Matthew Stafford poised to torch Arizona’s struggling protection

The Playbook

The Arizona Cardinals are headed to Hollywood this week and judging by their last 4 video games, somebody forgot to pack the protection. 

Then again, the Los Angeles Rams might need to examine their own baggage at baggage claim because their particular groups unit might be higher off in another nation.

Less than a week after a surprising 37-34 extra time loss to the Buffalo Bills that bordered on legal negligence, Sean McVay and the Rams (2-3) return to the home that Stan Kroenke constructed wanting to salvage their season against a Cardinals (1-4) workforce that has lost 4 straight video games.

For the Cardinals, another loss might have followers dreaming at evening about Ohio State extensive receiver Jeremiah Smith and the upcoming 2027 NFL Draft. 

For the Rams, another defeat and it’s time to sound the alarm on a season that once had such high Super Bowl aspirations before it started. 

The Rams had Buffalo on the ropes Monday evening and stood on the precipice of delivering the knockout blow. Matthew Stafford was choosing aside the Bills’ secondary like it was string cheese, throwing for 383 yards and three touchdowns with a 111 passer ranking. Los Angeles scored on all 5 pink zone possessions, put up 34 factors and it should have been more. 

Instead of scoring the game-winning landing in extra time and strolling off into the sundown with a profitable document, McVay got conservative, settling for a 48-yard area aim and then watched another particular groups catastrophe unfold proper in entrance of his eyes when Bills defensive finish Greg Rousseau blocked the potential game-winner. 

McVay admitted afterward that he might have overthought the scenario. That’s placing it kindly. When your quarterback is dropping dimes and wanting every bit like the reigning NFL MVP and your opponent is barely hanging on for pricey life, you don’t take the ball out his palms and trust the most unreliable unit in all of soccer. 

The fallout from the gut-wrenching loss was quick. Harrison Mevis, affectionately identified as the “Thiccer Kicker,” was launched early Tuesday morning and changed by Blake Grupe, a 5-foot-7, 150-pound kicker whose arrival represents fairly the dramatic change in physique kind. 

Unfortunately for the Rams, altering kickers doesn’t routinely imply you can repair blocked kicks, blown coverages or three seasons full of particular groups complications. 

“I have a lot of confidence in Bubba Ventrone,” McVay insisted, making it clear his particular groups coordinator isn’t going anywhere.

Meanwhile, Stafford has thrown for more than 300 yards in 4 consecutive video games, and the Rams have scored at least 24 factors in 4 straight. Now comes an Arizona protection permitting a league-worst 32.4 factors per recreation, including 31 or more in 4 consecutive contests.

Arizona’s protection is surrendering an NFL-worst 8.5 yards per passing attempt, and its injury-ravaged secondary could be lacking safeties Wydett Williams and Andrew Wingard.

That’s a harmful mixture against Stafford, Puka Nacua and Davante Adams.

The ground recreation gives another inviting alternative. Detroit’s Jahmyr Gibbs gashed Arizona for 151 speeding yards and two touchdowns. With the Cardinals permitting 4.4 yards per carry, Kyren Williams and Blake Corum should have room to operate, but the Rams will be without beginning left sort out Alaric Jackson, who was suspended for one recreation for punching Bills’ linebacker Bradley Chubb after the loss.

Defensively, the Rams have their own issues. Josh Allen embarrassed their move rush with 121 speeding yards, could Jacoby Brissett do the same? Tight finish Trey McBride has traditionally been a headache for Los Angeles, and rookie working back Jeremiyah Love stays harmful despite an ankle damage.

Aaron Donald is back, but Myles Garrett stays sidelined, leaving the Rams without their most explosive edge rusher.

There’s also a acquainted face across the area. Former Rams offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur returns as Arizona’s head coach, hoping his data of McVay’s system can help engineer an upset.

But familiarity only gets you so far when your protection resembles a revolving door.

The Rams should win this recreation comfortably. The greater query is whether they can stop discovering artistic methods to lose.