Matthew Stafford and the Rams beat the Cardinals 34-11 to get his first playoff win
Los Angeles Rams #9 Matthew Stafford )QB) threw two touchdown passes against the Arizona Cardinals defense at SoFi Stadium. Photo by Jevone Moore.
1/17/22 INGLEWOOD, CA - The Los Angeles Rams are heading to Florida to take on Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after beating the Arizona Cardinals 34-11 in their Wild Card game at SoFi Stadium.
Matthew Stafford completed 13 passes for 202-yards, two touchdowns, and one rushing touchdown. Cooper Kupp had five catches for 61-yards, and one touchdown, and Odell Beckham Jr., had four catches for 54-yards and one touchdown.
Rams head coach Sean McVay was very pleased about how well Stafford played to get his first win in the NFL Playoffs.
"I thought he did a great job leading the way," McVay said. "He's still the same great player to me, and he always was before this game. I think it's good, so you guys don't have to talk about that anymore. So pleased to be able to do this with him. He's our leader out there, and we wouldn't be here without him.
Los Angeles Rams #99 Aaron Donald (DL) and the Rams' defense had pressure on the Arizona Cardinals' #1 Kyler Murray (QB) all during the game at So-Fi Stadium. Photo by Jevone Moore.
The Rams had a complete game with a dominating defense, balance passing attack, and running the football with Sony Michel's thirteen carries for 58-yards and Cam Akers's seventeen carries for 55-yards was the key to their victory.
"What a team effort," Stafford said. "Our defense played outstanding tonight. Special teams basically set up a score … and we were good enough on offense to score some points and come away with the win. Just happy to be moving on."
The Rams in the first quarter scored when Matthew Stafford threw a 4-yard touchdown pass to Odell Beckham Jr. to take a 7-0 lead. Von Miller sacked Kyler Murry for eight yards.
The Rams increased their lead to 14-0 in the second quarter with a 1-yard quarterback sneak by Stafford at the goal line with 11:58 left in the first half.
Los Angeles Rams #25 Sony Michel (RB) carried the ball thirteen times for 58-yards against the Arizona Cardinals defense at So-Fi Stadium. Photo by Jevone Moore.
Murray was being pressured in the endzone and threw the ball up to avoid being sacked by the Rams' defense and his pass was intercepted by David Long Jr., who ran it back for a 3-yard touchdown to give the Rams a 21-0 lead.
The Rams' defense got their second interception of the game when Marquise Copeland (DE) intercepted Murray's pass at their 49-yard line. The rams led at halftime 21-0.
Los Angeles Rams #10 Cooper Kupp had one touchdown against the Arizona Cardinals defense at SoFi Stadium. Photo by Jevone Moore.
Arizona was down 28-0 in the third quarter after Cooper Kupp's 7-yard touchdown catch from Stafford.
Murray drove their offense downfield in the third quarter, and James Conner scored on a 2-yard touchdown run, and the two-point conversion was good, now trail 28-8.
Matt Gay, in the fourth quarter, kicked a 37-yard field goal to give the Rams a 31-8 lead with 14:35 left in the game. Arizona trail 31-11 after Matt Prater's 55-yard field goal.
The Rams led 34-11 after Gay kicked a 46-yard field goal, and after the dust had settled and the game was over, they advanced to the next round of the NFC Playoffs.