Arizona Cardinals vs Los Angeles Rams Match Player Stats: Stafford’s Four-TD Night Leads Rams to Victory

Arizona’s offense produced flashes of life in the second half but couldn’t solve the turnover problem that has defined its season. Enter the Arizona Cardinals vs Los Angeles Rams match player stats from Week 18, a game where one quarterback threw for four touchdowns and the other team’s mistakes proved fatal. Below is the full breakdown of how Los Angeles closed the regular season with a statement win.

1. The Lead

The Los Angeles Rams closed out the 2025 regular season with a 37-20 win over the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday, January 4, 2026, at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood. A crowd of 72,004 watched Matthew Stafford throw for 259 yards and four touchdowns without an interception, while the Rams pulled away in the fourth quarter after Arizona had briefly taken the lead in the third.

The Cardinals actually led 20-16 midway through the third quarter behind a pair of Jacoby Brissett touchdown passes, but Los Angeles answered with three unanswered scoring drives — one to close the third quarter and two more in the fourth — to seal a 17-point victory. The result pushed the Rams to 12-5 heading into the postseason, while Arizona finished 3-14, the worst mark in franchise history.

2. Match Overview Table

3. Core Match Statistics Overview

Team Stats Table

Turnover Margin

• Arizona’s two giveaways (an interception and a lost fumble) directly erased scoring chances that the Cardinals needed given how efficiently Los Angeles was moving the ball.
• Los Angeles played a clean, turnover-free game, which let Stafford operate without pressure to force throws into coverage.

Third Down Efficiency

• The Rams converted better than half their third-down snaps (9 of 16), which kept Arizona’s defense on the field and wore down a Cardinals front seven that also dealt with in-game injuries.
• Arizona managed just four conversions on eleven attempts, a gap that shows up directly in the 25-to-17 first down disparity.

Pass Protection and Pressure

• Arizona’s offensive line allowed six sacks on Brissett, compared to a single sack surrendered by the Rams protecting Stafford.
• Defensive end Devon Johnson’s two sacks were part of a Rams pass rush that consistently disrupted Arizona’s rhythm, particularly in obvious passing situations.

Red Zone Touchdown Passes

• Stafford connected on touchdown throws to four different pass catchers (Nacua, Higbee, and two to Parkinson), spreading the scoring burden across the receiving corps.
• Arizona’s touchdowns both came through the air as well, but from only two targets, showing a thinner margin for error once drives stalled.

4. Period-by-Period Analysis

First Quarter

• Harrison Mevis opened the scoring with a 34-yard field goal for the Rams at the 11:07 mark.
• Chad Ryland answered for Arizona with a 45-yard field goal to tie the game at 3-3.
• Both defenses set an early tone, with neither offense reaching the end zone in the opening frame.

Second Quarter

• Mevis added a second field goal, this one from 42 yards, to push the Rams ahead 6-3.
• Ryland matched him with a 56-yard field goal for Arizona, tying the score again at 6-6.
• Los Angeles closed the half with a flourish: Stafford found Puka Nacua for a short touchdown, and Mevis added a 40-yard field goal as time expired, sending the Rams into the locker room up 16-6.

Third Quarter

• Brissett hit Michael Wilson on a 43-yard touchdown pass to cut the deficit to 13-16.
• Arizona completed the comeback bid when Brissett found Josiah Deguara for a 7-yard score, giving the Cardinals a 20-16 lead — their only lead of the game.
• Los Angeles responded before the quarter ended, with Stafford connecting with Colby Parkinson from 21 yards out to retake the lead at 23-20.

Fourth Quarter

• Stafford found a returning Tyler Higbee for a 22-yard touchdown, his first receiving score since early November, extending the Rams’ lead to 30-20.
• Parkinson caught his second touchdown of the game, a 1-yard score with 4:15 remaining, putting the outcome out of reach at 37-20.
• Arizona’s offense went scoreless over the final quarter as the Rams defense closed out the win.

5. Detailed Team Player Statistics

Arizona Cardinals Player Statistics

Jacoby Brissett (QB) — 22/31, 243 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT, 101.9 rating, 6 sacks taken Brissett kept Arizona competitive for three quarters, throwing accurately downfield and finding two different receivers for scores, but the interception and repeated pressure limited his ability to sustain drives in the fourth quarter.

Trey McBride (TE) — 7 receptions, 65 yards, 8 targets McBride was Arizona’s most heavily targeted weapon and continued a record-setting season, extending his NFL single-season reception total for a tight end past 126 catches on the year.

Michael Wilson (WR) — 5 receptions, 99 yards, 1 TD, 8 targets Wilson delivered the Cardinals’ biggest offensive play of the day, a 43-yard touchdown that briefly gave Arizona the lead, and paced the team in receiving yards.

Emari Demercado (RB) — 2 carries, 29 yards, 1 reception for 28 yards Demercado was efficient in limited touches, averaging nearly 15 yards per carry, though Arizona’s coaching staff didn’t lean on him as the primary back.

Los Angeles Rams Player Statistics

Matthew Stafford (QB) — 25/40, 259 yards, 4 TD, 0 INT, 114.5 rating Stafford was the difference-maker, spreading four touchdown passes across four different targets and avoiding any turnovers despite a season-finale atmosphere with playoff seeding on the mind of both franchises.

Puka Nacua (WR) — 10 receptions, 76 yards, 1 TD, 11 targets Nacua was Stafford’s most-targeted option and moved into sole possession of second place on the Rams’ single-season receptions list with 120 catches, passing Isaac Bruce’s 1995 mark.

