Official Game Day Thread - ARZ @ LAR Oct 3, 2021
Sept 27, 2021 2:16:57 GMT -7
thomas cat and cardinalsins like this
Post by End Zone on Sept 27, 2021 2:16:57 GMT -7
The draft Game Day Thread is opened at 540 ET, October 2. Enjoy.
Update October 3 (last one for this game):
LA's Daily News does not sugar coat the Cardinals v. Rams contest today. The writer's know the new Cardinals are fully capable controlling this game and winning, and then owning the NFC West Division in 2021.
www.dailynews.com/2021/10/02/rams-vs-arizona-cardinals-who-has-the-edge-6/
And the best reason the Cardinals shock the Rams today -- Arizona State Crushed #20 UCLA 42-23 at LA on Saturday!
apnews.com/article/college-football-sports-pasadena-ucla-bruins-football-arizona-41722e18b506759edf3e3b5c74d624bb
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Hello and welcome to the Forum’s 4th Arizona Cardinals Game Day Thread (GDT).
Today's Cardinals game is their first NFC West head-to-head Division game. The game is also the third road game in the last 4 games. After today, the Cardinals fans will enjoy 3 of 4 next games at home.
Early in the 2021 season, the LAR record is 3-0 and the ARZ record is 3-0. This is the 4th year in a row that the Rams started 3-0. It is the first time since 2015 that the Cardinals started 3-0.
The LAR offense under rejuvenated QB Matt Stafford is clicking, and after 3 games, he produced 9 TDs (tied 2nd) and 942 yards passing (5th), and RBs contributed 2 TDs and 251 yards rushing. Key team statistics (3 games) – Stafford is 66 for 94 passing attempts and 70.2% completion average. He is averaging 397.7 yards per game. He has 1 INT (tied 7th). He was sacked 3 times. Rating is 129.8. QBR 82.8 (1st). His go-to WR is Cooper Kupp, with 33 targets and 25 receptions for 367 yards and 5 TDs. The Rams have 3 receivers with 10 or more receptions. The LAR rush is below League average. The top rusher is RB Henderson (out last weekend), with 123 yards in 29 attempts and 4.2 yards average. RB Michel is second, with 115 yards in 31 attempts and 3.7 yards average. Overall, LAR rush is 251 yards in 76 attempts, 3.3 yard average. Compared to the Cardinals, the LAR attack is about the same ratio, with pass (94) and rush (76).
Under 3rd year QB Kyler Murray, the Cardinals offense also is clicking, producing 7 TDs (tied 5th) and 1,005 yards passing (tied 3rd), and RBs contributed 5 TDs and 330 yards rushing. Key team statistics (3 games) – Murray is 78 for 102 attempts and 76.5% completion average. He is averaging 358.3 yards per game. He has 4 INTs (tied 30th). He was sacked 5 times. Rating is 113.4. QBR 71.2 (5th). His go-to WR is Kirk, with 17 targets and 15 receptions for 239 yards and 2 TDs. The Cardinals have 6 receivers with 10 or more receptions. The Cardinals rush is above League average. The top rusher is RB Edmonds, with 135 yards in 31 attempts and 4.4 yard average. RB Conner is second, with 122 yards in 35 attempts and 3.5 yards average. Overall, the Cardinals rush is 330 yards in 84 attempts, 3.9 yard average. QB Murray contributed 70 yards in 17 attempts. Compared to the LAR, the Cardinals attack is about the same ratio, with pass (102) and rush (84).
The LAR are credited with destroying the Cardinals at the last meeting on January 3, 2021, and ending the Cardinals season (8-8) short of the playoffs. In January, a "NOBODY QB" named John Wolford, signed off the LAR Practice Squad minutes prior to the game, played like NFL GOAT QB Tom Brady for 60 minutes, taking down the mistake-prone and beaten-down Cardinals by the score 18-7, in an unusually flat game for both teams.
QB Stafford, 33 years old, 6'3" and 220 lbs, is a certified venomous pit viper, formerly working his good old southern boy charm into lethal passing magic with some of the worst Detroit Lion's teams known in NFL history. Despite the Lions mostly downtrodden history since signing the rookie University of Georgia QB in 2009, QB Matt Stafford consistently elevated himself, earning the League's respect again and again. He shares or owns many passer records: 5,000 yards in a single season; 40,000 yards in 147 games; most comeback wins in a season--8 in 2016; and is always in the NFL's top 10 for QB attempts, completions, yards, TDs, etc.
After the 2020 season, the Detroit Lions and LA Rams swapped QBs. LAR sent QB Goff and draft compensation to DET in exchange for QB Stafford. LAR intends to win NOW with Stafford. At QB Stafford's last game versus the Cardinals during Week 3 of the 2020 season, he threw for 270 yards and 2 TDs in a 26-23 win--the Lions first victory since October 19 of the 2019 season. QB Stafford put together a 10-play drive late in the 4th Quarter, ending with a K Matt Prater 39-yard FG to win the game. QB Stafford is a crafty pro and takes what a Defense gives him. He will dink-and-dunk a defense to death just moving the chains, and then sets up in the Red Zone for a score. Or, he unleashes pinpoint multi-yard bombs for long-range scores. Pick your poison.
Rams History. In the 85-game head-to-head competition, the Rams won 45 games, the Cardinals won 38 games, and the teams tied 2 times. The last couple years, the Rams looked forward to playing the Cardinals, averaging 30-plus points each game. For a quick reading on the Rams’ team history, see this web page: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Los_Angeles_Rams. The team has a long and proud history beginning in 1936. It is well known that the franchise has changed owners and hometowns a few times in 85 years. The team included some of the most iconic football players of the modern era. 16 former Rams coaches and players are enshrined in the NFL Hall of Fame. 6 jersey numbers are permanently retired. The Rams won Super Bowl XXXIV in 1999. Pre NFL-NFL merger, the Rams won the NFL Championship in 1945 and 1951. The Rams last made the playoffs in 2020, primarily because the Green Bay Packers beat the Chicago Bears in another NFC Conference Division-level contest for the last NFC Wild Card playoff berth.
This 2021 season is HC Sean McVay's 5th season at the helm. Below McVay, there were several major coaching changes. Raheem Morris is the new DC. Moving on was passing game coordinator Shane Waldron, running game coordinator Andy Dickerson, passing game coordinator/defensive backs coach Aubrey Pleasant, assistant HC Joe Barry, assistant coach Liam Coen, and run game coordinator/offensive line coach Aaron Kramer. The coaching change apparently has benefited the Rams players. In 2020, the Rams finished second in the NFC West Division, with a record of 10-6. Last year's strong LA Rams defense held 16 teams to just 296 points, the lowest total in the League. The LA Rams finished the 2020 playoffs with a 1-1 record, beating the Seahawks in Seattle but losing to the Packers in Green Bay. The Rams FO was very active in the offseason, sending the 2021 3rd round selection and 2022 and 2023 first round picks to DET for QB Stafford. The Rams previously acquired DE Michael Brocker in another trade with DET in 2020; LAR and DET like each other's rosters and picks. The 2020 season also was the Rams first season in the impressive $5B Sofi Stadium in Inglewood, CA, shared with the LA Chargers. The Sofi Stadium will host the 2022 Super Bowl on February 13, 2022. Also mark your calendars for the LAR / ARZ rematch which occurs on Monday Night Football (MNF) at SFS on December 13, 2021. That game will be carried on ESPN.
HC Sean McVay, 35 years old (birthday is January 24), continues to out-smart many older HC's and seems to have the Cardinals number the past couple years. HC Kliff Kingsbury, 42 years old (birthday is August 9), is enjoying his 3rd year at the helm. His orientation to the NFL is done. It's time for HC Kingsbury to move on from his NCAAF past and win in the NFL now. KK's HC record to date is 16-18-1 (Sept 27, 2021), and that record simply will not buy a beer in any NFL owner's booth. KK must play much smarter football and get the Cardinals into the playoffs and then win at that level this season. The Cardinals were the talk of the town immediately after the "Hail Murray" TD pass to win versus the Bills, improving to 6-3 in mid-2020. A couple dumb player and coach decisions cost at least 2 wins at games 3 and 4, or an 8-1 record at that point of last season. How quickly fame can turn into flames. The Cardinals somehow burned out like a space meteorite, compiling a 2-5 record and tying with the Chicago Bears for the final playoff spot which sent the Cardinals home. After the Murray/DHOP miracle hookup, HC Kingsbury had nothing but dullness to share. HC McVay. on the other hand, rode his team’s Defense hard and they responded, eking out multiple defensive stands versus mediocre offenses--bend, don't break--that's McVay's strategy when he's up a creek. McVay is a highly positive and effective HC and has garnered the moniker, "The Sean McVay Effect." Other traditional owners and GMs are taking stock of the LAR and ARZ youth movements. It's up to HC Kingsbury to earn his own positive moniker.
Newly acquired LA Rams QB Matt Stafford is an NFL top-tier QB and a former legend at the Detroit Lions where he endured some of the worst NFL locker rooms on the planet for 11 years. After the 2020 season, Stafford was traded by he Detroit Lions to the LA Rams for QB Jared Goff and draft compensation. At the Rams today, Stafford is a serious threat on any weekend versus any defense. With one of the NFL's best Defenses today, the Rams don't need Stafford to carry the team every week, but he will have to avoid the poorly timed QB miscues that typically killed the Lions chances to consistently win. Stafford's performance statistics sheet has enough information to drive endless fan debates. Bottom line: Stafford can beat any team on any Sunday, and he has a knack of coming from behind to whip teams, as he did to the Cardinals in 2020. I will give you the man's career basics thru Sept 27th, and we'll just go from there this Sunday: Pass attempts 6,224. Pass completions 3,965. Completion percentage 62.7. TD/INT ratio 291/145. Passing yards 46,051. Passer rating 90.5. Overall, in the 2020 season, Stafford started all 16 games and finished with 4,084 passing yards, 26 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions. He is actually improving as he progresses into his 13th NFL year – indeed, a very dangerous LAR QB trend for the NFC West Division. For the QB contracts gurus, Stafford’s 3-year full contract is worth $135M with $60.5M fully guaranteed, or, the contract can be voided in the spring of 2023, year #3, and then he becomes a Free Agent.
