Field Level Media
Dec 6, 2020
Jared Goff passed for 351 yards and one touchdown, and also ran for a score, as the Los Angeles Rams moved back into a first-place tie in the NFC West with a 38-28 victory on Sunday over the Arizona Cardinals at Glendale, Ariz.
One week after falling out of first place, the Rams (8-4) are even atop the division again with the Seahawks after Seattle was upset 17-12 by the New York Giants.
Goff was 37 of 47 in the air without a turnover, bouncing back from a home loss against the San Francisco 49ers last week when he threw two interceptions and also lost a fumble. The fifth-year QB had 10 turnovers (six interceptions) in his previous four games.
The Cardinals (6-6) struggled to sustain consistent offense against a stifling Rams' defense but managed to take advantage of opportunities to stay close. Arizona quarterback Kyler Murray completed 21 of 39 passes for 173 yards and three touchdowns.
Arizona scored a pair of second-half touchdowns to remain within striking distance, getting one on a 4-yard pass from Murray to DeAndre Hopkins after converting a fourth-and-12 during a 15-play drive.
The Cardinals also had a 4-yard TD run from Kenyan Drake early in the fourth quarter to pull within 24-21 after recovering a fumble by the Rams' Nsmiba Webster on a punt return. The Rams defense entered having given up just two second-half touchdowns all season.
The Los Angeles offense answered with a quick-strike drive that covered 76 yards on seven plays and finished on a 38-yard touchdown run by Darrell Henderson for a 31-21 lead with 10:07 remaining.
The Rams' defense took over from there as Justin Hollins forced a Murray fumble that was recovered by Greg Gaines with 7:25 remaining. Rams cornerback Troy Hill then returned a Murray interception 35 yards for a touchdown and a 38-21 lead with 4:33 remaining.
Arizona's Dan Arnold had two TD receptions, including a 2-yard scoring pass from Murray with 2:04 remaining. Rams receiver Robert Woods had 10 receptions for 85 yards.
The Cardinals had an early 7-0 lead on a 59-yard TD pass from Murray to Arnold on the opening drive of the game. But the Rams owned the second quarter, taking a 14-7 lead into the break on a 9-yard TD run from Cam Akers and a 1-yard scoring pass from Goff to Tyler Higbee.
Rams head coach Sean McVay improved to 7-0 against the Cardinals in four seasons, with his team scoring at least 31 points in each victory.
--Field Level Media