Tyler Higbee (TE) — 5 receptions, 91 yards, 1 TD, 6 targets Making his return after missing six games with injury, Higbee posted his best statistical outing of the season and scored his first receiving touchdown since early November.

Colby Parkinson (TE) — 4 receptions, 36 yards, 2 TD, 7 targets Parkinson was the most efficient scorer on the field, catching both of his targets in the end zone during the second half to help the Rams pull away.

Kyren Williams (RB) — 12 carries, 60 yards, 3 receptions for 21 yards Williams paced the Rams’ ground game and stayed involved in the passing attack, giving Los Angeles balance on early downs.

6. Statistical Leaders Summary Table

7. Analytical Breakdowns: Why They Won / Why They Lost

Why the Rams Won

Distributed Touchdown Production

Stafford didn’t rely on one favorite target. He threw scoring passes to Nacua, Higbee, and twice to Parkinson, which made Arizona’s defense account for multiple threats rather than keying on a single receiver.

Third-Down Execution

Converting 9 of 16 third-down attempts let Los Angeles control the clock and limit Arizona’s offensive possessions, particularly in the second half once the game tightened.

Clean Ball Security

Zero turnovers against Arizona’s two giveaways meant the Rams never handed Arizona a short field or extra possession, a decisive factor in a game that was within one score for three quarters.

Why the Cardinals Lost

Costly Turnovers

Arizona’s interception and lost fumble came at moments when the game was still competitive, and neither the Cardinals’ offense nor their exhausted defense could afford the lost possessions against a Rams team playing for playoff position.

Pass Protection Breakdown

Six sacks allowed disrupted Brissett’s rhythm and forced Arizona into obvious passing downs, where the Rams’ pass rush — led by Devon Johnson’s two sacks — pinned its ears back.

Inability to Sustain the Fourth-Quarter Push

After tying the game at multiple points, Arizona was outscored 14-0 in the final quarter, unable to generate any points once Los Angeles adjusted defensively and leaned on its own offensive execution.

8. Historical Context & Advanced Insights

Season Series Breakdown

This was the only regular-season meeting between the two clubs in 2025, with the next matchup scheduled for October 18, 2026. Across their full series history, the Rams hold a 53-41-2 edge over 96 all-time meetings, including a perfect 2-0 mark in postseason contests between the franchises.

Advanced Statistical Insights

Stafford’s touchdown-to-attempt ratio (4 TDs on 40 attempts, with zero interceptions) reflects a highly efficient distribution approach rather than one built around chunk plays to a single star. His 114.5 passer rating outpaced Brissett’s still-respectable 101.9, but the real separator was situational — the Rams converted third downs at 56% compared to Arizona’s 36%, a swing that produced eight more first downs and roughly 25 more offensive snaps over the course of the game. That extra snap volume is often the clearest predictor of a comfortable final margin, since it simultaneously extends the leading team’s opportunities while shortening the trailing team’s.

9. Game Implications & Key Lessons

What This Means for the Rams

• Closing the regular season at 12-5 with a clean, turnover-free offensive performance gives Los Angeles momentum heading into the playoffs.
• Getting Tyler Higbee back and productive adds a proven receiving option in the passing game at the right time of year.
• Puka Nacua’s continued target volume signals he remains the focal point of the Rams’ passing attack.

What This Means for the Cardinals

• A 3-14 finish, the worst season in franchise history, puts pressure on the front office to evaluate both the roster and the coaching staff before the offseason.
• Six sacks allowed in a game with playoff stakes for the opponent highlights an offensive line that needs reinforcement.
• The turnover issue that has plagued Arizona all year showed up again in a winnable game, an area that needs correcting heading into next season.

Key Lessons

• Spreading touchdown production across multiple targets makes an offense harder to defend than leaning on one go-to receiver.
• Third-down efficiency remains one of the most reliable predictors of who controls a football game.
• Turnover margin can single-handedly swing a contest that’s competitive on the scoreboard.
• Getting a key injured player back in the lineup, as the Rams did with Higbee, can provide an immediate statistical boost.
• Pass protection breakdowns compound quickly, turning a competitive quarterback performance into a limited one.
• Finishing a poor season with individual milestones, like McBride’s tight end reception record, can still offer a building block for the following year.

10. Frequently Asked Questions

Who won the Arizona Cardinals vs Los Angeles Rams game?

The Los Angeles Rams won 37-20 at SoFi Stadium on January 4, 2026.

Who had the best stats in the Cardinals vs Rams game?

Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford led all players with 259 passing yards and four touchdowns on 25-of-40 passing. For Arizona, Jacoby Brissett threw for 243 yards and two touchdowns.

What were Puka Nacua’s stats in this game?

Nacua caught 10 passes for 76 yards and a touchdown, moving into second place on the Rams’ single-season receptions list with 120 catches.

Did the Cardinals ever lead in this game?

Yes. Arizona led 20-16 in the third quarter after touchdown passes to Michael Wilson and Josiah Deguara, before Los Angeles scored the game’s final three touchdowns.

How many turnovers did each team have?

The Rams committed zero turnovers, while the Cardinals had two, including an interception thrown by Brissett.

What was Trey McBride’s stat line in the finale?

McBride caught 7 passes for 65 yards on 8 targets, extending his NFL single-season tight end reception record to 126 catches for the year.

Conclusion

Efficiency, not individual brilliance, decided this game. Los Angeles converted more than half its third downs, protected the football completely, and spread touchdown passes across four different pass-catchers, while Arizona’s two turnovers and six sacks allowed erased what was a genuinely competitive performance from Jacoby Brissett and the Cardinals’ passing attack. The final score reflects a team executing situational football better across all four quarters rather than one built purely on star power.