The Los Angeles Rams were favored by nearly two touchdowns against the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday, but you'd never know that by the way the game went. The Rams came out sluggish in every phase, as they have so often this season. The offense put up just 107 yards in the first half, the defense couldn't get off the field on third down and new kicker Blake Grupe was injured on kickoff coverage in the first quarter.
The Cardinals were methodical on offense and Chris Shula had no answer on defense. Jacoby Brissett threw high-percentage passes, Bam Knight faced little resistance on the ground and Trey McBride made his share of plays when Arizona needed him.
The only thing that kept the Rams in the game was their red zone defense. They got stop after stop in the red area, forcing short field goals by the Cardinals. As poorly as the Rams played, they still had a chance to win it in the fourth quarter.
And yet, just about every time they had an opportunity to come back against the Cardinals, they squandered it. The offense could get nothing going all afternoon, whether it was on the ground or through the air.
The biggest play of the day was by none other than Puka Nacua, who caught a pass on first-and-15 in the fourth quarter and went 42 yards. Matthew Stafford dodged a defender and hit Nacua in stride, which was a pivotal play in the game. That set up Colby Parkinson's 6-yard touchdown, which tied the game at 15 with 47 seconds left in the fourth.
After Ethan Evans – yes, the punter – knocked through the PAT, the Rams took a 16-15 lead.
But on the very first play of the Cardinals' ensuing drive, they picked up 21 yards over the middle, plus another 15-yard penalty for a hit by Josh Wallace. It was a controversial call, but one that went against the Rams, no less.
A few plays later, Chad Ryland made his sixth field goal of the game to give the Cardinals the 18-16 win.
Final score: Cardinals 18, Rams 16
Numbers to know
107: After putting up 400-plus yards in three straight games, the Rams had just 107 at halftime against the Cardinals. On the bright side, they didn't commit any penalties in the first half.
1: For the first time in his career, Ethan Evans made a kick, knocking through the go-ahead PAT with 47 seconds remaining.
0: The Cardinals didn't score a single touchdown, but they did make six field goals to beat the Rams.
It was over when…
... Chad Ryland made a field goal as time expired to give the Cardinals the win.
3 stars of the game
- Puka Nacua: 6 catches, 80 yards
- Ethan Evans: 1 PAT made
- Quentin Lake: 7 tackles, 1 INT
Play of the game
The Rams could do nothing on offense until Puka Nacua delivered with a 42-yard reception after Matthew Stafford dodged a defender and hit him across the middle.
MAMA THERE GOES THAT MAN!
— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) October 18, 2026
📺: @NFLonFox | #RamsHousepic.twitter.com/I801PnmAlH
What's next?
After two straight home games, the Rams will hit the road in Week 7, but they won't have to go very far. They're visiting the Las Vegas Raiders in their next game, taking on Kirk Cousins, Ashton Jeanty and Brock Bowers. Kickoff in that game is at 4:25 p.m. ET from Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.
This article originally appeared on Rams Wire: Rams lose stunner to Cardinals, 18-16: Instant analysis of Week 6 loss