Rams vs Cardinals: Winners and losers from LA’s big win

The Los Angeles Rams played a complete game en route to a massive 38-28 win over the Arizona Cardinals. The Rams controlled the tempo and kept the Cardinals at bay throughout the matchup.

L.A. sits at 8-4 and is tied with the Seattle Seahawks for first place in the NFC West. The Rams hold the tiebreaker due to their Week 9 win over the Seahawks.

This was an impressive performance by L.A. Here are the winners and losers from the Week 13 victory over Arizona.

Winner: The defense

Defensive coordinator Brandon Staley had a great game plan to slow down the mobile Kyler Murray. The defense pressured Murray on his right side often, forcing him to run to his left, where he’s not nearly as successful. The Rams’ defense held the No. 2 ranked Arizona offense to just 232 total yards, 171 less than they are averaging on the season. The unit also produced a touchdown for the second-consecutive week with Troy Hill’s 35-yard interception return that ended any hopes of Cardinals comeback. The defense is the primary reason why L.A. has been so successful in 2020, and if they can keep it up, the Rams will be a tough out come playoff time.

Winner: Jared Goff

The fifth-year quarterback got back on track after an ugly outing versus the San Francisco 49ers. Goff finished the game 37-of-47 for 351 yards and a touchdown. He spread the ball around the field, completing passes to nine different receivers. Goff is at his best in play-action and when he is able to make throws while on the move. The 26-year-old was money when targeting his top two receivers in Robert Woods and Cooper Kupp. Goff connected in 18-of-20 targets to the duo for 158 yards. When he is on, the Rams are tough to beat.

Winner: Sean McVay

Give McVay credit for getting his squad back in the win column, but his dominance over the Cardinals in recent years can’t be understated. L.A. has beaten Arizona seven-straight times, with the average margin of victory being 21.2 points. Most pundits had the Rams as a playoff contender before the season, but McVay has his team sitting on top of the toughest division in the NFL.

Loser: Nsimba Webster

It’s tough to come up with a loser on the Rams after such a good performance, but Webster’s fumble gave Arizona life when it was being dominated. Webster fumbled Andy Lee’s punt a minute into the fourth quarter with L.A. up 24-14. The Cardinals recovered and scored a touchdown just two plays later to get back into the game, giving the Rams a scare. It’s a good thing Webster’s teammates bailed him out by locking things down over the final 13 minutes of the game.

Who are your winners and losers from the win over Arizona?