Glendale, Ariz. — Matthew Stafford walked off the field with a grin, then listened as his teammates chanted “M-V-P!” behind him. The celebration fit the moment — the veteran quarterback had just delivered another brilliant outing as the Los Angeles Rams crushed the Arizona Cardinals 45–17 on Sunday.
At 37, Stafford is playing like someone far younger. His arm talent, command of the offense and confidence have made the Rams one of the NFL’s most dangerous teams entering December.
“He’s our heartbeat,” wide receiver Puka Nacua said. “Everything we do on offense flows through him. We love seeing him get that recognition.”
Stafford completed 22 of 31 passes for 281 yards and three touchdowns. Nacua and running back Blake Corum each scored twice as Los Angeles (10–3) piled up 35 straight points following last week’s disappointing loss to Carolina. The Rams have now won seven of their last eight, remaining even with Seattle atop the NFC West and ahead of San Francisco by one game.
Stafford brushed off the MVP chants.
“They’re the reason any of that is being said,” he said. “I love competing with these guys every day.”
Arizona’s misery continued. The Cardinals fell to 3–10 with their fifth consecutive defeat and have dropped 10 of their last 11.
The Rams trailed 7–0 early, but quickly flipped the game. They scored 24 unanswered before halftime, highlighted by a perfectly placed 28-yard strike from Stafford to Nacua, who racked up six catches for 136 yards before the break. Touchdown runs by Kyren Williams and Corum helped build the cushion.
Los Angeles rolled to 306 first-half yards and finished with 530. Stafford fit several throws through tiny windows, the kind only elite quarterbacks attempt.
“He was phenomenal,” head coach Sean McVay said. “He saw everything clearly and trusted his receivers. His anticipation was excellent.”
McVay spent part of the week under the weather, but the team showed no signs of it. The Rams opened the second half with two devastating haymakers.
Linebacker Nate Landman intercepted Jacoby Brissett late in the third quarter, and Stafford needed just one snap to cash it in — a 31-yard touchdown to Nacua. On the next possession, Corum burst through a gaping hole for a 48-yard score, stretching the margin to 45–10.
Nacua finished with 167 receiving yards, and Corum totaled 128 on the ground.
Cardinals coach Jonathan Gannon offered a blunt assessment.
“They beat us everywhere,” Gannon said. “Coaching, execution, special teams. It was humbling. One moment it’s 10–10, and the next you’re looking at a scoreboard that got away fast.”
Arizona opened the afternoon with a 67-yard drive, capped by Brissett’s 19-yard touchdown to Michael Wilson. Wilson became the lone bright spot, hauling in 11 catches for 142 yards and both Arizona touchdowns. Brissett — still starting while Kyler Murray recovers — threw for 271 yards with two scores and an interception.
Tight end Trey McBride made five catches, extending his streak of at least five receptions to 15 games, tying Travis Kelce’s NFL record for the position.
It was yet another rough outing against a division rival. Arizona previously suffered heavy losses to Seattle and San Francisco in Weeks 10 and 11, and Los Angeles has now taken 15 of the last 18 matchups between the two franchises.
INJURY REPORT
Rams: Cornerback Darious Williams (tibia) was among the inactives.
Cardinals: A long list of starters were missing, including Max Melton, Marvin Harrison Jr., Emari Demercado, Dadrion Taylor-Demerson, Xavier Weaver and Walter Nolen III. During the game, Bilal Nichols, Paris Johnson Jr. and Jalen Thompson all exited with injuries and did not return.
WHAT’S NEXT:
Rams: Return home to face the Detroit Lions.
Cardinals: Travel to Houston to take on the Texans.
