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Swanson: Rams do what’s expected in victory against Arizona Cardinals

October 16, 2023

Los Angeles Rams running back Kyren Williams #23 fights his way into the end zone for touchdown through Arizona Cardinals safety K’Von Wallace #22 and Arizona Cardinals linebacker Josh Woods #10 in the second half of the game in Inglewood on Sunday, Oct. 15, 2023. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua #17 looks for yards after the catch against the Arizona Cardinals in the first half of the game in Inglewood on Sunday, Oct. 15, 2023. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Marquise Brown #2 is taken down after the catch by Los Angeles Rams linebacker Christian Rozeboom #56 in the first half of the game in Inglewood on Sunday, Oct. 15, 2023. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

Los Angeles Rams linebacker Christian Rozeboom #56 celebrates his interception of a deflected pass against the Arizona Cardinals in the second half of the game in Inglewood on Sunday, Oct. 15, 2023. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

Arizona Cardinals cornerback Marco Wilson #20 pulls the helmet off Los Angeles Rams running back Kyren Williams #23 on a first down run in the second half of the game in Inglewood on Sunday, Oct. 15, 2023. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

Los Angeles Rams cornerback Derion Kendrick #1 pulls the facemark of Arizona Cardinals quarterback Joshua Dobbs #9 on a run in the second half of the game in Inglewood on Sunday, Oct. 15, 2023. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

Los Angeles Rams place kicker Brett Maher #8 kicks one of his four field goals in the game against the Arizona Cardinals in the second half of the game in Inglewood on Sunday, Oct. 15, 2023. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

Los Angeles Rams safety Jordan Fuller #4 pulls down Arizona Cardinals tight end Trey McBride #85 after the catch in the second half of the game in Inglewood on Sunday, Oct. 15, 2023. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua #17 is hit after the catch by Arizona Cardinals cornerback Marco Wilson #20 and Arizona Cardinals linebacker Kyzir White #7 in the second half of the game in Inglewood on Sunday, Oct. 15, 2023. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford #9 passes the ball againstt he Arizona Cardinals in the second half of the game in Inglewood on Sunday, Oct. 15, 2023. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

Arizona Cardinals cornerback Marco Wilson #20 takes down Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp #10 after the catch in the second half of the game in Inglewood on Sunday, Oct. 15, 2023. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

Arizona Cardinals defenders stop Los Angeles Rams running back Kyren Williams #23 at the line on a run in the second half of the game in Inglewood on Sunday, Oct. 15, 2023. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp #10 makes the firs down catch as Arizona Cardinals cornerback Marco Wilson #20 defends in the second half of the game in Inglewood on Sunday, Oct. 15, 2023. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford #9 is sacked by Arizona Cardinals defensive end Kevin Strong #92 in the second half of the game in Inglewood on Sunday, Oct. 15, 2023. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

Los Angeles Rams running back Kyren Williams #23 straight arms Arizona Cardinals defensive tackle Roy Lopez #98 on his way to a touchdown in the second half of the game in Inglewood on Sunday, Oct. 15, 2023. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

Los Angeles Rams running back Kyren Williams #23 runs for a first down against the Arizona Cardinals in the second half of the game in Inglewood on Sunday, Oct. 15, 2023. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

Los Angeles Rams running back Kyren Williams #23 celebrates his touchdown run against he Arizona Cardinals in the second half of the game in Inglewood on Sunday, Oct. 15, 2023. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

Arizona Cardinals defensive tackle Roy Lopez #98 stops Los Angeles Rams running back Kyren Williams #23 on the line for no gain in the second half of the game in Inglewood on Sunday, Oct. 15, 2023. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

Los Angeles Rams linebacker Byron Young #0 hits the ball out of Arizona Cardinals quarterback Joshua Dobbs #9 hand for a fumble in the second half of the game in Inglewood on Sunday, Oct. 15, 2023. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

Arizona Cardinals offensive tackle Paris Johnson Jr. #70 helps up Arizona Cardinals quarterback Joshua Dobbs #9 after he was hit by Los Angeles Rams linebacker Michael Hoecht #97 in the second half of the game in Inglewood on Sunday, Oct. 15, 2023. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