Stafford versus the Cardinals. It was a scheduling oddity, but the Lions and Cardinals always seemed to play each other every season at least once. QB Matt Stafford as Lions QB has faced the Cardinals 8 times in the last 9 years, so we know that he is familiar with the Cardinals’ ways. His familiarity may be finally paying off. At the first 4 games--2012, 2013, 2014, and 2015--Stafford could not buy a break and consistently saw the Cardinals squeak by or blow out his Lions team. The breakthrough finally occurred in 2017 when Stafford busted the Cardinals defense for 4 TDs en route to his first victory, 35-23. Then in 2018, Stafford drew opposing and inept QB Josh Rosen and mopped up the floor with the Cardinals red and white jersey again, this time17-3. Enter 2019, and the Cardinals were a changed team behind rookie QB Kyler Murray. At this game, the two QBs put up career numbers, driving offenses up and down the field en route to a 27-27 tie game that nearly broke the Cardinals way with seconds to go in OT, except that a CB's INT was dropped that would have set up the Cardinals Offense for a chip-shot FG and win. Finally at the 2020 Stafford showcased his patience and accuracy, stealing yards and first downs from the Cardinals in the 4th quarter of a close game, positioning the Lions FG Kicker Matt Prater to tap through a FG and gain the 26-23 win as time expired.
QBs. The Rams have an experienced and successful senior QB in Matt Stafford. Stafford has played well against the Cardinals defenses since 2017. The Cardinals have a 3rd-year trend-setting QB in Kyler Murray. The Rams defenses are good and give the Cardinals offense much to think about on each play. At the last game, played on January 3, 2021, Murray was injured during a routine tackle (right ankle rolled) in the 1st quarter and replaced by QB Chris Streveler (9 of 13 for 77yards and 1 TD and 1 INT) until the 4th quarter when Murray was barely able to return to the game. Murray was only able to play a few sets, hitting just 7 of 9 passes for 80 yards and limping on 2 carries for 3 yards. The Cardinals lost to the Rams, 18-7. Who quarterbacked the Rams? QB Goff was inactive. QB John Wolford, practice squad (PS), 6'1", 200lbs, Wake Forest, who never completed an NFL pass nor took a single snap under Center, was signed to the active roster a few days prior to the game and made his NFL debut, hitting pass after pass (22 completions in 38 attempts for 231 years and 0 TDs and 0 INTs), running north and south like a wild man, and embarrassing the Cardinals defense again and again. He killed the Cardinals playoffs right then and there. The Cardinals coaching staff had no backup plan for Murray's quick 1st quarter exit and Wolford's 60 minutes of Hollywood magic. That game was a sad way for the Red Sea to end the season.
Injury Reports. See FLCF’s post. Moderators will post player injury data provided by the Cardinals medical or coaching staff no more than 24 hours prior to the game. It is NFL policy that, “If any player has a significant or noteworthy injury, it must be listed on the practice report, even if he fully participates in practice and the team expects that he will play in the team’s next game. This is especially important for key players whose injuries may be covered extensively by the media.” Moreover, the policy also reads, “The information must be credible, accurate, timely, and specific within the guidelines of the policy, which is of paramount importance to maintaining the integrity of the game.” Teams found in violation of the policy face the risk of being fined or forfeiting Draft picks.
Roster Information. The Cardinals team roster information (updated weekly) can be reviewed at www.ourlads.com/nfldepthcharts/depthchart/ARZ . The Rams were not really active during the offseason, signing just a few new faces: QB Matthew Stafford, acquired in a trade with the Detroit Lions for QB Jared Goff, a 2021 third-round pick and first-round picks in 2022 and '23. WR DeSean Jackson, signed a 1-year, $4.5 million deal with a max value of $6.25 million with incentives. LB Leonard Floyd, signed a 4-year, $64 million contract that includes $32.5 million fully guaranteed at signing -- the guaranteed money includes a $14 million signing bonus, a $2 million salary in 2021 and a $16.5 million salary in 2022. The contract also includes $15.5 million in 2023 and $16 million in 2024. Roster Rules 2021 (COVID-19): (1) Expansion of practice squads to 16 players, including up to 6 who have more than 2 accrued seasons; (2) The ability to protect up to 4 practice squad players per week from being signed by other teams; (3) Elevation of up to 2 practice squad players to the active roster, without removing any current players, before 4 p.m. ET the day before a game; (4) Elevation of 1 additional practice squad player within 90 minutes before kickoff in the event of a late COVID-19 positive test result; (5) Players placed on injured reserve can return after 3 weeks, rather than 6 weeks as in normal seasons; (6) Removal of the limit for how many players can be activated from injured reserve.
Referee Crew Information - see www.footballzebras.com/2021/06/officiating-crews-for-the-2021-season/ . Referee assigned to today's game is Shawn Hochuli. Hochuli is in his 8th year as an NFL official and 4th year as Referee. His day job is financial advisor. Other officiating information: For 2020, NFL games averaged 156.4 plays; there were 40,032 total plays; 99.1% of the plays were officiated on the field without Instant Replay Booth involvement; only 364 of the plays were reviewed; the most commonly reviewed plays were pass completion (82), incomplete pass (47), and runner broke the goal line plane (44).
Weather. Game day forecast is 89F, partly cloudy, and 3% chance of showers. Average weather in Los Angeles, CA, in early October is generally dry and comfortable during the day and a tad on the cool side in the evening especially near the uplands. Light rain occurs maybe 2-3 days in October. If traveling to LA for this game, daytime high temperatures tend to be in the low-mid 80s F early in the month, falling into the mid-70s F near the end of the month. About 3 days, on average, early in the month usually reach up into the lower 90s F with 100 F or higher temperatures occurring about once every 5 years.
