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Cardinals send reeling Rams to 2-4 and in danger of missing the playoffs with late rally aided by controversial penalty

The Los Angeles Rams’ Super Bowl hopes are rapidly fading after a dismal 2-4 start, and their 18-16 loss to the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday only deepened their playoff struggles. The Rams fell behind the Cardinals late in the fourth quarter, but a touchdown put them ahead with 41 seconds left.

A controversial 15-yard unnecessary roughness penalty on a Rams defender—sparking debate over the call—extended Arizona’s drive into field-goal range, leading to a game-winning 43-yard kick by Chad Ryland. The Rams’ offense, once league-leading in yards per game, was stifled by Arizona’s defense, while quarterback Matthew Stafford faced relentless pressure after left tackle Alaric Jackson was suspended for a postgame altercation.

Both teams now sit at 2-4 in the NFC West, trailing the 5-0 San Francisco 49ers, with the Cardinals holding the division’s tiebreaker after Sunday’s victory.

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