What We Saw: Week 3

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Rams @ Cardinals

Final Score: Rams 20, Cardinals 12

Writer: Ryan Radel (@RadelFF on Twitter)

In a game with only one single receiving touchdown and over 80 pass attempts, one would expect the score to exceed 32 total points. Even Vegas odds pointed towards a game with a least two more touchdowns. In my opinion, this was a sloppy game by both teams, and in the end the better coach won. One Cardinals pass-catcher had an astonishing amount of targets and managed to capitalize for the most part, while a Rams pass-catcher ended up scoring his first rushing touchdown of his career. The Rams survived a costly goal line turnover to take home the victory in this high-powered NFC West matchup.

Los Angeles Rams

Quarterback

Matthew Stafford: 18/25, 249 Yards, 1 Sack | 3 Carries, 2 Yards

Matthew Stafford didn’t light up the stat sheet, but he did more than enough to take home the victory. I have a feeling his elbow might be bothering him as it seemed like the Rams were calling plays around Stafford’s arm, not asking him to throw it deep too often. While only taking a single sack and throwing for nearly 250 passing yards, Stafford, unfortunately, wasn’t able to add a passing score to his statline. He did however complete over 70% of his passing attempts which kept the sticks moving all day as he relied on his defense to keep them in the game. If the Rams figure out their running game, it should open the field back up for Stafford. The veteran certainly still has some life in him:

WHAT A MOVE BY MATTHEW!

📺: @NFLonFOX | 📱 https://t.co/4beUdmlymg pic.twitter.com/FT2ipQ0BEO

— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) September 25, 2022

Running Back

Cam Akers: 12 Carries, 61 Yards, TD, Fumble (Lost)

Darrell Henderson Jr.: 4 Carries, 17 Yards | 1 Target

For the most part, the Rams’ running game was effective at keeping drives going, but otherwise were kept under wraps by the Cardinals defense. Fantasy sweetheart Darrell Henderson Jr was mostly ineffective, receiving only had five total designed touches for 17 yards, while his backfield counterpart received over double the touches. After a rough start to the season, Cam Akers looked like the lead back today. While he wasn’t a game changer by any means, he was able to rumble 14 yards for a score late in the third quarter to solidify the Rams lead:

.@thereal_cam3 reachin' out for the TD! 🙌

📺: @NFLonFOX | 📱 https://t.co/4beUdmlymg pic.twitter.com/pcJzAuAJ66

— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) September 25, 2022

Wide Receiver/Tight End

Cooper Kupp: 1 Carry, 20 Yards, TD | 6 Targets, 4 Receptions, 44 Yards

Ben Skowronek: 4 Targets, 4 Receptions, 66 Yards

Tyler Higbee: 4 Targets, 4 Receptions, 61 Yards

Kendall Blanton: 1 Target, 1 Reception, 28 Yards

Brandon Powell: 3 Targets, 3 Receptions, 27 Yards

Allen Robinson II: 5 Targets, 2 Receptions, 23 Yards

Tutu Atwell: 1 Target

The wait for Allen Robinson to deliver in this offense will continue, as he managed 23 yards while bringing in two of five targets. It will likely improve as the season progresses, but right now it looks like Stafford doesn’t have the same chemistry he does with his other pass catchers yet. Tyler Higbee and Ben Skowronek combined to bring in all eight of their total targets for over 120 yards, as Stafford relied on the pair to be the pass-catchers drawing attention away from Cooper Kupp. While Kupp wasn’t the yardage leader for the Rams in what feels like the first time in a long time, he was still the most dangerous player in the Rams offense. Although he was double covered, Kupp dropped an over-the-shoulder touchdown, otherwise his day would’ve been even better. Even when Stafford isn’t on top of his game, head coach Sean McVay will come up with ways to get the ball in Kupp’s hands:

COOP, HE GONE!

🏃‍♂️: @CooperKupp | 📺: @NFLonFOX pic.twitter.com/4NfI3W5XcC

— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) September 25, 2022

Believe it or not, this is Kupp’s first rushing touchdown of his career.

Arizona Cardinals

Quarterback

Kyler Murray: 37/58, 314 Yards, 2 Sacks | 2 Carries, 8 Yards, 1 Fumble (Recovered)

In general, I was shocked to see only 314 passing yards for Kyler considering he threw the ball fifty eight times. It makes my shoulder hurt typing that. Kyler was on the move often as he was trying to evade the Rams tough front four. I was surprised that Kyler only scrambled twice, but with the Cardinals playing from behind all game, I understand the need to pass the ball. Unfortunately, a 64% completion percentage and a 5.4 yards per attempt aren’t going to be good enough to overcome a Super Bowl caliber defense. Kyler certainly has the talent to succeed in the NFL, but his decision-making needs some refinement. After all, when you regularly make throws like this on the move, you’re going to be hard to stop unless you stop yourself:

Ya Got Dortch'd 😉@_GDortch x #BirdCityFootball pic.twitter.com/zH8e2Blj1V

— Arizona Cardinals (@AZCardinals) September 25, 2022

Running Back

James Conner: 13 Carries, 39 Yards | 5 Targets, 3 Receptions, 18 Yards

Eno Benjamin: 5 Carries, 16 Yards | 4 Targets, 2 Receptions, 7 Yards

Darrel Williams: 1 Carry, 7 Yards | 1 Target

The Cardinals’ running game was basically game-scripted out of this matchup. Since the Cardinals were trailing all game, there was never an opportunity for this group to get in a rhythm on the ground. The Rams’ defense held the Cardinals to 3.3 yards per carry which is not great. One saving grace for the running backs was 10 total targets going to the position. While they didn’t do much with those targets today, it’s still encouraging to see them be involved in the passing game. It’s also encouraging to see James Conner throw stiff arms like this:

James Conner is running ANGRY 💪@JamesConner_ x #BirdCityFootball pic.twitter.com/qPfqRVKnaz

— Arizona Cardinals (@AZCardinals) September 25, 2022

Wide Receiver/Tight End

Marquise Brown: 17 Targets, 14 Receptions, 140 Yards

Greg Dortch: 10 Targets, 9 Receptions, 80 Yards

Zach Ertz: 10 Targets, 6 Receptions, 45 Yards

Andre Baccellia: 4 Targets, 2 Receptions, 13 Yards

Andy Isabella: 2 Targets, 1 Reception, 11 Yards

A.J. Green: 2 Targets

Zach Ertz managed to secure six of his 10 targets for 45 yards, but those 45 yards were rather pedestrian overall. He did receive an endzone target that he wasn’t able to secure. Greg Dortch continues to benefit from the absence of Rondale Moore, and is certainly making the most of the opportunity as he secured nine of 10 targets for 80 yards. Dortch seems to be heavily involved between the 20’s. Kyler’s favorite target continues to be Marquise Brown. Brown was targeted an astounding 17 times, bringing in 14 of those for 140 yards. Brown also received targets in the endzone that he was unable to secure. The chemistry between Brown and Murray will continue to develop at a professional level as they pick up where they left off in college. The playcalling is clearly designed to get the ball into his hands: