Another Sad Offensive Performance Dooms the Rams as They Fall to the Cardinals 27-17; from LA Rams Up

Welcome to Rams Up, an LA Rams podcast. We cover just about any Socal sports team, but our primary focus here is your Los Angeles Rams. You can also check out our YouTube channel for weekly video content. Our YouTube handle is at La Rams up. I'm your host mark. Let's get to it. 

Welcome Back Ram fans. If you watch this Rams Cardinals game, you were probably surprised to see Sean McVay and not Jeff Fisher on the sideline. This is a pitiful performance by our offense. Really sad day. Very agonizing watching this team. Fall to the Arizona Cardinals 27 to 17 and to put salt in the wound, the Rams may have lost Cooper Kupp for a while. That injury did not look good. Taken an awkward hit on the sideline on a high throw. One of many high throws from John Wolf. Bird, although there is some early good news on that initial testing on Cooper Kupp's ankle. He appears to have avoided a worst case scenario with the injury quoting off of Twitter here, but still some testing tomorrow. So let's just cross our fingers and hope it's not a long term injury.  

This was not a good day to be a RAM. Finn came into this game, thinking, hey, we get a win here. Bounce back from that painful loss against the Buccaneers. Get a win against a team that we typically do very well against. Have a few guys. If you back up, step up. Some young guys start showing up and none of that happened really. It was a very poor performance by John Woolford. You know I've said all along. I prefer Woolford over Perkins. As a backup quarterback, but I also said I've never had a good feeling about our backup quarterback room. And that played out today. John Wolford did not look like an NFL quarterback. And Bryce Perkins hey, who knows? But if you're all thinking he was the answer and he should have been in there and he would have saved the day for us, I have a hard time believing that really poor performance by John Wolford and. Watching McVay on the sideline, I just. Had a very bad feeling about his demeanor. He looked helpless and I think his offensive play calling his offensive game plan may have reflected that. Maybe he did feel helpless. Maybe he saw this coming. I'm hoping that's not the case, but you know the Rams first possession. There was some creativity there. Went on a nice drive, kicked the field goal and then it was just a bunch of three and outs. Overthrown passes. Pressure on our quarterback. Very limited running game and no Kyren Williams, at least as far as I know. I don't think he had a snap until that last drive and he looked really quick. If there's one nice thing one could take away from this game, I liked what I saw with Kyren Williams. Now that's not to say he would have been. Productive when the game mattered, but. Very promising, I hope he gets more touches next week. Please Sean get him out there and I also thought even late in the game we'd see a little bit of Lance McCutcheon. He may have had a couple snaps off to go back and look, but people talking about Woolford and McCutcheon having that connection. Hey, not in this game. Rams were down 17 to 3 1/2 and after that first drive had shown really not. I mean they get a touchdown on a short field starting from around 41. close the game to 17 to 10 and then they just look like crap from there on until that final drive when the game was basically over. That's what I saw. And where does that leave us? The Rams were three and six, meaning they probably need to win. Three of their next four games to make a run at this. One of those games is against the Chiefs in Kansas City. I don't have a good feeling about that at this point because this performance really it looked like a very bad football team, a very poorly coached football team, and maybe not a very motivated football team at this point. Crazy how far this team has fallen from the offensive juggernaut that it has been under. Day 2 this by winning the Super Bowl did we sell our soul to the devil? Is that what we get? This is the payback. Hey Ram fans, you get a Super Bowl, but guess what? It's going to be a pretty painful 2022 and what really gets me is you know, every team in the NFL deals with. Injuries and can throw guys out there that do a heck of a job that step up and play pretty well. Everybody does that against us, but we can't seem to do it at all. There's one thing the Rams have to be rethinking is maybe we should have improved our quarterback room over the last couple years. Because Wolfard and Perkins are not the answer with Matthew Stafford, would we have had a shot at this game? Probably very likely, in fact, especially the way the defense continues to play with getting little help from the offense. Zero help from the offense, by the way, was my prediction for this game I. Picked the