The Rams will attempt to bounce back from last week’s loss and battle under the scorching Arizona sun in this must-win match-up

Last week’s unexpected debacle against the Carolina Panthers sadly resulted in the Rams’ first loss since week 5, ending one of the longest spanning win streaks in the league and somewhat dampening the shine strutted by Stafford and company. And while it certainly isn’t a looming omen of things to come for LA, real winners know how to lose, which means taking a step back and reflecting on what went wrong, and how to fix it moving forward. 

As Sunday fast approaches, the Rams will get the chance to capitalize on their mistakes and do so in enemy territory against a fairly dubious 3-9 Arizona Cardinals team in a NFC West divisional showdown. Since week 5, Arizona’s starting quarterback, the ever-mobile Kyler Murray, has been sidelined on injury reserve due to a mid-foot sprain. And in his place, backup quarterback Jacoby Brissett has been more than serviceable in the meantime, exhibiting flashes of remarkable talent and poise, and even more surprisingly, setting a new NFL record for the most receptions completed by a QB with 47 during the week 11 loss to San Francisco. 

Despite the current 3-9 record, the Cardinal’s coaching staff and fans have been fairly pleased with what they’ve seen from Brissett. For someone who’s had to jump into the starting role unexpectedly in Murray’s absence, and lead an offense that has no true clear-cut wide receiver and a diminished running back group, headlined by the loss of starting RB James Connor to a season-ending foot injury in week 3, the offense has been operating at a high level unseen by the likes of Murray since his initial years of entering the NFL. 

The biggest emergence attached to Brissett’s glory is the massive expansion of production from TE Terry McBride, who’s already been considered to be a top 5 tight end for years now due to having blocking skills comparable to fellow superstar tight end, George Kittle, and possessing a superb catching ability rivaling the likes of future Hall of Famer, Travis Kelce. And this is solely thanks to his growing connection with the newly established quarterback at the helm of this Arizona offense. In the 39 games McBride has played with Murray over the course of 3 years, he has only hauled in 7 total touchdowns from 2022 to present day. But within the fraction of a season McBride has spent with Brissett thus far this year, he has already scored 7 touchdowns.

The wide receiver room for Arizona is a bit of a blurry mess nowadays, as fans and onlookers both scratch their heads in labeling who the clear-cut WR1 is. The reason is rooted in an immensely disappointing career so far by the former #4 overall pick of the 2024 draft, Marvin Harrison Jr. Since entering the league, Harrison Jr. has yet to live up to his sky-high expectations, unable to find proper footing with either Murray or Brissett, with plenty of stunting injuries weaving throughout his initial couple seasons. To that end, McBride has been the only reliable target the Cardinals have been able to lean on. 

The injury report for Arizona is absurd to say the least, with CB Starking Thomas V (knee), OT Valentin Senn (undisclosed), LB J.J., Russell, DT Justin Jones (knee), S Joey Blount (neck/concussion), RB James Conner (foot), TE Tip Reiman (ankle), P Blake Gillikian (back), TE Travis Vokolek (neck), WR Zay Jones (achilles), WR Simi Fehoko (wrist), LB Mack Wilson Sr. (ribs), OT Jonah Williams (shoulder), OT Christian Jones (knee), G Will Hernandez (hip), QB Kyler Murray (foot), DE L.J. Collier (knee), and RB Trey Benson (knee) all on IR. 

RB Emari Demercado (ankle), WR Greg Dortch (chest), CB Max Melton (heel), DT Walter Nolen III (knee), S Dadrion Taylor-Demerson (ankle), OT Kelvin Beachum (groin), and WR Marvin Harrison Jr. (heel) are listed as questionable for Sunday. 

The Rams’ list of bruised-up players has unfortunately grown a bit, with TE Tyler Higbee (ankle), OT Rob Havenstein (ankle), CB Roger McCreary (hip), S Quentin Lake, and WR Tutu Atwell (hamstring) on the injury reserve. RB Kyren Williams (ankle), WR Davante Adams (hamstring), S Kamren Kinchens (shoulder), LB Omar Speights (ankle), LB Bryce Young (ankle), CB Darious Williams (lower leg), and DT Poona Ford (calf) are labeled as questionable. 

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As we’ve seen, no victory is ever promised, but we’re hopeful the Rams can continue their blazing-hot dominance come Sunday on the road and improve to 10-3. Be sure to catch the game during the afternoon slate at 1:25 PM PST.