Stadium Information. The LAR's and LAC's shared SOFI Stadium is a stadium and entertainment complex built on 298 acres and located in Inglewood, CA. The complex opened on September 8, 2020. If you like GLITZ and GLAMOR, the SOFI Stadium is your bag. No expense was spared to tease LAR fans to spend and spend at the SOFI Stadium and help pay down its $5,000,000,000 cost -- or over 10 times what Arizonians paid to build the Cardinals SFS ($455M in 2003 dollars). The SOFI website describes the experience as unprecedented and unparalleled. SOFI is located at the former site of the Hollywood Park Racetrack 3 miles from LAX Airport, immediately southeast of The Forum. Seating capacity is approximately 70,000 and can be expanded to over 100,000 for special events such as a Super Bowl or concert. SOFI Stadium will host Super Bowl LVI in 2022, the College Football Championship Game in 2023 and the Olympic games ceremonies in 2028. For more information, see also www.sofistadium.com/.
Game Broadcasts. Game will be carried by FOX and 98.7 FM. Kickoff at SOFI Stadium is 1:05 PM MST. The game is not nationally televised. Check local listings.
Next week's game: SF (2-1) visits ARZ (3-0) on Oct 3rd. The Green Bay Packers (2-1), visiting the San Francisco 49ers on Sept 26th, kicked a FG as time expired to win their road game, 30-28. After the Rams game, the Cardinals will still have to play the 49ers 2 times and the Packers 1 time in 2021. The Cardinals regular season schedule is never easy in the NFC West Division.
Odds and Ends. See en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Modern_history_of_Los_Angeles for more information. The City of Los Angeles and southern California are known for many things ranging from movie glamor to criminal enterprises. Los Angeles also is home to numerous major US sports franchises today. Similar to the Giant/Jets NFL franchises on the US east coast, the Chargers/Rams franchises share their home stadium on the West coast. SoFi Stadium is the most costly and glitzy sports stadium ever constructed in the world.
Cardinals Football Trivia Q&A. Which current or past Receiver has the most seasons, 50+ pass receptions? Larry Fitzgerald, 17, 2004-2020. Which current or past Field Goal Kicker has the longest field goal? Matt Prater, 64 yards, Dec 8, 2013. Which current or past Running Back has the most 250-yard rushing games in a career? Terry Metcalf, 7, 1974-1977. What was the longest overtime interception returned for a TD? 72 yards, by Lorenzo Lynch, ARZ Cardinals vs. SEA Seahawks, October 29, 1995. Which former or current NFL player owns the record for the most points scored in a single game? 40, by Ernie Nevers, on November 28, 1929, when the Chicago Cardinals beat the Chicago Bears, 40-6.
Rams Football Trivia Q&A. Who is the youngest coach in the NFL? The youngest coach in the NFL is Sean McVay, who will turn 36 on January 24, 2022. He is 6 years younger than HC Kingsbury. The Rams won 3 NFL championships while representing which 3 different cities? Cleveland in 1945, Los Angeles in 1951, and Saint Louis in 1999. Who was the 1st Rams player to win the NFL's MVP award? Multi-role (QB, RB) player Linus Parker "Bullet" Hall won the MVP award in 1939, his rookie season. That year, The Bullet led the league in passing with 100 passes completed, was second in passing yardage, and fifth in rushing yards. Which Rams player is credited with inventing the term "Sack?" DE Deacon Jones, in the 1960s, coined the term after watching the demoralizing effect of a sack on an opposing team. He said that he got the idea from studying ancient history and that cities were "sacked" by overwhelming force. QB Kurt Warner led the Rams to their last Super Bowl victory on January 30, 2000. Where was that SB game played? Super Bowl XXXIV was played at the Georgia Dome, Atlanta, GA.
PutMeIn’s Bottom Line. Cardinals 20, Rams 21. The game will be close to the end and I think that just one error will be the difference between the Cardinals gaining the Win or the Loss. HC McVay and QB Stafford are masters at game management. Stafford is enjoying his best season ever since joining the Rams. HC Kingsbury and QB Murray are trying to crack the code on how to beat the Rams since 2019. Both men will roll the dice and take big risks, knowing that big payoffs are possible at any time. However, it’s now time for the Cardinals HC Kingsbury to end experimenting and to call a smart game—take big risks, yes—take dumb risks, no. The Cardinals can win this game on Sunday. Luck is not needed. Just play smart football and execute plays on O/D/ST. The Cardinals team is built for success. All the right tools are on the roster. The team’s 2021 statistics tell us that this team is a winner and can beat the Los Angeles Rams in their house on October 3, 2021.
Prior to the game, I strongly recommend watch the NFL.com video highlights of the TBB @ LAR game. At that video, I saw an excellent LAR Oline continuously seal off TBB's rush and create a pocket for QB Stafford who executed near-pinpoint passing accuracy. Stafford had all day to assess the field and hit receivers. WR Kupp was ridiculously open in TBB's backfield again and again. LAR's defense is big and fast and swallowed up TBB's WRs and kept RBs in front of them. TBB was beat by a very good LAR team. HC McVay called a predictably good game. Likewise did HC Arians.
For Forum members, I offer this 9-step method to beat back your ARZ @ LAR game-day fears and anxieties: 1. Take a time out – go for a walk before the game – it is impossible to think clearly when you are flooded with fear or anxiety; 2. Breath through panic; 3. Face your fears; 4. Imagine the worst; 5. Look for evidence; 6. Don’t try to be perfect; 7. Visualize a happy place; 8. Talk about feelings with other Forum and family members; 9. Freshen your beverage of choice and relax. My choice is gin over ice, with a splash of tonic water and a lime wedge, and my Stressless(R) chair.
Lastly, be safe out there always. Look out for yourself and help the innocent ones in your life. Please get the COVID-19 booster shot soonest if you are eligible. I will receive both the Flu-zone high dose and COVID-19 booster shots today.