Rams to win 17 to 16 so I got it half right or my fearsome 4 keys to the game. Kind of pointless but I went over some basic fundamental things. Run the ball a little bit. I can't say we accomplished that. Finished drives don't turn the ball over. Protect your quarterback and it's all kind of pointless when this offense is playing. They can't do anything consistently well at this point. We can only hope that Matthew Stafford comes back and this team starts to get it together. If they can't, is it? Lance McCutcheon and Kyren Williams time it might as well be. Not sure where we go from here. Go over some team stats real quickly. The Rams managed 18 first downs. I find that hard to believe, I don't. I don't think I saw that many first downs, but that's what the stat sheet says. 256 total yards. But 70 of those came on that garbage time. TD drive. Walford finished 24 for 36 for 212 yards. A TD, an interception and a fumble, and man he was leaving his receivers out to dry with high passes. Passes off the mark all day. Long could had a really good day if he was just a little backward. Accuracy matters in the NFL, apparently. Higbee was the Rams leading receiver. Rams rushed 20 times for 66 yards acres at 22 Henderson 21. Kyren Williams had 39 yards all on that last drive, mostly receiving and again. He looked really quick, looked really good, promising for the Cardinals. The ramps held him to 200 and 9812 yards, so again. It was not a bad day for the defense. It was that same old Ben don't break. But I think they were kind of demoralized. And wouldn't you be by the end of that game? There's just like no hope. There was a point in that game where the Cardinals had a fourth and three, and they went for it, and my thought was this is how sad it's become. My thought was I hope they go for it because. It's three to three at the time. If they kick the field goal, we're done. How are we going to overcome A6 to three deficit? So let's hope they go for it. And we stopped them. Of course, where does that leave us? This team is not going to drive the field 90 yards at this point, but you get my point. That's how far this offense has fallen. It's pretty crazy if you think about it more. Cardinal stats. DeAndre Hopkins finally got the better of Jalen Ramsey. 10 catches for 98 yards. Ron Delmore had a nice Day, 9 catches for 94 yards. So where does that leave us Rams? Are in deep. Doo Doo last place in the NFC at three and six and Cooper Kupp. I'm not going to guess, but I don't. I have a feeling he's not going to be back for a while. Did not look good. The look on his face and his body language was not sending a very good message. Was not giving me a lot of hope. About his health. At this point, we'll find out tomorrow the Cardinals they keep their hopes alive and they could could honor roll the Cardinals or a team to watch. I thought they were slipping in this league. You never know. I mean the Rams almost beat Tampa Bay in Tampa Bay. Tampa Bay comes back and knocks off the NFC leading West Seattle Seahawks. Pretty easily. Rams come home to play the Cardinals and look like trash. Granted with a backup quarterback. Right now the Cardinals have to be feeling pretty good about their chances. Rams they have to. They have to rethink everything they're doing. In my opinion. Maybe get some guys healthy on that offensive line that'll help. A little bit. But the whole offensive approach just seems so. Wrong right now. So pathetic. I hate to say. Hopefully there's an answer in the next week or two, or it's going to be a long, long season. I'm going to be back in a minute with my game capture. It's going to be painful and then after that we'll come back with some additional game notes. And finally our loop around the league.  

Your kickers lining up for an onside. Kick the chances of regaining possession are slim. The stakes are high and the tension is higher. He kicks and you watch as the ball lands. Make every play field this exciting with DraftKings Sports book and official sports betting partner of the NFL. Right now, new customers can make any $5. NFL bet and get $200.00 in free bets if your team win. And check this out in addition to the usual bets, everyone can boost their winnings with draft kings stepped up, same game parlays and you're looking for a week 11 same game parlay. Let's take a look at the Panthers Ravens game. Take the Panthers into points. Look at about 12 1/2 right now. Take the. Under on the point total. Deonte Foreman, I'm gonna say take the under on his rushing yardage against this tough Ravens defense. Download the DraftKings Sports Book app now and use promo code TPN to get $200.00 in free bets if you're. In winds, just place a $5 bet on any football game only at DraftKings Sports book. Using code tip the minimum age and eligibility restrictions apply. See show notes for details. 

