Aaron Donald confident Rams can slow down Kyler Murray: ‘We know what to do’

In two games last year, the Rams did an excellent job limiting Kyler Murray, particularly on the ground.

Kyler Murray is only in his second NFL season but he’s already become one of the most difficult quarterbacks to game plan against. His mobility, speed and elusiveness in the open field make him a tough assignment for any defender, and he’s become quite the good passer, too.

The Rams haven’t faced him yet this season, but in two games last year, they all but shut him down. In those games, Murray completed only 45 of 76 passes for 488 yards with two touchdowns and three interceptions. He was sacked seven times and only rushed for 28 yards on six carries. Additionally, he lost two fumbles.

Murray has become a better player this year, but Aaron Donald is confident the Rams can slow him down once again. Why? Because they have a lot of experience facing mobile quarterbacks with Murray and Russell Wilson on their schedule a combined four times per year.

“Well, he’s a good football player that can do a lot. Obviously, you play a lot of quarterbacks in this league that’s mobile, but he’s definitely has a lot more quick twitch and can do things,” Donald told reporters Thursday. “So, you’ve got to just rush, have gap contain, don’t get up field, don’t leave rush lanes open to the point where you can step up and have a choice of running or passing. We know what to do, because play a lot of mobile quarterbacks. We’ve got two of them, we’ve got him and Russell Wilson in our division. So, we kind of know how to handle it, we’ve just got to make sure that we rush the right way pretty much and are gap sound.”

Donald acknowledged that Murray is “playing more confident, feeling a little bit more comfortable” now that he’s in his second season. He said the Rams have “got our hands full” with Murray and the Cardinals’ other playmakers – namely DeAndre Hopkins – but his confidence remains high.

The Rams will try to do what few teams have this season, and that’s limiting Murray’s production on the ground. He’s rushed for at least 30 yards in all but two games, scoring 10 rushing touchdowns in only 11 years.

He’s picked up at least 60 yards rushing in seven of his 11 games and in those contests, the Cardinals are an impressive 5-2. Limiting big plays on the ground will be critical for L.A. and after watching Murray’s tape, the Rams have noticed some ways to keep him in check – though Donald understandably won’t divulge in those details.

“We’ve seen a lot of things, I’m not going to sit here and tell you guys what we have seen. But, you study film, you sit down with your coaches, they see certain things and you talk about certain things,” he said. “You have a game plan that you have against a team and you have to go out there. Hopefully they stick to what we’ve been watching. Obviously, they’re going to throw things that we don’t expect, and that’s just a part of the game, but they prepare you the best way they know how to get ready for that. To the point where on Sunday, now you’re able to play at a high level, play fast, do what you do and do everything you can to eliminate certain things to the point where we can win.”

If the Rams can beat Murray and the Cardinals on the road Sunday, they’ll improve to 8-4 and be back in the mix for a top-three seed in the NFC. A loss would drop them into a tie with Arizona at 7-5, however, which would hurt their playoff chances.

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Rams injury report: Joseph-Day DNP Thursday but hopeful to play vs. Cardinals

Sebastian Joseph-Day is battling a hip injury right now.

The Los Angeles Rams practiced at SoFi Stadium on Thursday afternoon due to a wind advisory in Thousand Oaks. It was their second practice of the week and after not getting in much work prior to last week’s loss to the 49ers, Sean McVay feels good about the way his team has responded.

Sebastian Joseph-Day remains the only notable player with a legitimate injury concern, aside from Terrell Lewis who is considered week-to-week with a knee issue. After being limited on Wednesday, Joseph-Day was downgraded Thursday, not participating in practice.

McVay is hopeful and optimistic that Joseph-Day will be able to play, however, which is good news.

Here’s the full injury report, including the Cardinals’ side of things.