Update October 3 (last one for this game):
LA's Daily News does not sugar coat the Cardinals v. Rams contest today. The writer's know the new Cardinals are fully capable controlling this game and winning, and then owning the NFC West Division in 2021.
www.dailynews.com/2021/10/02/rams-vs-arizona-cardinals-who-has-the-edge-6/
And the best reason the Cardinals shock the Rams today -- Arizona State Crushed #20 UCLA 42-23 at LA on Saturday!
apnews.com/article/college-football-sports-pasadena-ucla-bruins-football-arizona-41722e18b506759edf3e3b5c74d624bb
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Hello and welcome to the Forum’s 4th Arizona Cardinals Game Day Thread (GDT).
Today's Cardinals game is their first NFC West head-to-head Division game. The game is also the third road game in the last 4 games. After today, the Cardinals fans will enjoy 3 of 4 next games at home.
Early in the 2021 season, the LAR record is 3-0 and the ARZ record is 3-0. This is the 4th year in a row that the Rams started 3-0. It is the first time since 2015 that the Cardinals started 3-0.
The LAR offense under rejuvenated QB Matt Stafford is clicking, and after 3 games, he produced 9 TDs (tied 2nd) and 942 yards passing (5th), and RBs contributed 2 TDs and 251 yards rushing. Key team statistics (3 games) – Stafford is 66 for 94 passing attempts and 70.2% completion average. He is averaging 397.7 yards per game. He has 1 INT (tied 7th). He was sacked 3 times. Rating is 129.8. QBR 82.8 (1st). His go-to WR is Cooper Kupp, with 33 targets and 25 receptions for 367 yards and 5 TDs. The Rams have 3 receivers with 10 or more receptions. The LAR rush is below League average. The top rusher is RB Henderson (out last weekend), with 123 yards in 29 attempts and 4.2 yards average. RB Michel is second, with 115 yards in 31 attempts and 3.7 yards average. Overall, LAR rush is 251 yards in 76 attempts, 3.3 yard average. Compared to the Cardinals, the LAR attack is about the same ratio, with pass (94) and rush (76).
Under 3rd year QB Kyler Murray, the Cardinals offense also is clicking, producing 7 TDs (tied 5th) and 1,005 yards passing (tied 3rd), and RBs contributed 5 TDs and 330 yards rushing. Key team statistics (3 games) – Murray is 78 for 102 attempts and 76.5% completion average. He is averaging 358.3 yards per game. He has 4 INTs (tied 30th). He was sacked 5 times. Rating is 113.4. QBR 71.2 (5th). His go-to WR is Kirk, with 17 targets and 15 receptions for 239 yards and 2 TDs. The Cardinals have 6 receivers with 10 or more receptions. The Cardinals rush is above League average. The top rusher is RB Edmonds, with 135 yards in 31 attempts and 4.4 yard average. RB Conner is second, with 122 yards in 35 attempts and 3.5 yards average. Overall, the Cardinals rush is 330 yards in 84 attempts, 3.9 yard average. QB Murray contributed 70 yards in 17 attempts. Compared to the LAR, the Cardinals attack is about the same ratio, with pass (102) and rush (84).
The LAR are credited with destroying the Cardinals at the last meeting on January 3, 2021, and ending the Cardinals season (8-8) short of the playoffs. In January, a "NOBODY QB" named John Wolford, signed off the LAR Practice Squad minutes prior to the game, played like NFL GOAT QB Tom Brady for 60 minutes, taking down the mistake-prone and beaten-down Cardinals by the score 18-7, in an unusually flat game for both teams.
QB Stafford, 33 years old, 6'3" and 220 lbs, is a certified venomous pit viper, formerly working his good old southern boy charm into lethal passing magic with some of the worst Detroit Lion's teams known in NFL history. Despite the Lions mostly downtrodden history since signing the rookie University of Georgia QB in 2009, QB Matt Stafford consistently elevated himself, earning the League's respect again and again. He shares or owns many passer records: 5,000 yards in a single season; 40,000 yards in 147 games; most comeback wins in a season--8 in 2016; and is always in the NFL's top 10 for QB attempts, completions, yards, TDs, etc.
After the 2020 season, the Detroit Lions and LA Rams swapped QBs. LAR sent QB Goff and draft compensation to DET in exchange for QB Stafford. LAR intends to win NOW with Stafford. At QB Stafford's last game versus the Cardinals during Week 3 of the 2020 season, he threw for 270 yards and 2 TDs in a 26-23 win--the Lions first victory since October 19 of the 2019 season. QB Stafford put together a 10-play drive late in the 4th Quarter, ending with a K Matt Prater 39-yard FG to win the game. QB Stafford is a crafty pro and takes what a Defense gives him. He will dink-and-dunk a defense to death just moving the chains, and then sets up in the Red Zone for a score. Or, he unleashes pinpoint multi-yard bombs for long-range scores. Pick your poison.
Rams History. In the 85-game head-to-head competition, the Rams won 45 games, the Cardinals won 38 games, and the teams tied 2 times. The last couple years, the Rams looked forward to playing the Cardinals, averaging 30-plus points each game. For a quick reading on the Rams’ team history, see this web page: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Los_Angeles_Rams. The team has a long and proud history beginning in 1936. It is well known that the franchise has changed owners and hometowns a few times in 85 years. The team included some of the most iconic football players of the modern era. 16 former Rams coaches and players are enshrined in the NFL Hall of Fame. 6 jersey numbers are permanently retired. The Rams won Super Bowl XXXIV in 1999. Pre NFL-NFL merger, the Rams won the NFL Championship in 1945 and 1951. The Rams last made the playoffs in 2020, primarily because the Green Bay Packers beat the Chicago Bears in another NFC Conference Division-level contest for the last NFC Wild Card playoff berth.