This is part the show where we captured the game possession by possession, more or less. Anyways, this game kind of had an area start. Both teams open up with 14 play 62 yard drives ending in 36 yard field goals in the Rams case, Woolford got the start, of course, but Perkins had a couple of snaps. On this drive had a read option with Brandon Powell getting the ball Acres picked up a 4th and worn to keep the drive alive. Wolford had a designed run for another first down Rams getting a little creative on this opening. Drive a roll out by Wolford. He hits Robinson for another, first down, but the drive eventually stalls and they kicked the field goal. And then the Cardinals answered with their 14 play 62 yard drive. They converted a fourth down as well, a fourth and two, but eventually settled for the field goal. And then we are all treated. Some scintillating football. The Rams of three and out Arizona, A3 and out. Rinse and repeat. Three more of three and outs. The streak of three and outs finally ended on Arizona 4th possession. They go on a 65 yard drive. They convert 1/4 and one at the six. McCoy, scrambling for the first down and then on the next play, James Conner skips in untouched for an easy TD. Cardinals up 2:50. Rams have a little time left were just inside the two-minute warning. They started their own 25. They pick up a first down passes to Higbee in Henderson doing the trick, and then Wolford has the ball knocked away. As he's trying to deliver a pass JJ Watt covers, it would have ambled into the end zone. But they blew it dead on review, and the Cardinals are rightfully awarded the ball at the Rams 30 and with 24 seconds left. Colt McCoy hits AJ Green with a beautiful little fade pass. Green gets both feet in and the Cardinals have a seemingly insurmountable 17 to 3 lead. Given the way this Rams offense is planned into the second-half, Cardinals get the ball first, pick up a first down on a pass interference call, but end up punting the Rams. Pick up a first down on an. Packers run, but after a sack they have to punt. Arizona gets called for intentional grounding on their next possession and that leads to a cardinal punt and then the Rams with the ball to 41 finally put together a drive. Big Screen Pass to Tyler Higbee with Ty Inishkea leading the way. Allen Robinson picks up a big first down Woolford scrambles and hits Higbee. Perkins comes in and loses 5 on a run and then after two penalties on JJ Watt that gets the Rams to the five. Darrell Henderson runs it in. Ranz probably wouldn't have scored without watts help, and they closed the gap to 17 to 10 Cardinals. Next possession starts with 424 left in the third quarter. Arizona goes three and out, and the Rams get the ball back up their own 11A. Pastor Robinson gets the Rams out to the 22 with another first down, and then Wolford throws a high pass on the sideline. Really exposes Cooper Kupp and he gets hit really awkwardly, obviously hurt, and he's. Out of the game and on that same play, a penalty on Nysheke for hands to the face. So the Rams take two shots on that loose cup for the game. Him get pushed back and end up punting another three not for the Rams. We're into the fourth quarter here and Rams trying to get a stop. They backed the Cardinals up to 1/3 and 17919 left in the game and the loose of Rondell Moore picks up 14 and then on 4th and three. Or makes a beautiful one. And catch for 26 yards and two plays later, James Conner scores again straight Army David Long as he gets around the corner inside the pylon for the. Touchdown making it 24 to 10 Rams ensuing possession Wolford tries to squeeze the ball into Skowronek. The ball is tipped up in the air and but a Baker who wasn't even supposed to play in this game. He intercepts, sets up a field goal for the Cardinals. They go up 27 to 10 and then the Rams get a garbage. Touchdown Van Jefferson scoring on a pass from John Wolford that's in the closing seconds. Finally saw Kyron Williams on this drive and he contributed 39 total yards on this possession, but final score Rams go down to the Cardinals 27 to 17. Back in a minute with some additional notes on this sad, sad game.  

Let's get into some final notes on this. Rams 27 to 17 loss to the Arizona Cardinals will follow that up with our loop around the league. My fearsome 4 big plays. You know I could only narrow it down to 5. And here they are chronologically fearsome big play #1 on that Rams first drive. Acres picks up the 4th and one. Now, in retrospect, that play was actually pretty meaningless. Seeing how the game panned out, but at the time, hey, anytime you pick up a fourth down. And that turns into points. In this case, three points. That's a big play. There's some big play #2 Cardinals did the same thing on their first drive. They convert 1/4 and two McCoy connecting with AJ Green, and they turn that into three points for some big play #3. Three to three ball game 4th and one from the RAM 6 and McCoy keeps it goes right and picks up the first down that led to James Conner first TD. So you have these first three big plays or all fourth down conversions actually. There's some big play #4 that's the fumble by Woolford that set up the Cardinals at the Rams 30. They scored a few plays later on that Nice catch by AJ Green on the Fade Cardinals go up 17 to 3 and at that time you're like Oh no. This is bad for this. Rams team cannot score 17 points. Looking that was a really big play. Turning