Rams Outlast Cardinals in NFC West Showdown 30-23

Los Angeles Rams #9 Matthew Stafford (QB) looking downfield for an open receiver against the Arizona Cardinals defense. Photo by Jerry Kelly/T.G.Sportstv1.

GLENDALE, ARIZ - The Los Angeles Rams (9-4) kept their playoff hopes alive by going to the desert and beating the Arizona Cardinals (10-3) in NFC West Showdown on Monday Night Football 30-23.

Matthew Stafford threw the football 30 times, completing 23 passes for 287-yards and three touchdowns. Sony Michel carried the workload running the football for the Rams with 20 carries for 79-yards.

Arizona Cardinals #1 Kyler Murray (QB) is being chased down by Los Angeles Rams #54 Leonard Floyd (OLB). Photo by Jerry Kelly/T.G.Sportstv1.

The Rams receivers had a great night catching the football. Cooper Kupp had 13 catches 102-yards, and one touchdown, Odell Beckham Jr. had 6 catches 77-yards, and one touchdown, and Van Jefferson had 2 catches 58-yards and one touchdown.

You knew it was a good sign for the Rams when Aaron Donald sacked Kyler Murray on the Cardinals' first play of the game.

"When I get them one on one, I've got to take advantage of that and I got enough opportunities … to have that game that I'm used to having," Donald said.

The Arizona Cardinals scored first in the first quarter after Matt Prater kicked a 54-yard field goal to lead 3-0.

The Rams' defense came up with a big play when Aaron Donald tipped Kyler Murry's pass, and Ernest Jones (ILB) intercepted his pass and ran it back for 31-yards.

Los Angeles Rams #3 Odell Beckham Jr.'s (WR) 2-yard touchdown catch against the Arizona Cardinals. Photo by Jerry Kelly/T.G.Sportstv1.

Matthew Stafford and the Rams' offense took advantage of the takeaway, marched down the field 68-yards, and threw a 2-yard touchdown pass to Odell Beckham Jr. to take a 7-3 lead.

The Rams' defense came alive in the second quarter with a big sack by Donald on Murray for a loss of eleven yards. Matt Gay kicked a 55-yard field goal to increase the Rams' lead to 10-3 with 7:23 left in the first half.

Murray connected with his wide receiver Kirk Christian for 41-yards and put the Cardinals in great field position. Arizona tied the game 10-10 with a 1-yard touchdown run by James Conner with 3:18 left in the game.

The Cardinals trail the Rams 13-10 with 35 seconds left in the first half after Gay kicked a 35-yard field goal. Prater tied the game 13-13 after kicking a 40-yard field goal to end the first half.

The Rams retook the lead 20-13 in the third quarter after Stafford threw a 52-yard touchdown pass to Van Jefferson. The Rams' defense continued to make plays when Leonard Floyd picked off Murray's pass and ran it back for eleven yards.

Los Angeles Rams #10 Cooper Kupp (WR) 4-yard touchdown pass from Matthew Stafford against the Arizona Cardinals #20 Marco Wilson (CB).Photo by Jerry Kelly/T.G.Sportstv1.

Moments later, Stafford threw a 4-yard touchdown pass to Cooper Kupp that gave the Rams a 27-13 lead with 9:45 left in the third quarter.

Perhaps the biggest play of the game came the Cardinals had fourth and two, on the Rams' 14-yard line, and the Rams' defense knocked down Murray's pass to his receiver DeAndre Hopkins.

Arizona Cardinals #6 James Conner (RB) 8-yard touchdown run against the Los Angeles Rams defense. Photo by Jerry Kelly/T.G.Sportstv1.

In the fourth quarter, Murray had the Cardinals offense on the move, made some big first downs using his legs to avoid losses, capped off a 73-yard drive, and threw an 8-yard touchdown pass to James Connor making the score 27-20.

Kupp broke free for a 44-yard pass from Stafford to give the Rams a first down on the Cardinals' 35-yard line. Stafford threw a pass to Kupp to give the Rams a first down on the Cardinals' ten-yard line.

The Rams led by ten points 30-20 with a 33-yard field goal by Gay with 7:20 left in the game. The Cardinals would score for the final time of the game with 37 seconds left when Prater kicked a 49-yard field goal that made the final score 30-23.

Sean McVay, the Rams' head coach, was pumped up after the game against the Cardinals.

"Unbelievable job by our team," coach Sean McVay said, adding, "There are so many guys that contributed. ... This was the sign of a mentally tough team."

Stafford had great praise for the players that step up and made big plays for the Rams in this NFC West Showdown.

"I think the guys that we needed to step up and come in and play well did that," said quarterback Matthew Stafford. "It's a testament to our coaching staff and then our players going out there and executing."

Kyler Murray completed 32 of his 49 passes for 383-yards and two interceptions. A.J. Green led the Cardinals in receptions with seven catches for 102-yards and James Connor had nine catches for 94-yards.

The Rams' next game will be at home on Sunday against the Seattle Seahawks, and the Cardinals will be on the road to play the Detroit Lions.