Rams Control Cardinals as Week 18 Rivalry Ends with SoFi Stadium Statement
So this was how the Arizona Cardinals wrapped up a long and frustrating 2025 regular season — another tough outing against a familiar NFC West rival, this time on the road at SoFi Stadium against the Los Angeles Rams. Coming into Week 18, neither team was riding much momentum. Arizona had just been handled 37-14 by the Bengals, while the Rams were coming off a narrow 27-24 loss to the Falcons. Still, there was plenty at stake, especially for a Rams team looking to lock in playoff positioning and finish strong.
From the opening minutes, it felt like one of those grind-it-out games where every yard had to be earned. Arizona’s first drive started with a small spark, as Jacoby Brissett completed a short pass to Trey McBride, but things unraveled quickly. A penalty, a stalled play, and then a strip sack set the tone. The Rams were gifted great field position, but the Cardinals’ defense managed to bend without completely breaking, holding Los Angeles to a field goal. That theme carried through much of the first half.
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The early part of the game turned into a steady exchange of kicks rather than touchdowns. Chad Ryland and Rams kicker Harrison Mevis traded long field goals as both offenses struggled to punch the ball into the end zone. Brissett settled in briefly, spreading the ball to Michael Wilson and McBride, and Arizona managed to tie things up at 3-3 and later again at 6-6. For a while, it looked like this might turn into a low-scoring, one-possession battle.
The defining moment of the first half came late in the second quarter. A pass intended for Michael Wilson was grabbed by both Wilson and Rams cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon, and after a brief fight for possession, it was ruled an interception. The call could have gone either way, but it stood, and the Rams capitalized. Los Angeles quickly moved into range and added another field goal as time expired, taking a 16-6 lead into halftime.
Earlier in that same quarter, Matthew Stafford had finally cracked the end zone on a crucial fourth-and-goal. After Arizona stopped the Rams on third-and-goal from the one, Stafford went back to Puka Nacua, who pulled in a one-handed touchdown that broke a long streak of combined field goals. Stafford’s numbers weren’t flashy, but they were efficient, and Nacua once again proved to be a reliable target when it mattered most.
By the time the dust settled, the game reflected the larger story of the season for both teams. The Rams looked composed, opportunistic, and playoff-ready, while the Cardinals showed flashes but couldn’t sustain consistency. For Arizona, the final whistle marked the end of a disappointing year filled with unanswered questions, especially surrounding the future. For Los Angeles, it was another step forward — a reminder that when opportunities are given, they tend to be taken.
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