the ball over there. That's the one thing you can't do in a game like this that figures to be tight. If you can keep it tight with your defense, get a couple breaks. Couple of big plays, a couple of drives and pull out a win. But you turn the ball over like that. Give away 7. Points it's really hard to recover from that. And my first big play, #5, was that third and 17 play Cardinals. Rondell Moore picks up 14, and that's the big play. The following play on 4th down on the next play, 4th and three more makes that beautiful catch on the sideline over David Long and shortly thereafter. Cardinals go back up two TDs 24 to 10. So the Rams had cut the lead 17 to 10 and then at 3rd and 17, and Rondell Moore very elusive picks up those 14 yards. Allowing the Cardinals to go forward on 4th and three and kind of put the game out of reach at that point. Now we may not have believed it at the time, but I think in our hearts we knew the Rams were in deep trouble. At that point. A few things worth noting. The Rams inactives list included, of course, Matthew Stafford. Travian Howard was also inactive 2/2 at well again, don't quite understand that something going on with him. Seems to be the one thing we're really lacking is speed and electricity, especially on outside deep threat to open things up for a running game perhaps, but no Atwell can't go. Greg Gaines can't go. I don't know if I ever remember Greg Gaines being out Alaric Jackson, who had become our starting left tackle. He was out and Sean Jolly as well. After sounding pessimistic about his chances of plan all week, but a Baker did in fact play and had that late interception, of course. With Greg Gaines out, Jonah Williams got the star. Part not really meaningful as much as the Rams rotate their defensive line. Marquis Copeland was in there a lot. Williams ended up with one tackle, as did Bobby Brown, and that might be his first. Maybe his second tackle, not sure. Taylor Rapp left the game briefly and was replaced by Russ East, but he came back. And the Cardinals 1st 11 plays were passes. Who does that remind you of what offensive coordinator does that bring back for you? About Mike martz. I remember he did that once. I think the Rams do on their 1st 20 plays. One game with Kurt Warner at quarterback and another thing worth noting. We're still having a take away drought. The last take away late in the game against Carolina. The interception of Jacob Eason. No takeaways in these three losses to the 49ers. Tampa Bay and Arizona player props. While the default awards usually go to Aaron, Donald, and Cooper, Kupp can't give one to Cooper here first time all year. No game ball for Cooper Kupp Aaron Donald had a strong game. Statistically, with nine tackles had pressure a few times, not getting a lot of help in that regard. Ernest Jones was busy led the team in tackles. Nick Scott was very active, flashed several times. I think he's a really good safety. He's probably our best safety at this point. And I gotta. Say loved what Chiring Williams brought to the table. They need to get him involved more. He looked really twitchy, really fast and electric. Love to see what he can do. I still like Henderson and Cam Akers but we don't have a guy that can really break anything longer than what 23 yards all year. Let's give Kyren Williams a shot, shall we? Who had bad games, well, Pro Football focus grades were probably going to shame a few guys. The guys I know off hand didn't have good games. Well, obviously John Wolford on paper, statistically not bad, but he did not pass a high test and was extremely inaccurate. I don't know. He really struggled no beating around the Bush. Bush he had a bad day and David Long struggled. You know he had a pretty tall task. Some of the receivers he had to cover, but he didn't quite get it done. And Jalen Ramsey. I love his enthusiasm. You know it makes a big play early in the game and you know it was Jalen Ramsey making the play, but there's just too many times where. He's not really making the play in my opinion, and a lot of it may be the design that soft coverage at their plan does come up and make the tackle. But there are also several times where his coverage was a little bit lacking. Now, for most cornerbacks, you could probably say. He had a good game, but for Jalen Ramsey it's gotta be shut down time. We need Jalen Ramsey to be the best guy on the field. Well, at least the second best after #99 Jalen Ramsey has to show up just a little bit more. Not saying he had a bad game, but could have been. Coaches corner I've already hammered on Sean McVay enough. I'm just going to say we got to do a better job game planning getting these guys prepared and getting our backups coached up so they can contribute at an NFL level. And hey. Get some of these younger guys involved. Kyren Williams. Maybe Lance McCutcheon. I don't know something to give this team a little bit of pop. They really need it. I'm going to come back in a minute with our loop around the league and then look for our. Path to the playoffs YouTube drop later this week. Going to keep on doing it. Ramps aren't illuminated and and they haven't locked up a blast by it either. We'll give you our path to the playoff after 10 weeks. That's youtube.com slash at La Rams up. That's the new YouTube handle they're using. Ours is at L. A Rams up. Please check it out subscribe. Got some good stuff on there but back in a minute with our loop around the league.  