This 2021 season is HC Sean McVay's 5th season at the helm. Below McVay, there were several major coaching changes. Raheem Morris is the new DC. Moving on was passing game coordinator Shane Waldron, running game coordinator Andy Dickerson, passing game coordinator/defensive backs coach Aubrey Pleasant, assistant HC Joe Barry, assistant coach Liam Coen, and run game coordinator/offensive line coach Aaron Kramer. The coaching change apparently has benefited the Rams players. In 2020, the Rams finished second in the NFC West Division, with a record of 10-6. Last year's strong LA Rams defense held 16 teams to just 296 points, the lowest total in the League. The LA Rams finished the 2020 playoffs with a 1-1 record, beating the Seahawks in Seattle but losing to the Packers in Green Bay. The Rams FO was very active in the offseason, sending the 2021 3rd round selection and 2022 and 2023 first round picks to DET for QB Stafford. The Rams previously acquired DE Michael Brocker in another trade with DET in 2020; LAR and DET like each other's rosters and picks. The 2020 season also was the Rams first season in the impressive $5B Sofi Stadium in Inglewood, CA, shared with the LA Chargers. The Sofi Stadium will host the 2022 Super Bowl on February 13, 2022. Also mark your calendars for the LAR / ARZ rematch which occurs on Monday Night Football (MNF) at SFS on December 13, 2021. That game will be carried on ESPN.
HC Sean McVay, 35 years old (birthday is January 24), continues to out-smart many older HC's and seems to have the Cardinals number the past couple years. HC Kliff Kingsbury, 42 years old (birthday is August 9), is enjoying his 3rd year at the helm. His orientation to the NFL is done. It's time for HC Kingsbury to move on from his NCAAF past and win in the NFL now. KK's HC record to date is 16-18-1 (Sept 27, 2021), and that record simply will not buy a beer in any NFL owner's booth. KK must play much smarter football and get the Cardinals into the playoffs and then win at that level this season. The Cardinals were the talk of the town immediately after the "Hail Murray" TD pass to win versus the Bills, improving to 6-3 in mid-2020. A couple dumb player and coach decisions cost at least 2 wins at games 3 and 4, or an 8-1 record at that point of last season. How quickly fame can turn into flames. The Cardinals somehow burned out like a space meteorite, compiling a 2-5 record and tying with the Chicago Bears for the final playoff spot which sent the Cardinals home. After the Murray/DHOP miracle hookup, HC Kingsbury had nothing but dullness to share. HC McVay. on the other hand, rode his team’s Defense hard and they responded, eking out multiple defensive stands versus mediocre offenses--bend, don't break--that's McVay's strategy when he's up a creek. McVay is a highly positive and effective HC and has garnered the moniker, "The Sean McVay Effect." Other traditional owners and GMs are taking stock of the LAR and ARZ youth movements. It's up to HC Kingsbury to earn his own positive moniker.
Newly acquired LA Rams QB Matt Stafford is an NFL top-tier QB and a former legend at the Detroit Lions where he endured some of the worst NFL locker rooms on the planet for 11 years. After the 2020 season, Stafford was traded by he Detroit Lions to the LA Rams for QB Jared Goff and draft compensation. At the Rams today, Stafford is a serious threat on any weekend versus any defense. With one of the NFL's best Defenses today, the Rams don't need Stafford to carry the team every week, but he will have to avoid the poorly timed QB miscues that typically killed the Lions chances to consistently win. Stafford's performance statistics sheet has enough information to drive endless fan debates. Bottom line: Stafford can beat any team on any Sunday, and he has a knack of coming from behind to whip teams, as he did to the Cardinals in 2020. I will give you the man's career basics thru Sept 27th, and we'll just go from there this Sunday: Pass attempts 6,224. Pass completions 3,965. Completion percentage 62.7. TD/INT ratio 291/145. Passing yards 46,051. Passer rating 90.5. Overall, in the 2020 season, Stafford started all 16 games and finished with 4,084 passing yards, 26 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions. He is actually improving as he progresses into his 13th NFL year – indeed, a very dangerous LAR QB trend for the NFC West Division. For the QB contracts gurus, Stafford’s 3-year full contract is worth $135M with $60.5M fully guaranteed, or, the contract can be voided in the spring of 2023, year #3, and then he becomes a Free Agent.
Stafford versus the Cardinals. It was a scheduling oddity, but the Lions and Cardinals always seemed to play each other every season at least once. QB Matt Stafford as Lions QB has faced the Cardinals 8 times in the last 9 years, so we know that he is familiar with the Cardinals’ ways. His familiarity may be finally paying off. At the first 4 games--2012, 2013, 2014, and 2015--Stafford could not buy a break and consistently saw the Cardinals squeak by or blow out his Lions team. The breakthrough finally occurred in 2017 when Stafford busted the Cardinals defense for 4 TDs en route to his first victory, 35-23. Then in 2018, Stafford drew opposing and inept QB Josh Rosen and mopped up the floor with the Cardinals red and white jersey again, this time17-3. Enter 2019, and the Cardinals were a changed team behind rookie QB Kyler Murray. At this game, the two QBs put up career numbers, driving offenses up and down the field en route to a 27-27 tie game that nearly broke the Cardinals way with seconds to go in OT, except that a CB's INT was dropped that would have set up the Cardinals Offense for a chip-shot FG and win. Finally at the 2020 Stafford showcased his patience and accuracy, stealing yards and first downs from the Cardinals in the 4th quarter of a close game, positioning the Lions FG Kicker Matt Prater to tap through a FG and gain the 26-23 win as time expired.
