Kobie Turner put together his best performance of the season on Sunday, logging a season-high two sacks. Despite his notable outing, the rookie interior defender took the time to credit the offense for helping the defense in the team’s convincing 37-14 win over the Arizona Cardinals in Week 12.
“It feels really good, their first drive(s) of the game (were) really long drives, so we’re able to go through each one of those plays (on defense), talk adjustments,” Turner said, via The Athletic. “And they’re still running the ball. It means a lot to be able to sustain some long drives, it gives us rest (and) allows us to be fresher when we go out there and get after the passer. Feels incredible. It gives you a lot of momentum, too, when you’re running the ball like that. You’re physically exerting your will on the other team.”
After the Rams began the game with a 75-yard drive to go up 7-0, the Cardinals matched it with a 12-play, 75-yard drive of their own. And the Cardinals would convert a two-point conversion to secure an 8-7 lead late in the first quarter.
Following Arizona’s opening scoring drive, the starting defense of the Rams held the Cardinals to 54 total yards and they didn’t allow another point. The Cardinals would score their second touchdown of the game with under six minutes remaining when the Rams already pulled their starters on defense.
On the offensive side of the ball, the Rams won the time of possession battle by possessing the ball for 34:52. The ground game imposed their will, with Kyren Williams and Royce Freeman combining for 220 yards on 29 attempts.
The combination of running the ball successfully and sustaining drives helped a young defense settle into a game that appeared to have a chance of being a shootout at the start. At the same time, Turner and the defense deserve a ton of credit for stifling a Kyler Murray-led offense.