Arizona Cardinals (1-1) – Los Angeles Rams (0-2): 41-10
Arizona overcomes its most ferocious bête noire. Los Angeles falls to the dry heat of Phoenix for the first time in 10 years. If this victory is unexpected, it was also done in style. In the wake of an absolutely perfect Kyler Murray (17/21, 266 yards, 3 touchdowns), the Cardinals' offense freeze-dried the Rams.
Mind you, unlike the first week of competition against the Bills, the red defense also showed up for this first home game. Often mocked for its lack of talent, the defensive line was able to take advantage of the major absences among the Rams. Linebacker Dennis Gardeck even finished with 6 tackles, including 3 sacks and a forced fumble.
Marvin Harrison Jr. is on the rise
If his first outing was complicated (1 reception, 4 yards), Marvin Harrison Jr. quickly silenced the critics. It took a quarter, the first, to get everyone on the same page (4 receptions, 130 yards, 2 touchdowns). The Rams didn't expect that, and it showed.
Five plays into the Cardinals' first series, Kyler Murray throws a long pass deep into the end zone. Marvin Harrison Jr. catches the ball with his fingertips and trails it to score his first career touchdown in spectacular fashion.
The desert defense leaves only 3 plays to an overwhelmed and too alone Stafford (19/27, 216 yards, 0 touchdowns, 4 sacks conceded and a fumble). The Cardinals' attack starts again from its 40 yards. It only takes one action to cover the distance and score a new touchdown by the unstoppable Marvin Harrison Jr. who allows himself to finish with style (video).
Among the rivals, Cooper Kupp (4 receptions, 37 yards) tried to keep up the pace but ended up getting injured just before halftime, without returning.
Early closing
Murray is unstoppable, and uses his legs sparingly, but effectively (5 carries, 59 yards). He also manages to extend plays, however complicated, to transform them into spectacular touchdowns. At halftime, the Cardinals already lead 24 to 3 and the game is over.
James Conner (21 carries, 122 yards, 1 touchdown) finishes off the Rams with ramming behind his line. The Cardinals are in control, winning the first attempts one after the other. The Rams can't find any answers today. With ten minutes to go, the coaches raise the white flags by bringing in their respective second knives to run the rest of the clock. Final score 41-10.
The Cardinals show that their good outing against the Bills was not a fluke. The Rams lose, perhaps, another important player to injury. The Angelinos and Sean McVay have a lot of work to do to find solutions quickly after two losses. The season could quickly take a dark turn with the reception of the 49ers, the very next day.