QBs. The Rams have an experienced and successful senior QB in Matt Stafford. Stafford has played well against the Cardinals defenses since 2017. The Cardinals have a 3rd-year trend-setting QB in Kyler Murray. The Rams defenses are good and give the Cardinals offense much to think about on each play. At the last game, played on January 3, 2021, Murray was injured during a routine tackle (right ankle rolled) in the 1st quarter and replaced by QB Chris Streveler (9 of 13 for 77yards and 1 TD and 1 INT) until the 4th quarter when Murray was barely able to return to the game. Murray was only able to play a few sets, hitting just 7 of 9 passes for 80 yards and limping on 2 carries for 3 yards. The Cardinals lost to the Rams, 18-7. Who quarterbacked the Rams? QB Goff was inactive. QB John Wolford, practice squad (PS), 6'1", 200lbs, Wake Forest, who never completed an NFL pass nor took a single snap under Center, was signed to the active roster a few days prior to the game and made his NFL debut, hitting pass after pass (22 completions in 38 attempts for 231 years and 0 TDs and 0 INTs), running north and south like a wild man, and embarrassing the Cardinals defense again and again. He killed the Cardinals playoffs right then and there. The Cardinals coaching staff had no backup plan for Murray's quick 1st quarter exit and Wolford's 60 minutes of Hollywood magic. That game was a sad way for the Red Sea to end the season.
Injury Reports. See FLCF’s post. Moderators will post player injury data provided by the Cardinals medical or coaching staff no more than 24 hours prior to the game. It is NFL policy that, “If any player has a significant or noteworthy injury, it must be listed on the practice report, even if he fully participates in practice and the team expects that he will play in the team’s next game. This is especially important for key players whose injuries may be covered extensively by the media.” Moreover, the policy also reads, “The information must be credible, accurate, timely, and specific within the guidelines of the policy, which is of paramount importance to maintaining the integrity of the game.” Teams found in violation of the policy face the risk of being fined or forfeiting Draft picks.
Roster Information. The Cardinals team roster information (updated weekly) can be reviewed at www.ourlads.com/nfldepthcharts/depthchart/ARZ . The Rams were not really active during the offseason, signing just a few new faces: QB Matthew Stafford, acquired in a trade with the Detroit Lions for QB Jared Goff, a 2021 third-round pick and first-round picks in 2022 and '23. WR DeSean Jackson, signed a 1-year, $4.5 million deal with a max value of $6.25 million with incentives. LB Leonard Floyd, signed a 4-year, $64 million contract that includes $32.5 million fully guaranteed at signing -- the guaranteed money includes a $14 million signing bonus, a $2 million salary in 2021 and a $16.5 million salary in 2022. The contract also includes $15.5 million in 2023 and $16 million in 2024. Roster Rules 2021 (COVID-19): (1) Expansion of practice squads to 16 players, including up to 6 who have more than 2 accrued seasons; (2) The ability to protect up to 4 practice squad players per week from being signed by other teams; (3) Elevation of up to 2 practice squad players to the active roster, without removing any current players, before 4 p.m. ET the day before a game; (4) Elevation of 1 additional practice squad player within 90 minutes before kickoff in the event of a late COVID-19 positive test result; (5) Players placed on injured reserve can return after 3 weeks, rather than 6 weeks as in normal seasons; (6) Removal of the limit for how many players can be activated from injured reserve.
Referee Crew Information - see www.footballzebras.com/2021/06/officiating-crews-for-the-2021-season/ . Referee assigned to today's game is Shawn Hochuli. Hochuli is in his 8th year as an NFL official and 4th year as Referee. His day job is financial advisor. Other officiating information: For 2020, NFL games averaged 156.4 plays; there were 40,032 total plays; 99.1% of the plays were officiated on the field without Instant Replay Booth involvement; only 364 of the plays were reviewed; the most commonly reviewed plays were pass completion (82), incomplete pass (47), and runner broke the goal line plane (44).
Weather. Game day forecast is 89F, partly cloudy, and 3% chance of showers. Average weather in Los Angeles, CA, in early October is generally dry and comfortable during the day and a tad on the cool side in the evening especially near the uplands. Light rain occurs maybe 2-3 days in October. If traveling to LA for this game, daytime high temperatures tend to be in the low-mid 80s F early in the month, falling into the mid-70s F near the end of the month. About 3 days, on average, early in the month usually reach up into the lower 90s F with 100 F or higher temperatures occurring about once every 5 years.
Stadium Information. The LAR's and LAC's shared SOFI Stadium is a stadium and entertainment complex built on 298 acres and located in Inglewood, CA. The complex opened on September 8, 2020. If you like GLITZ and GLAMOR, the SOFI Stadium is your bag. No expense was spared to tease LAR fans to spend and spend at the SOFI Stadium and help pay down its $5,000,000,000 cost -- or over 10 times what Arizonians paid to build the Cardinals SFS ($455M in 2003 dollars). The SOFI website describes the experience as unprecedented and unparalleled. SOFI is located at the former site of the Hollywood Park Racetrack 3 miles from LAX Airport, immediately southeast of The Forum. Seating capacity is approximately 70,000 and can be expanded to over 100,000 for special events such as a Super Bowl or concert. SOFI Stadium will host Super Bowl LVI in 2022, the College Football Championship Game in 2023 and the Olympic games ceremonies in 2028. For more information, see also www.sofistadium.com/.
