Cardinals @ Rams
Final Score: Rams 26, Cardinals 9
Writer: Marc Salazar (@oldsnake77)
This was the 93rd matchup all-time between the NFC West rival Arizona Cardinals and Los Angeles Rams. Both teams struggled to sustain drives in the first half or saw drives stall in the red zone. The first half ended at 9-6 Arizona after five field goals between the two teams, with the Rams gaining five yards on the ground on just three carries. However, once the second half began, the Rams opened the half with nine straight runs, including six carries for 52 yards from Rams RB Kyren Williams. The Rams continued to lean on the run throughout the third quarter and took control of the game, scoring 10 points in each of the final two quarters. The Rams offensive line played well and proved that they are a strength of the team, a team that has come out of the gate and surprised the division with an ever-efficient offense.
Two Up
- Kyren Williams – I was told that Kyren Williams is not a lead back, that he is unathletic, undersized, and not as “talented” as former Rams lead back Cam Akers. All of these reports are wrong. Williams displayed agility both inside and outside the tackles, burst through holes once they developed, and power when imposing his will on defenders. It was an impressive performance and he will only be held back by usage and game-script, which we will get into later.
- Cooper Kupp – Cooper Kupp is completely back and doing Cooper Kupp things. Deep shots, drag routes, end-zone targets, first down chain mover, target hog. Any questions fantasy managers had about Kupp after returning from injury should be squashed now.
- Hollywood Brown – Cardinals speedy receiver Hollywood Brown was heavily involved today although a quick look through the boxscore might tell a different story. He led the team in targets and the Cardinals took multiple deep shots that failed for one reason or another. Still, Brown is a focal point of the passing game and the preferred target in the offense.
Three Down
- Zach Ertz – Tight end Zach Ertz is a starter in name but his involvement in the offense can be categorized as limited. Ertz’s superpower these last few years, when healthy, was volume but he is no longer a player who demands targets.
- Tutu Atwell – With Kupp back in the lineup, the target distribution has condensed into the Kupp and Puka Nacua show with everyone else vying for checkdown targets or the occasional designed shot. Atwell played more than 80% of the team’s snaps but was unable to earn more than one target.
- Tyler Higbee – Similar to Atwell, Tyler Higbee is the third or fourth option on a team that barely looks past the top two receivers.
Arizona Cardinals
Quarterback
Joshua Dobbs: 21/41, 235 YardsINT | 7 Carries, 47 Yards, 1 Fumble (Lost) | 7 Carries, 47 Yards, 1 Fumble (Lost)
Cardinals starting QB Joshua Dobbs had a decent day, on a day the team needed him to be great. Dobbs showed his athleticism on multiple occasions, escaping pressure and picking up chunck gains with his legs. He was able to find his top target, Hollywood Brown, for a couple of big gains but he also missed on two critical throws that both would have led to easy touchdowns.
His biggest blunder, however, came at the start of the fourth once the Cardinals reached the Rams’ 12-yard line, and the Cardinals were down 9-16. Dobbs was late on a crossing pattern targeting Ertz, just as Rondale Moore was coming free underneath. Moore would have walked in for an easy touchdown. Instead, Ertz could not handle the ball thrown behind him and it ricocheted into the hands of a Rams defender. The Rams went on to score 10 more in the quarter to put the game away.
Notes
- Showed a surprising amount of mobility.
Missed Opportunities
- With 7:16 remaining in the second, the Cardinals tried to spring Hollywood Brown for a big play, from the Ram’s 40-yard line. Brown got behind his defender along the sideline and had a clear path to the endzone. While the pass from Dobbs was slightly aimed close to the sideline, Brown could have shown better awareness of where he was. Instead, he stepped out of bounds as he caught the ball.
CHRISTIAN ROZEBOOM PICKS OFF JOSH DOBBS #RamsHouse pic.twitter.com/MYTixqQPrn
— Jack (@MidWestLAFan) October 15, 2023
Running Back
Keaontay Ingram: 10 Carries, 40 Yards | 2 Targets, 2 Receptions, 11 Yards
With James Conner out, Keaontay Ingram and Damien Williams split carries and passing game work. Ingram popped a bit more than Williams, with three of his carries going for more than eight yards, and a long of 12. Ingram played more down the stretch, as the game was in comeback mode but once the game script flipped, he was unable to improve on his strong three quarters.
Damien Williams: 8 Carries, 36 Yards | 1 Target, 1 Reception, 8 Yards
Nearly all of Damien Williams’s work came in the first half, where he ripped off two big gains to start drives. However, after the team was in comeback mode, Williams saw just one second-half carry. In fact, after the team was down 17, third-string back Emari Demercado was on the field as an outlet receiver, with both Ingram and Williams on the bench.
Emari Demercado: 2 Carries, 11 Yards | 1 Target, 1 Reception, 6 Yards
Wide Receiver/Tight End
Michael Wilson: 4 Targets, 3 Receptions, 62 Yards
Michael Wilson was targetted just four times but three of them (17, 26, 19) went for big gains. Looking deeper, however, you see the full story. Williams’s first catch, early in the first, was a scramble drill where Wilson came open as Dobbs was scrambling away from pressure. His other two catches came at the end of the game, with the Rams up 17, and playing prevent defense. His second catch was a nice 4th-and-10 conversion in their own half and his final catch, with less than a minute to go, came as the Cardinals were trying to move it across half-field.