Arizona Cardinals tight end Zach Ertz #86 is taken down after the catch by Los Angeles Rams linebacker Christian Rozeboom #56 in the second half of the game in Inglewood on Sunday, Oct. 15, 2023. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

Los Angeles Rams running back Kyren Williams #23 holds onto his helmet by his mouth gaurd after Arizona Cardinals cornerback Marco Wilson #20 pulled his helmet off on a runon a first down run in the second half of the game in Inglewood on Sunday, Oct. 15, 2023. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

Los Angeles Rams running back Zach Evans #21 id taken down by Arizona Cardinals linebacker Kyzir White #7 and others on a run in the second half of the game in Inglewood on Sunday, Oct. 15, 2023. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

Los Angeles Rams and Arizona Cardinals push and shove one another after a kickofff in the second half of the game in Inglewood on Sunday, Oct. 15, 2023. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

Los Angeles Rams cornerback Cobie Durant #14 celebrates after breaking up a pass intended for Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Marquise Brown #2 in the second half of the game in Inglewood on Sunday, Oct. 15, 2023. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

Los Angeles Rams cornerback Cobie Durant #14 hits Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Michael Wilson #14 after the catch in the second half of the game in Inglewood on Sunday, Oct. 15, 2023. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

Los Angeles Rams linebacker Michael Hoecht #97 hits the facemark of Arizona Cardinals quarterback Joshua Dobbs #9 as he pressures him in the second half of the game in Inglewood on Sunday, Oct. 15, 2023. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

Los Angeles Rams linebacker Byron Young #0 and Los Angeles Rams linebacker Christian Rozeboom #56 celebrate after pressuring Arizona Cardinals quarterback Joshua Dobbs #9 into an incomplete pass in the second half of the game in Inglewood on Sunday, Oct. 15, 2023. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

Los Angeles Rams linebacker Michael Hoecht #97 hits Arizona Cardinals quarterback Joshua Dobbs #9 in the helmet as he pressures him in the first half of the game in Inglewood on Sunday, Oct. 15, 2023. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp #10 makes the firs down catch as Arizona Cardinals cornerback Kei’Trel Clark #13 defends in the first half of the game in Inglewood on Sunday, Oct. 15, 2023. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

Arizona Cardinals defenders sack Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford #9 in the first half of the game in Inglewood on Sunday, Oct. 15, 2023. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

Arizona Cardinals quarterback Joshua Dobbs #9 breaks free from Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle Kobie Turner #91 for a first down in the first half of the game in Inglewood on Sunday, Oct. 15, 2023. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

Arizona Cardinals linebacker Kyzir White #7 scacks Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford #9 in the first half of the game in Inglewood on Sunday, Oct. 15, 2023. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

Arizona Cardinals place kicker Matt Prater #5 kicks his third field goal of the first half as Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle Kobie Turner #91 and Los Angeles Rams defensive end Jonah Williams #92 try to block it in the first half of the game in Inglewood on Sunday, Oct. 15, 2023. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

Arizona Cardinals cornerback Bobby Price #26 hits and forces the fumble by Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Austin Trammell #81 on a punt return in the first half of the game in Inglewood on Sunday, Oct. 15, 2023. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

Los Angeles Rams defensive end Jonah Williams #92 sacks Arizona Cardinals quarterback Joshua Dobbs #9 in the first half of the game in Inglewood on Sunday, Oct. 15, 2023. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

Los Angeles Rams linebacker Michael Hoecht #97 stops Arizona Cardinals running back Keaontay Ingram #30 in the back field in the first half of the game in Inglewood on Sunday, Oct. 15, 2023. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald #99 stops Arizona Cardinals running back Damien Williams #29 in the backfield for a loss in the first half of the game in Inglewood on Sunday, Oct. 15, 2023. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

Arizona Cardinals cornerback Bobby Price #26 celebrates his fumble recovery of Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Austin Trammell #81 on a punt return in the first half of the game in Inglewood on Sunday, Oct. 15, 2023. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

Los Angeles Rams safety Jordan Fuller #4 breaks up a pass intended for Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Marquise Brown #2 in the first half of the game in Inglewood on Sunday, Oct. 15, 2023. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

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INGLEWOOD – You know how the NFL can be.