Game Broadcasts. Game will be carried by FOX and 98.7 FM. Kickoff at SOFI Stadium is 1:05 PM MST. The game is not nationally televised. Check local listings.
Next week's game: SF (2-1) visits ARZ (3-0) on Oct 3rd. The Green Bay Packers (2-1), visiting the San Francisco 49ers on Sept 26th, kicked a FG as time expired to win their road game, 30-28. After the Rams game, the Cardinals will still have to play the 49ers 2 times and the Packers 1 time in 2021. The Cardinals regular season schedule is never easy in the NFC West Division.
Odds and Ends. See en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Modern_history_of_Los_Angeles for more information. The City of Los Angeles and southern California are known for many things ranging from movie glamor to criminal enterprises. Los Angeles also is home to numerous major US sports franchises today. Similar to the Giant/Jets NFL franchises on the US east coast, the Chargers/Rams franchises share their home stadium on the West coast. SoFi Stadium is the most costly and glitzy sports stadium ever constructed in the world.
Cardinals Football Trivia Q&A. Which current or past Receiver has the most seasons, 50+ pass receptions? Larry Fitzgerald, 17, 2004-2020. Which current or past Field Goal Kicker has the longest field goal? Matt Prater, 64 yards, Dec 8, 2013. Which current or past Running Back has the most 250-yard rushing games in a career? Terry Metcalf, 7, 1974-1977. What was the longest overtime interception returned for a TD? 72 yards, by Lorenzo Lynch, ARZ Cardinals vs. SEA Seahawks, October 29, 1995. Which former or current NFL player owns the record for the most points scored in a single game? 40, by Ernie Nevers, on November 28, 1929, when the Chicago Cardinals beat the Chicago Bears, 40-6.
Rams Football Trivia Q&A. Who is the youngest coach in the NFL? The youngest coach in the NFL is Sean McVay, who will turn 36 on January 24, 2022. He is 6 years younger than HC Kingsbury. The Rams won 3 NFL championships while representing which 3 different cities? Cleveland in 1945, Los Angeles in 1951, and Saint Louis in 1999. Who was the 1st Rams player to win the NFL's MVP award? Multi-role (QB, RB) player Linus Parker "Bullet" Hall won the MVP award in 1939, his rookie season. That year, The Bullet led the league in passing with 100 passes completed, was second in passing yardage, and fifth in rushing yards. Which Rams player is credited with inventing the term "Sack?" DE Deacon Jones, in the 1960s, coined the term after watching the demoralizing effect of a sack on an opposing team. He said that he got the idea from studying ancient history and that cities were "sacked" by overwhelming force. QB Kurt Warner led the Rams to their last Super Bowl victory on January 30, 2000. Where was that SB game played? Super Bowl XXXIV was played at the Georgia Dome, Atlanta, GA.
PutMeIn’s Bottom Line. Cardinals 20, Rams 21. The game will be close to the end and I think that just one error will be the difference between the Cardinals gaining the Win or the Loss. HC McVay and QB Stafford are masters at game management. Stafford is enjoying his best season ever since joining the Rams. HC Kingsbury and QB Murray are trying to crack the code on how to beat the Rams since 2019. Both men will roll the dice and take big risks, knowing that big payoffs are possible at any time. However, it’s now time for the Cardinals HC Kingsbury to end experimenting and to call a smart game—take big risks, yes—take dumb risks, no. The Cardinals can win this game on Sunday. Luck is not needed. Just play smart football and execute plays on O/D/ST. The Cardinals team is built for success. All the right tools are on the roster. The team’s 2021 statistics tell us that this team is a winner and can beat the Los Angeles Rams in their house on October 3, 2021.
Prior to the game, I strongly recommend watch the NFL.com video highlights of the TBB @ LAR game. At that video, I saw an excellent LAR Oline continuously seal off TBB's rush and create a pocket for QB Stafford who executed near-pinpoint passing accuracy. Stafford had all day to assess the field and hit receivers. WR Kupp was ridiculously open in TBB's backfield again and again. LAR's defense is big and fast and swallowed up TBB's WRs and kept RBs in front of them. TBB was beat by a very good LAR team. HC McVay called a predictably good game. Likewise did HC Arians.
For Forum members, I offer this 9-step method to beat back your ARZ @ LAR game-day fears and anxieties: 1. Take a time out – go for a walk before the game – it is impossible to think clearly when you are flooded with fear or anxiety; 2. Breath through panic; 3. Face your fears; 4. Imagine the worst; 5. Look for evidence; 6. Don’t try to be perfect; 7. Visualize a happy place; 8. Talk about feelings with other Forum and family members; 9. Freshen your beverage of choice and relax. My choice is gin over ice, with a splash of tonic water and a lime wedge, and my Stressless(R) chair.
Lastly, be safe out there always. Look out for yourself and help the innocent ones in your life. Please get the COVID-19 booster shot soonest if you are eligible. I will receive both the Flu-zone high dose and COVID-19 booster shots today.
Attachments:
ARZ at JAX Gamebook 2021 09 26.pdf (145.87 KB)
TBB at LAR Gamebook 2021 09 26.pdf (142.83 KB)