“Sebastian Joseph-Day didn’t practice today. His hip’s bothering him a little bit. We’re just being smart with him,” McVay said. “The hope and anticipation is that it won’t affect his game status. But we’ll revisit that tomorrow and I’ll make sure that I fill you guys in on that front. Brian Allen’s knee is still bothering him a little bit, but other than that, everybody’s feeling good.”

The Rams will take on the Cardinals at 1:05 p.m. PT on Sunday afternoon at State Farm Stadium as they seek their eighth win of the year.

Will the Rams-Cardinals Week 13 game be on TV in your area?

Check the map to find out if Rams-Cardinals will be on FOX for you.

Sunday’s game between the Rams and Cardinals is a big one in the NFC West, but not big enough to be FOX’s Game of the Week. Instead, it’ll be broadcast to a smaller audience primarily on the West Coast.

Take a look at the TV map from 506 Sports below to find out if you’ll get the game on FOX in your area. If you’re in the orange area, you’re in luck and will have this pivotal Week 13 tilt on TV.

It’ll be Chris Myers, Brock Huard and Greg Jennings on the call at State Farm Stadium this weekend.

The Rams have won six straight games against the Cardinals, scoring at least 31 points in each of those contests. This is a far better team they’re facing on Sunday than the ones they played since 2017, though, with Kyler Murray and DeAndre Hopkins playing really well.

The Rams are 2.5-point favorites over Arizona, with the over/under sitting at 48.5 points.

Rams at Cardinals: 7 things to know for Week 13 matchup

The Rams have owned the Cardinals in the last three years, outscoring them 195-56 in six meetings.

It’s already Week 13, but the Rams and Cardinals still have not yet played each other this season. That will change on Sunday when Arizona hosts the Rams at State Farm Stadium.

Both teams are coming off Week 12 losses, the Rams falling to San Francisco and the Cardinals being upset by the Patriots. Each team is seeking a huge divisional win, but only one team can improve its record this week.

Here are seven key stats and facts to know for this pivotal NFC West tilt.

Rams open as slight road favorites vs. Cardinals in Week 13

The Rams and Cardinals are both coming off losses in Week 12.

The Rams may have lost to the 49ers at home on Sunday afternoon, but they weren’t the only NFC West team to come up short against an inferior opponent. The Cardinals were also defeated in Week 12, falling to the Patriots and their nine completed passes for 84 yards.

In Week 13, the Rams and Cardinals will square off, being separated by only one game in the standings. It’s their first meeting of the season and will give us a good indication of who’s a legitimate contender in the division.

Despite the Rams’ loss to the 49ers, they’re still favored to win this game against Arizona. According to BetMGM, the Rams are 1.5-point road favorites over the Cardinals in Week 13. The over/under is set at 48.5 points, which is tied for the fourth-highest of the games released so far.

The Rams have won six games in a row against the Cardinals, sweeping them in each of the last three seasons under Sean McVay. Only one of those games has been within seven points, too, with the Rams scoring at least 31 points in every single one.

They’ve covered the spread in seven of their last 10 games against the Cardinals, too. This isn’t the same Arizona team that struggled for the last three seasons, but it’s still a team the Rams have a decent chance to beat on Sunday afternoon.

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Studs and duds from Rams’ Week 17 victory vs. Cardinals

The Rams had quite a few standout performances in Week 17.

The 2019 season has wrapped up with the Los Angeles Rams finishing the year 9-7 after beating the Arizona Cardinals 31-24 on Sunday. It was a game that the Rams couldn’t put away despite being given chances to do so, but they held on for the one-touchdown win.

It was a good way to cap off an underwhelming season, winning the final Rams game at the Coliseum. Here are the best and worst performers from Week 17, beginning with the studs.

Studs

Jared Goff

Goff finished the year on a positive note, throwing for 319 yards and three touchdowns. It was one of his cleanest games of the year, orchestrating the offense well throughout the game. He didn’t many any glaring mistakes and only one pass was nearly intercepted, completing 29 of the 45 throws he attempted. It was a solid performance against a team he’s dominated over the last three years.

