The Los Angeles Rams suffered a disappointing 18-16 loss to the Arizona Cardinals, dropping a divisional matchup that could have significant implications for their season. Looking back at the game, five key plays were the standout moments in the Rams’ narrow loss.
The Rams had chances to escape with a victory, but close games often hinge on a few critical moments. Against Arizona, those moments proved costly as Los Angeles struggled to do enough to get the job done. With the final score separated by just two points, even one missed opportunity or crucial play can change the entire story of a game.
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From key offensive situations to defensive stops and special teams contributions that shaped the contest, these sequences help explain how Los Angeles let a winnable game slip away. Here’s a closer look at the five key plays that determined the outcome of the Rams’ 18-16 loss to the Cardinals.
1. The Rams failed to convert a 2 pt conversion
After Blake Grupe was knocked out of the game due to … lower body? injury, the Rams attempted a 2 point conversion after Blake Corum’s touchdown. Stafford tried to connect with Davante Adams on a fade but held the ball long; allowing an Arizona defender to hit him from the blindside. The Cardinals almost scored on the play when LJ Collier tried to scoop up the ball and return it to the yard.
The final score was 18-16 and the Rams would have liked to have converted on that play.
2. Rams fail on 4th & 1 FB dive play with Davis Allen
If you want to be a Super Bowl team, you have to get a yard when it’s needed. On 4th & 1, the Rams tried to give the ball to Davis Allen for a FB dive and Colby Parkinson couldn’t even handle a defender to clear space for Allen. Los Angeles returned the ball on downs and Arizona kicked another field goal.
3a. Warren McClendon false start on 4th and 3
3b. Rams fail on 4th and 8 screen play…
When you have to convert 3rd & short and/or 4th & short, it’s backbreaking to have a pre-snap penalty. Warren McClendon picked a worse time to take the pre-snap penalty when the Rams were at the Arizona 22 yard line trying to put together a complete drive…
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Following this, Sean McVay called a 4th & 8 screen play to avoid Arizona’s heavy blitz scheme today. It came at the wrong time and the Rams couldn’t even complete the pass.
4. Colby Parkinson scores too early?
On 2nd & 3, the Rams ran the play action, dropping a pass to Colby Parkinson in the flat. After the first was ruled by contact at the 1/2 yard line, the “replay assist” (more on that later), showed that Colby Parkinson had indeed broken the football goal line. If the play stands, the Rams will have 1st & Goal from the 1/2 yard line with 0:18 left and two timeouts. They probably punched the ball three attempts. But instead Arizona got the ball with 0:46 left and was able to set up their game-winning field goal.
5. Josh Wallace phantom penalty sets up Cardinals’ game-winning field goal
I don’t understand the point of replay assist. It can be used very subjectively. And this is now the second time against the Rams that the NFL may have used it, the other being Week 3 (also with Josh Wallace). The Cardinals were awarded an extra 15 yards because the officiating crew believed Josh Wallace made an unnecessary roughness on a defenseless wide receiver. On replay, Josh Wallace barely made contact and the contact he did make was minimal. So what good is a replay assist if it’s not used correctly?