Marquise Brown: 11 Targets, 4 Receptions, 34 Yards
Hollywood Brown was heavily involved all day and is no doubt the preferred target of Josh Dobbs. With a little better precision from Dobbs, or maybe slightly better footwork from Brown, this could have been a huge day. Brown’s biggest play came late in the third when he accelerated quickly past his coverage and secured a 22-yard catch in between the hashes.
Notes
- Hollywood is as fast as advertised, getting behind defenders quickly on multiple occasions.
Missed Opportunities
- Early in the first quarter, the Cardinals took a shot at the endzone from the Rams 37-yard line. The ball was slightly underthrown, with Brown having to slow down and allowing Rams CB Ahkello Witherspoon to bat the ball down as the ball reached Hollywood’s hands.
- After a Rams turnover in the mid-second, Dobbs targetted Brown twice more with passes near the goal line but Brown could not make a play around strong coverage. The Cards targeted Brown once more on third down, on a quick crosser that was shut down, and the Cardinals settled for a field goal.
Rondale Moore: 3 Carries, -4 Yards | 7 Targets, 4 Receptions, 30 Yards
New week but the same story for Rondale Moore. Moore continues to see slot usage, low depth of target, or designed plays around the line of scrimmage. The Cardinals tried to use Moore out of the backfield today, where he earned a traditional toss run to go along with a typical sweep run.
Trey McBride: 5 Targets, 4 Receptions, 62 Yards
Tight end Trey McBride lead the position today for the Cardinals, mostly in two tight end sets and as an outlet receiver over the middle. The team continues to use Ertz in single tight-end sets and McBride has yet to earn the starter role.
Zach Ertz: 5 Targets, 2 Receptions, 22 Yards
Ertz looks like a shadow of his former self, mostly remaining a strong contributor as a run blocker and outlet receiver. However, with the team’s tendency to push the ball down the field, Ertz has become a limited option in the passing game.
Los Angeles Rams
Quarterback
Matthew Stafford: 15/24, 226 Yards, TD | 1 Carry, 2 Yards
Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford played well today, despite the number of incompletions. Stafford knows where his bread is buttered, and that is by Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua. The Cardinals had a stingy defense but they were unable to contain Kupp for a full afternoon. Stafford looks healthy and showed no signs of decline today.
Notes
- Stafford looks good and continues to show full command of this Rams offense. No noticeable dropoff in his play.
Running Back
Kyren Williams: 20 Carries, 158 Yards, TD
After receiving just one carry in the first half, Kyren Williams opened the second half with gains of 17, 6, 14, and 10 yards on the first four plays of the half. His determination set the tone for the second half, as he ripped off 97 yards on 10 carries in the third quarter alone. William’s longest gain was 31 yards at the end of the third and led to a field goal to close out a 10-point quarter. Early in the 4th, Williams continued his domination with a 27-yard burst down the sideline.
.@Kyrenwilliams23 havin' himself a helluva half. 😤
📺 @NFLonFOX pic.twitter.com/Q2cfQXudFG
— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) October 15, 2023
However, Williams’s most impressive run was his touchdown to close out this drive and put the game away. Williams dragged three defenders the final few yards, as he stretched in for the score.
Have a day @Kyrenwilliams23! Findin' the endzone for 6️⃣!
📺 @NFLonFOX pic.twitter.com/Tu5xtPVb3O
— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) October 15, 2023
Notes
- Inside, outside, speed, power. The Rams clearly love this guy and trust him to do everything.
Wide Receiver/Tight End
Cooper Kupp: 9 Targets, 7 Receptions, 148 Yards, TD
Cooper Kupp is the same as he’s ever been, the best receiver on the field. Late in the first, Kupp caught a 49-yard deep ball from Stafford, to pull the team into field goal range just before half. After the half, Kupp caught a 13-yarder from Stafford after Williams wore the team down and capped off a 10-play drive with nine runs. There isn’t much more to say about #10.
Stafford finds @CooperKupp in the endzone for the first time this season!!
📺 @NFLonFOX pic.twitter.com/n5NPWU9Umz
— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) October 15, 2023
Puka Nacua: 7 Targets, 4 Receptions, 26 Yards
It was a quiet day for rookie wideout Puka Nacua, but managers should not see any reason to panic. Puka was heavily involved today, earning a third of Stafford’s targets and playing nearly the entire game. Nucua’s day could have been salvaged if he could have come down with an impossible catch early in the game. No time to panic though, he remains a key player in this offense.
Notes
- Still, a focal point of the offense, receiving 33% of the team’s targets today.
Missed Opportunities
- Late in the first, the Rams moved the ball to the Cardinal’s 16-yard line after a huge punt return and a long catch from Kupp. Nacua made a diving attempt in the end zone but could not come down with the spectacular catch. A little luck could have salvaged a decent day from the rookie wideout.
Tutu Atwell: 1 Target, 1 Reception, 30 Yards
With the return of Kupp to the lineup, Atwell has become a third option in the passing game. Atwell saw just one target today, despite playing more than 70% of the game. With two top receivers on his team, this may be the norm moving forward.
Notes
- Played the majority of the game, but saw limited opportunities.
Tyler Higbee: 3 Targets, 2 Receptions, 18 Yards
Higbee has become the fourth option in a heavily condensed offense. Higbee remains a decent blocking tight end in the run game but Stafford has his preferred options in the offense.