GLENDALE – The Arizona Cardinals was in the middle of its best three-drive stretch of their 2025 season. Following back-to-back touchdown drives to start the third quarter, quarterback Jacoby Brissett launched a 56 yards missile to wide receiver Michael Wilson deep in Los Angeles Rams territory to look for the trifecta, or at least Arizona believed. A flag was thrown for a illegal blindside block that negated the massive catch, and the replay had fans scratching their heads.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Following the penalty, the Cardinals didn’t score another point, while the Rams scored 21 unanswered leading to their 37-20 win in the season finale.
Jan 4, 2026; Inglewood, California, USA; Arizona Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon stands on the sidelines against the Los Angeles Rams during the first half at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
Quarterback Matthew Stafford put a stamped on his MVP case with 259 yards and four touchdowns, with wide receiver Puka Nacua becoming the 2025 catch leader in Week 18 by recording 10 catches for 76 receiving yards and a touchdown.
Despite a franchise record 14th loss of the season, Arizona had memorable moments. Wilson recorded his first career 1000-yard season, the first by a Cardinals wide receiver since 2020. Trey McBride passed Jackie Smith for the most yards by a tight end in franchise history, and Brissett recorded a team record of his 12th straight 200+ passing yards and a touchdown game of the season.
The loss secures the Cardinals the third pick in the 2026 draft, making Sunday’s performance more digestible for fans.
Cardinals blitzed early and often in first half:
The Rams front seven pressure was the story early. On Arizona’s first 14 drop backs, Los Angeles pressured quarterback Jacoby Brissett 12 times, including on the opening drive when linebacker Josaiah Stewart forced the strip sack on third down. Kobie Turner would recover the ball to give quarterback Matthew Stafford stellar field position to start the game near the red zone.
Jan 4, 2026; Inglewood, California, USA; Los Angeles Rams defensive end Kobie Turner (91) is tackled by Arizona Cardinals guard Jon Gaines II (71) after recovering a fumble during the first half at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images
The Cardinals were able to hold their NFC West rival to a field goal, but pass protection struggles continue. Deep in Rams territory, Brissett faced a second-and-13 and needed a massive play to keep the drive alive heading into third down. However, Byron Young brought him down for the sack to force a third and long leading to a field goal.
After months of bad defensive football, Arizona went toe to toe with the best offense in the NFL and limited MVP frontrunner Stafford. The Cardinals looked to cause a deflection on third down to force a punt, but the batted ball landed right in the hands of Xavier Smith to record the first down. That miraculous catch led the Rams to securing their second field goal of the game.
Jan 4, 2026; Inglewood, California, USA; Arizona Cardinals quarterback Jacoby Brissett (7) carries the ball against the Los Angeles Rams during the first half at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images
Arizona would respond by having a 28-yard catch and run by tight end Trey McBride to bring his team into enemy territory. Despite the next three plays being a sack and two incompletions, McBride’s heroics was enough to allow kicker Chad Ryland to nail a 56-yard field goal to tie the game, 6-6.
Nearing halftime, the Cardinals were in stellar position, but on the Rams final offensive drive of the first half, the defense couldn’t get off the field. Arizona forced five third downs to Stafford, and every time the three-time Pro Bowler converted through the air. The fifth instances saw safety Budda Baker stuff a run on his own one-yard-line to stop the score.
Jan 4, 2026; Inglewood, California, USA; Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) throws a pass against the Arizona Cardinals during the first half at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images
Baker’s stellar play wasn’t enough to stop Stafford. On a fourth-and-one at the goal line, the 37-year-old found Nacua on a fade route to make the one-handed score grab for the game’s first touchdown. The drive went 18 plays and had five third downs, but Arizona couldn’t generate a stop.
Looking for a home run ball with under a minute left, Brissett threw a deep shot to wide receiver Michael Wilson. The ball floated in the air allowing cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon to catch up to Wilson. The third-year Cardinals wide receiver let the ball hit his chest, which gave Witherspoon the opportunity to snatch the ball away for the interception.
The turnover gifted Los Angeles another field goal being entering the locker room to extend its lead 16-6, with it getting the ball to start the second half.
Arizona force shootout in Los Angeles:
With the Rams starting with the ball after halftime, it looked to get ugly very quickly. Despite the disheartening end to the previous half, the Cardinals came out of the locker rooms exuberated. The defense forced a quick three-and-out, allowing head coach Jonathan Gannon and Jacoby Brissett to start to be the aggressors.
Despite a penalty and sack backing up the offense, Gannon remained unfazed with a 18-yard run on third-and-26 to set up a fourth-and-eight. A fake punt allowed Matt Haack to find found back Emari Demercado on a 28-yard pass to convert a massive fourth down, which was followed by a beautiful ball to Wilson for the 43-yard touchdown.
Jan 4, 2026; Inglewood, California, USA; Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Michael Wilson (14) makes a touchdown catch against the Los Angeles Rams during the second half at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images
Los Angeles responded with three straight incompletions for another three and out. After not punting in the first half, the Rams punted on the first two drives after halftime. Brissett carried that momentum off the Wilson touchdown on the following drive, throwing six-of-seven for 65 yards and a seven-yard touchdown pass to tight end Josiah Deguara to miraculously take a 20-16 lead.
After playing with his food for too long, Stafford soon returned to his MVP caliber play. The fifth-year Rams quarterback took only three minutes to regain the lead by going four-of-four passing for 61 yards, including a 21-yard dot to tight end Colby Parkinson.
Jan 4, 2026; Inglewood, California, USA; Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay reacts with quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) after a touchdown against the Arizona Cardinals during the second half at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
Brissett was ready for the shootout on the following drive, slinging a 53-yard jump ball for Wilson, who snagged the ball out of the air. But, a penalty for a questionable blindside block by offensive lineman Jon Gaines negated the massive play and backed up the team 10 yards. The flag killed the drive and was followed by a third down sack by Braden Fiske.
The punt would be the beginning of the end for the Cardinals, as Stafford wasn’t leaving the field without finding the endzone. Massive runs by running back Kyren Williams and Nacua set up Stafford to find tight end Tyler Higbee for a 21-yard touchdown and the 30-20 lead.
Jan 4, 2026; Inglewood, California, USA; Los Angeles Rams tight end Tyler Higbee (89) scores a touchdown against the Arizona Cardinals during the second half at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
Another three-and-out by Arizona allowed Stafford to pad his stats for his fourth touchdown pass. The MVP frontrunner capped off the 81-yard drive with a one-yard fade to Parkinson for the score and the dagger to secure his team the XX-XX win.
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Reporter Tanner Tortorella covers general assignment for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on his X account, @TannerTSports
