Matthew Stafford and Rams reclaim top playoff seed in the NFC

GLENDALE, Ariz. – Players and fans didn’t have time to send get-well cards to Rams coach Sean McVay.

A day after deciding not to travel with the team for fear of spreading stomach flu symptoms, McVay arrived at State Farm Field Sunday morning.

McVay fist-bumped players during warmups, his trademark gelled hair spikes in full effect. And he looked none the worse for wear as he roamed the sideline sockless and called plays against the Arizona Cardinals.

McVay must have felt good after the Rams beat the Cardinals, 45-17.

Matthew Stafford passed for three touchdowns, Puka Nacua scored twice and had 167 receiving yards, and Blake Corum rushed for 128 yards and two touchdowns as the Rams bounced back from a loss to the Carolina Panthers and improved to 10-3, regaining first place in the NFC.

Linebacker Nate Landman intercepted a pass and Byron Young, Kobie Turner and Kam Curl had sacks for a defense that gave up a touchdown on the first drive but then cracked down as the Rams built a 35-point lead.

This is an important win for a Rams team considered a Super Bowl contender as they head into the toughest part of their schedule.

Next Sunday, the Rams will face Jared Goff and the Detroit Lions (8-5) at SoFi Stadium. Four days later, they faced the Seahawks (10-3) in a key NFC West game in Seattle.

The 31-28 loss to the Panthers knocked the Rams out of the NFC’s No. 1 seed, but their win over the Cardinals and the Chicago Bears’ loss to the Green Bay Packers put the Rams back on top.

Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford passes against the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday.

(Ross D. Franklin / Associated Press)

The Rams’ recovery against the struggling Cardinals (3-10) was expected. Arizona has always served as a tonic for the Rams.

With the exception of last season’s Week 2 blowout by the Cardinals, the Rams have thrived in the desert under McVay. From 2017 to 2023, the Rams have won seven straight games against the Cardinals in this stadium.

In 2018, the Rams bounced back from losses to the Philadelphia Bears and Eagles and beat the Cardinals and San Francisco 49ers to finish 13-3 and earn a wild-card bye. The Rams went on to compete in Super Bowl LIII.

In 2021, an Arizona victory was the second win in a five-game streak that helped the Rams advance to the playoffs and an eventual Super Bowl victory.

And last season, after wildfires decimated Pacific Palisades and Altadena, the NFL moved the Rams’ playoff game to State Farm Stadium, where the Rams beat the Minnesota Vikings to advance to the divisional round.

The season ended with a loss to the eventual Super Bowl champions, the Eagles.

Sunday’s win kept the Rams on track for another possible Super Bowl run. And Stafford seemed to return to the MVP-caliber form that earned him NFC Offensive Player of the Month for November.

Against the Panthers, Stafford’s streak of games without an interception ended at eight. He had two passes intercepted, including one that was returned for a touchdown. He also lost the ball on a fumble late in the fourth quarter.

Stafford put that performance behind him and completed 22 of 31 passes for 281 yards against the Cardinals, increasing his league-leading touchdown pass total to 35 before Jimmy Garoppolo replaced him early in the fourth quarter.

Nacua, who had played a quieter role behind Davante Adams, had seven catches, including touchdowns of 28 and 31 yards, and tied with Arizona’s Trey McBride for the league lead in receptions (93).

Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua, center, celebrates with fans as he leaves the field at State Farm Stadium on Sunday.

(Rick Scuteri/Associated Press)

The Rams led 24-10 at halftime thanks to short touchdown runs from Corum and Kyren Williams and Stafford’s first touchdown pass to Nacua late in the second quarter.

Stafford’s six-yard touchdown pass to tight end Colby Parkinson on the first possession of the second half extended the lead. After Landman intercepted a pass late in the third quarter, Stafford immediately passed to Nacua for a 28-point lead.

Corum’s career-high 48-yard touchdown run early in the fourth quarter cemented the rout.

Corum ran for 128 yards on 12 carries. Williams gained 84 yards on 13 carries.