INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) — The Rams had a 20-point lead on Arizona with 4 1/2 minutes left at raucous SoFi Stadium. Matthew Stafford’s 13-year quest for his first playoff victory was all however full after Los Angeles’ dominant efficiency on each side of the ball.
The quarterback nonetheless took off operating on third-and-long via the guts of the Cardinals’ protection on a gleeful, perilous scramble that finally ended wanting a primary down.
Even whereas shouldering monumental postseason strain, Stafford by no means forgot to have enjoyable. He was robust sufficient to hold all of it — and the Rams are using him on to Tampa Bay.
Stafford handed for 202 yards and two touchdowns and ran for an additional rating in his first playoff win, and the Rams roared out of the wild-card spherical with a 34-11 victory over Arizona on Monday night time.
“What a crew effort,” Stafford stated. “Our protection performed excellent tonight. Particular groups principally arrange a rating … and we have been ok on offense to attain some factors and are available away with the win. Simply completely satisfied to be transferring on.”
Odell Beckham Jr. and Cooper Kupp made landing catches for the NFC West champion Rams (13-5), who will go to the defending Tremendous Bowl champion Buccaneers on Sunday for a spot within the NFC championship recreation.
David Lengthy additionally scored on a 3-yard interception return whereas the Rams’ protection harassed Kyler Murray right into a calamitous playoff debut. Los Angeles led 28-0 earlier than cruising within the first playoff recreation at SoFi, which is able to host Tremendous Bowl 56 subsequent month.
Stafford was excellent in his first playoff recreation with the Rams, finishing 13 of his season-low 17 passes with out an interception and regardless of three drops. He scored his first playoff speeding TD since January 2012 on a goal-line sneak, and he coolly directed LA’s offense whereas seizing his first playoff win in a profession that started with 12 years in Detroit, the place his Lions went 0-3 within the postseason.
“I assumed he did an important job main the best way,” McVay stated. “He’s nonetheless the identical nice participant to me, and he at all times was earlier than this recreation. I believe it’s good so that you guys don’t have to speak about that anymore. So happy be capable to do that with him. He’s our chief on the market, and we wouldn’t be right here with out him.”
After an inconsistent end to the common season, the Rams’ constellation of massive stars got here collectively brilliantly round Stafford on the postseason stage.
Beckham had 4 catches for 54 yards, together with his first profession playoff landing catch for the Rams’ first factors. He additionally threw a 40-yard cross throughout his personal first postseason victory.
Linebacker Von Miller added six tackles and a key early sack in his first postseason look since profitable the MVP award in Tremendous Bowl 50.
Murray went 19 of 34 for 137 yards and two interceptions for the Cardinals (11-7), who adopted their 10-2 begin with a 1-5 slide. Arizona misplaced on the highway for under the second time in 10 video games this season underneath coach Kliff Kingsbury.
“We didn’t do something proper the primary two quarters,” Kingsbury stated. “The Rams dealt with the sport and the environment effectively. … As an offense, we have been simply out of sync on a few issues early that would have modified the sport. We by no means received in a rhythm, and so they made some massive performs.”
James Conner rushed for a TD for the Cardinals, who've one playoff victory for the reason that 2009 season. Murray went 7 for 17 for 28 yards and threw two interceptions in an terrible first half that left the Cardinals trailing 21-0 with simply 40 yards of offense earlier than they managed to get their preliminary first down.
“Dropping is one factor, however if you don’t even make it aggressive is one other,” Murray stated.
Los Angeles went up by three touchdowns when linebacker Troy Reeder’s strain prompted Murray to fling the ball blindly out of the tip zone to keep away from a security. Lengthy made a shoe-top interception and took one stride to attain the shortest pick-6 in NFL playoff historical past.
The Rams capped their second offensive drive with Stafford’s exact 4-yard throw to Beckham. The veteran wideout has six TD catches in his final eight video games since he joined the Rams at midseason.
After Lengthy’s TD, the Cardinals lastly received a primary down seven minutes earlier than halftime, however Rams lineman Marquise Copeland received his first profession interception on a deflected cross.
“I really feel like we was dominant on the market,” All-Professional Rams defensive lineman Aaron Donald stated. “I really feel just like the quarterback wasn’t comfy in any respect.”
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