Photo via CBS Sports

Meltdown in LA: What went wrong for Rams as Cardinals earn largest upset of the season

The Arizona Cardinals secured a dramatic 18-16 victory over the Los Angeles Rams, a result that stands as the biggest upset of the season and the most significant defeat in Matthew Stafford's career to date. Entering the contest as 13.5-point underdogs, Arizona matched the record for the largest margin of victory in an upset over the previous five years, while their win also ended a losing streak that had persisted since the start of the campaign.

The game featured a chaotic final sequence where the Rams, trailing 15-12 with under three minutes remaining, mounted a quick scoring drive. This effort was highlighted by significant passes to Puka Nacua and concluded with a five-yard touchdown throw from Stafford to Colby Parkinson with 47 seconds on the clock.

Following a kickoff into the end zone, the Cardinals capitalized on a 21-yard reception by Jalen Brooks and a 15-yard penalty on Josh Wallace to set up the decisive moment. Chad Ryland then kicked a 43-yard field goal as the clock hit zero to seal the win for Arizona.

The Cardinals' success was driven by a defensive unit that rebounded from allowing 45 points in the prior week, alongside an offense that generated 338 yards and scored on six of its ten possessions. Although all of Arizona's points came via field goals, quarterback Jacoby Brissett maintained composure by avoiding sacks and turnovers after the initial drive, while his team held the ball for nearly ten minutes longer than Los Angeles.

In contrast, the Rams, who began the year as Super Bowl favorites, dropped to a 2-4 record identical to their opponents. The loss exposed ongoing struggles with a disjointed offense, a defense that failed to make critical stops, and persistent special teams errors, including an injury to kicker Blake Grupe that forced Ethan Evans to handle the extra point attempt.

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