive tackle Kobe Turner said after the game. "We left our feet a bunch of time. Leaving your feet wasn't a good option because he is going to be able to break those tackles and turn them into explosive plays."

The Rams defense had their issues containing the run as well, allowing 231 yards on the ground. Cardinals running back James Connor led the way with 21 carries for 122 yards (5.8 yards per carry) and a touchdown.

In such a lopsided defeat, the struggles did not stop there. Quarterback Matthew Stafford and the Rams offense had their issues also. The offense didn't score their first touchdown of the game until late in the third quarter when running back Kyren Williams scored when the game was already out of hand.

Stafford finished the game completing 19/27 for 216 yards but he was sacked five times and pressured throughout the game as the team was shorthanded on the offensive line because of injuries. The running game couldn't get going with Williams rushing for a measly 25 of the team's total 53 yards running the ball for the day.

"As an offensive lineman we always have to look internally and it's not what a defensive line did. It's more about what we didn't do," Rams starting right tackle Rob Havenstein. "We didn't block well enough. We didn't pass protect well enough, we didn't run the ball well enough, we didn't get enough men handled to move them up front. So at the end of the day, we didn't do our job."

Injuries are becoming a problem for the Rams' as star wide receiver Cooper Kupp was lost for the game in the third quarter due to an ankle injury. Los Angeles was already without three starting lineman and wide receiver Puka Nacua.

"These are humbling moments, these aren't moments that you would like to have," coach Sean McVay said. "But if you got the right growth mindset. You will take it in stride and handle it like a man and that's exactly what I expect our coaches, players to do and that's what I expect from myself."

The Rams hope to regroup next week at home in a tough division matchup at against rival San Francisco 49ers to avoid an 0-3 start.