Tyler Higbee

Higbee owned the month of December. After four straight 100-yard games, Higbee posted eight catches for 84 yards and a touchdown – completing the best season ever by a Rams tight end. He whiffed on one run block early in the game, but he made big plays in the passing game and was once a reliable target for Goff.

Darious Williams

Williams made another strong statement on Sunday at the Coliseum, picking off one pass and breaking up another. He has great ball skills and hands, as evidenced by his last two games for the Rams. His play was yet another example of the excellent depth the Rams have at cornerback.

Taylor Rapp

Rapp recovered one fumble and picked off his second pass of the season, recording six tackles in the game. He bounced back from the blown-coverage blunder in Week 16 that essentially cost the Rams a win, playing well against Arizona on Sunday. He’s heading into the offseason on a high note.

Cory Littleton

Littleton left the game in the second half with a chest injury, but he was all over the field before exiting. He had three tackles, one sack, and a fumble recovery, helping limit the Cardinals’ rushing attack outside of a 24-yard run by Kenyan Drake – which came after Littleton was injured. Hopefully his injury is only minor as he enters free agency in March.

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4 takeaways from Rams’ 31-24 win over Cardinals in Week 17

Everything we learned from Sunday’s Week 17 win.

After 16 games in 17 weeks, the 2019 season has officially come to an end for the Los Angeles Rams. They missed the playoffs for the first time since 2016, heading home for the offseason early after finishing the year 9-7.

They did end the season on a high note with a 31-24 win over the Cardinals, but it was barely a silver lining to an otherwise underwhelming campaign. They simply weren’t consistent enough to make the postseason, coming up just one game shy in the standings.

Here are four takeaways from Sunday’s win, which was the Rams’ sixth in a row against the Cardinals.

Special teams remains an issue

After two years with one of the best special teams units in the NFL, the Rams took a huge step back in 2019. Greg Zuerlein missed his ninth field goal of the season on Sunday, a 47-yard attempt. The Rams also failed to pick up the first down on a fake field goal try from their own 17-yard line, which Sean McVay was not happy about.

There seemed to be a disconnect between McVay and John Fassel on that fake punt call, with McVay saying to his special teams coordinator after the play, “What are you doing?” It was a microcosm of the Rams’ season on special teams, struggling to find any sort of consistency punting, kicking field goals and in the return game.

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Instant analysis of Rams’ 31-24 win over Cardinals in season finale

The Rams capped off their season with a win over the Cardinals in the last game at the Coliseum.

The Rams may not be heading to the playoffs, but they at least finished the year on a high note. In the season finale and the last game at the Coliseum, Los Angeles knocked off the Cardinals 31-24. They’ll end the 2019 campaign with a 9-7 record, the third straight winning season under Sean McVay.

The offense had a good rhythm and was balanced with the run and pass, while the defense created four turnovers – the most by the Cardinals in any game this season.

Here’s our instant analysis of the win.

Player of the Game: Jared Goff

Goff put together a great performance to finish the season, throwing for 319 yards on 29-for-45 passing. He also threw three touchdown passes, each to different receivers, and posted a passer rating of 107.5.

Stat of the Game: 424

For the sixth time this season, the Rams gained at least 400 yards. They also had 25 first downs, their fourth-most of the year.

