Rams crumble in crushing loss to Cardinals – Daily News

GLENDALE, Ariz. — If last weekend’s near-comeback was an example of the Rams’ resilience in the face of adversity, then Sunday’s 41-10 loss to the Arizona Cardinals was a wake-up call about how difficult it will be for the short-handed Rams to keep their season going.

It wasn’t just that the Rams (0-2) lost in Arizona for the first time since 2014. It was how they did it.

Kyren Williams, who averaged 150.5 rushing yards in two games against the Cardinals (1-1) last year, had nowhere to run Sunday. He gained 25 yards on 12 attempts as the Rams’ offensive line couldn’t get any pushes going, then the offense had to abandon the run when the score got out of hand.

That same offensive line didn’t give quarterback Matthew Stafford time to operate in the pocket. The Rams failed to convert their first six third-down attempts; three of them came on sacks, all of them allowed by Warren McClendon Jr., who started at left tackle because of Alaric Jackson’s suspension and Joe Noteboom’s high ankle sprain.

In total, the Rams allowed five sacks and finished 3 of 13 on third and fourth down.

And as if Puka Nacua’s trip to injured reserve wasn’t devastating enough for the receiving corps, Cooper Kupp’s left ankle was twisted under a Cardinals defender on a 24-yard gain. He left the game for a pair of plays, returned for a failed fourth-down attempt at the goal line and then failed to play again in the second half.

When Kupp left, the Rams were already down 24-3. Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray, who proclaimed “thank God” after Aaron Donald retired, was able to escape sacks time and again to expose the limitations of the Rams’ secondary without Darious Williams (hamstring).

First, it was a 23-yard pass to rookie receiver Marvin Harrison Jr., who completed his first career touchdown pass off of contact from cornerback Tre’Davious White. On the first play of the next drive, Harrison got behind Cam Kurl in the zone to complete a 60-yard touchdown reception.

In a scramble drill on the next drive, Rams rookie Kamren Kinchens allowed Harrison to get past him for a third-down conversion. Then, to close out that drive, Murray got around Jared Verse, then Braden Fiske, then Verse again to find Elijah Higgins for a touchdown.

Murray finished with 266 passing yards and three touchdowns on 21 attempts before being pulled in the fourth quarter to allow backup Clayton Tune to finish the game.