Time for our week 10. Loop around the. League will start with. That Thursday night game. Panthers 25 Falcons 15. That's kind of an odd score. Game was played in a downpour. Deonte Foreman 130 yards rushing and that's a lowkey good result for the Rams. The Falcons taken a loss. In Germany early Sunday morning our time anyways, Bucks 21 Seahawks 16. Another good result for the Rams and I have to admit Brady looked really good, just not as a receiver. He was 22 for 29 two TDs in an interception. Bucs looked like they were trying to give that game. Away up 11. Driving on the Seahawks and they send Brady out in the pattern. And he slips and falls down. The balls intercepted, the. Seahawks mounted Dr Deep into bucks territory, but Geno Smith fumbles. Seahawks get the ball back and drive on the Seahawks for the touchdown. The Bucs Outrushed Seattle 161 to 39 yards and remember. This is a Bucs rushing attack that was second worst in the league to yours. Truly. The Los Angeles Rams running game and another result that's lowkey favorable to the Rams. The Lions come back to beat the Bears 31 to 30. In my Rams up straight up game pics, I made an offhand comment that Justin Fields would rush for 200 yards. Well, it was just 167. The Bears lead 24 to 17 and fields threw a pick six and then the next possession rips off a 67 yard TD run. But the Bears missed the extra point, and Jared Goff leads them on a 91 yard drive to take the lead. Need bears last possession comes up short and the lions escaped with a rare Rd win. And how about this? Vikings bills game Vikings win 33 to 30 in overtime. Bills lead 27 to 10 early in the third quarter. Dalvin Cook breaks off an 81 yard run to make it interesting, right? 2717 Vikings add another touchdown but missed the extra point so they're down 27 to 23. They get down to the bills. 1 yard line, 4th and. Goal and they can't punch it. In turn the ball over on downs with 41 seconds left. Bills have the ball and Josh Allen fumbles in the end zone. The Vikings recover to go up 30 to 27. The Bills managed to drive down and kick the time field goal with five seconds. Game goes to overtime. Vikings go up 33 to 30 on their first possession bills, first possession of overtime, a touchdown wins it for them, they get to the Minnesota 20 and then Allen turns the ball over again. This time Patrick Peterson intercepts in the end zone game over the Vikings with an incredible win. To improve to 8 and one the bills the team. Many had already crowned as the Super Bowl champions. They slipped to six and three. A few games that went more or less as we expected. The Chiefs beat the Jags 27 to 17. The homes throws for four TDs and. A guy named Isaiah Pacheco leads the Chiefs in Rushing 16 attempts 82 yards. The Dolphins took care business at home beating the Browns 39 to 17 to a 25 for 32285 yards in three TD's. Not a bad day at the office. Breaking news Tyreek Hill did not lead the Dolphins in receiving yardage, although he did have a receiving touchdown. Giants continue to roll, beating the Texans 26 to 14 at home. Their game plan was apparently to lean on Saquon Barkley 35 rushes for 152 yards. What are you going to do about that? Giants win going away to improve to 7 and two who saw that coming. You know, I have to. Admit I think. I had the Giants ranked #32 out of 32 teams at the start of this season. This one was a little bit of a surprise to me. The Steelers at home beat the Saints 20 to 10. TJ Watt returning from his injury give them a big emotional lift that Titans cut out to a slow start, falling behind to Russell Wilson and the Broncos. 10 to nothing but Ryan Tannehill brought his team back two touchdown passes and the Titans improved to six and three. With a 17 to 10 win and hop up this one, the Jeff Saturday coached Colts rallied to beat the Raiders in Las Vegas. 25 to 20. And who was the Colts quarterback? Matt Ryan, 21 for 28222 yards in a TD. Jonathan Taylor 147 yards. Rushing they got the game winner with 507 left and this is the Colts team that we have been waiting for. Efficient quarterback play, explosive running game. Colts are still alive at 4/5 and one and the Raiders. Well the Raiders their season is over at 2:00 and 7:00 and the Cowboys at the Packers. Can you believe that some people were stuck with this game as their game of the week instead of the Rams Cardinals? So those. Poor Souls Packers eke out a win 31 to 28 in overtime. Cowboys lead 28 to 14. Packers rallied to tide Cowboys in overtime in No Man's land, 4th and four from the Packers 35, they go for it. Prescott, under pressure escapes, tries to hit Tony Pollard with the paths cannot connect with him. Packers take over on downs and on 3rd and one Rodgers hits. Allen Lazard. 3rd short Pass, Catch and run down to the Dallas 20 for 36 yards, one run and one kneel down and then the Mason Crosby field goal in the Packers win 31 to 28. Devastating loss for the Cowboys and a big win for the Packers were four and six and definitely. In the wild card hunt in the Sunday night game, Chargers took an early lead on the 49er. But playing without their two starting tackles and their two starting receivers could not hold off the 49ers. 49ers win 22 to 16. 3 Greenlaw ejected from that game for a really vicious helmet to helmet hit on Justin Herbert, and of course, Monday night commanders. And Eagles. That's going to do this episode. We hope you enjoyed it. Remember, you can reach us at Rams up podcast@gmail.com. Visit our website. At Rams up com you'll find links to all of our episodes as well as transcriptions. And don't forget about our YouTube channel. Our handle is at La Rams up. Dot com so next time keep. Horns up stay safe. 

Music courtesy of bensound.com and the YouTube royalty free Music audio library. Crimson fly by Hama.