Game notes

Sean McVay was true to his word about wanting to win this game and treating it like a typical regular-season game. The Rams didn’t pull their starters at any point and did everything they could to win.
Jared Goff put together his sixth 300-yard performance of the season, completing 29 of 45 passes for 319 yards with three touchdowns. He spread the ball around nicely, hitting three different players at least seven times.
Todd Gurley ran hard on Sunday despite getting poor blocking out of the gate. He started the game with minus-5 yards on his first six carries but finished with 68 yards on 20 carries.
McVay and John Fassel got into it briefly on the sideline after the Rams’ failed fake punt from their own 17-yard line. After the play, McVay want over to Fassel and could be seen saying, “What are you doing?” and looking visibly frustrated.
Greg Zuerlein is making the Rams’ decision that much harder in the offseason. He’s set to be a free agent and after missing another field goal (47 yards), his ninth of the season, there are questions about whether he will be back in 2020.
Tyler Higbee capped off his remarkable season with another great performance, catching eight passes for 84 yards with one touchdown. He set the single-season record for receptions and yards by a tight end this year.
Darious Williams is making a case for a spot on the team in 2020. He picked off one pass, broke up another and nearly had a second interception on a pass that went through his hands; the play was nullified by a penalty on Clay Matthews.
Matthews needed a half-sack to earn a $250,000 incentive bonus, but he failed to attain it. Andrew Whitworth made $500,000, though, with the Rams finishing the year at 9-7.

Rams vs. Cardinals: Time, TV and streaming info for Week 17

Everything you need to know about Sunday’s season finale at the Coliseum.

In the blink of an eye, the 2019 season has reached its final week of the regular season. The year didn’t go as the Rams had planned it would, being eliminated from playoff contention in Week 16, but they hope to close out the season with one last win over the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday – the final game at the Coliseum.

To get you ready for the season finale, we’ve compiled all the important game day information – from streaming options to the officiating crew on Sunday afternoon. And be sure to follow along on Twitter with @TheRamsWire and @camdasilva.

You can live stream the game on fuboTV (try it free).

Los Angeles Rams vs. Arizona Cardinals – Sunday, Dec. 29 at 4:25 p.m. ET

TV channel: FOX

Live stream: fuboTV (try it free)

Radio: ESPN LA 710 AM

Location: Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum

Forecast: Partly cloudy, 59 degrees, 2 mph winds

Referee: Jerome Boger

Odds: Rams -6.5, O/U 44.5

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Final score prediction for Rams vs. Cardinals in Week 17

Can the Rams send their fans home with one last win at the Coliseum?

It’s been a disappointing season for the Los Angeles Rams in 2019, but they still have a chance to finish with a winning record. They’ll host the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday afternoon for the season finale, looking to extend their winning streak against the Cardinals to six games.

It’s going to be a tough matchup for the Rams, who will be without Jalen Ramsey and likely Troy Hill at cornerback, as well. Andrew Whitworth and Michael Brockers were also limited in practice this week, as was Eric Weddle for one day.

The Cardinals have injury questions of their own, too, with Kyler Murray expected to be a game-time decision. Coming off a win over the Seahawks in Week 16, they hope to finish the season on a high note by beating another NFC West rival, but that will be difficult if Murray can’t play.

Kenyan Drake has helped carry the offense in the last two weeks, racking up more than 300 yards rushing, so he’ll be someone the Rams must key on stopping if they want to win on Sunday afternoon.

With it being the final Rams game ever at the Coliseum, they should be fired up to send fans home with one last home win. And there’s a good chance they will. Arizona is a formidable foe, but the Rams have had the Cardinals’ number since Sean McVay took over, winning five straight by at least 16 points in the last two-plus years.

This game probably won’t be a blowout again, but expect the Rams to win by at least one touchdown. Murray’s health could keep him limited, especially as a runner, so Los Angeles should be able to contain him and Arizona’s ground game.

The Rams’ depth at cornerback is good enough to cover the Cardinals’ wideouts, too, with David Long and Darious Williams stepping up as starters. That’s not a major concern, but it is a chance the Rams will have to adapt to.

Though Los Angeles may come out slow, the offense will find a groove and utilize a lot of play action and rollouts to keep Jared Goff away from the pressure that Chandler Jones will provide. Todd Gurley probably won’t be heavily featured, with the Rams likely playing it safe, but Malcolm Brown is capable of carrying a starter’s workload.

Final score prediction: Rams 30, Cardinals 20