Fickle. Erratic. All over the place.

On any given Sunday, anything can happen.

Sometimes anything can be surprising: Like on Sunday, when the middling Cleveland Browns sent the San Francisco 49ers home with their first loss, 19-17. And the embattled New York Jets picked off Philadelphia’s star quarterback Jalen Hurts late to pin the Eagles with their first loss, 20-14.

And sometimes anything is the predictable thing.

Like when a team in the midst of a major renovation and a team navigating a competitive remodel shows us they are who we thought they were: Rams 26, Arizona Cardinals 9.

If Sunday’s victory was a measuring stick for this young Rams team (3-3), it placed them squarely ahead of the 1-5 Cardinals. And a few feet ahead of where the Rams themselves left off the previous week in their 23-14 loss to the Eagles.

They’re still the team that’s guaranteed to give its paying customers one good half of football per game. (On Sunday it was the second half instead of the first. That after coming in with first-half averages of 194.3 yards, 12.3 first downs, a 46.5% third-down conversation rate – as opposed to their post-halftime metrics: 135.5 yards, 8.6 first downs and just a 22.2% third-down conversion rate.)

They’re still the team with Cooper Kupp, who is still awesome, despite missing the first four games of the season recovering from a hamstring injury. On Sunday, he made seven sublime catches for 148 yards and a touchdown.

But the Rams let us know they’re also a team that’s capable of mixing up the run and the pass. Or even – would you believe it – leaning outright on the run.

Trailing 9-6 at the break, the Rams came out of the locker room craving the run game, deciding suddenly to feed running back Kyren Williams. After just two carries for four yards in the first half, the second-year running back out of Notre Dame feasted, filled up, a glutton on the ground. He finished with 20 carries for 158 yards, including a touchdown.

And that offensive twist served to stymie the Cardinals, who couldn’t muster even a field goal in the second half, when they had the ball for only about 10 minutes and had to deal with a fresh and fired up Rams defense.

All those rushing plays on offense? “It was great, it gave us a lot of juice,” Aaron Donald, the Rams’ star defensive tackle, who still measures as a menace – especially to the Cardinals.

He now has a career-high 17 sacks in 19 games against Arizona after Sunday, when he flung Arizona’s Josh Dobbs to the turf as if the poor quarterback were a quilt on a hot day and not a 216-pound man.

Donald said he’d have to examine tape of the game to determine how he felt. But gauging by what we all witnessed the first time though, he’ll be happier about it than he was after mistakes cost the Rams against Philadelphia.

Donald was still smarting days after that, telling reporters last week: “We gave up some plays and with some penalties that hurt us and some things that we could’ve done better. We got to try to eliminate that type of stuff, but we can’t have that as a defense. That’s not us, that can’t be acceptable.”

This time, it was the defense saving the day: They helped mitigate possible disaster after Austin Trammell’s fumbled punt gave the Cardinals the ball at the Rams’ 17-yard line. Dobbs threw two incompletions and gained just three yards on the ground before having to settle for a field goal early in the second quarter.

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And later, Christian Rozeboom made his first career interception to start the fourth quarter, effectively cleaning up for Derion Kendrick after he’d incurred a face mask penalty and given up a 22-yard catch to Marquise Brown, which brought Arizona up to the Rams’ 12-yard line. Williams’ touchdown came 12 plays after Rozeboom’s pick.

“To not score a touchdown in the NFL, credit to your defense and calls and preparation,” said Rozeboom, who put on a show for the 22 guests he had in the crowd this given Sunday – when the Rams held the Cardinals to six third-down conversions on 16 tries, and no touchdowns in three trips to the red zone.

For the Rams, what was different Sunday wasn’t a surprise, rather an achievement unlocked.

“It was the first time I feel like we played complementary football,” Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford said. “Get turnovers on defense, taking care of the ball for the most part on offense and that’s usually a good recipe.”

Even — or especially — in the volatile stew that is the NFL.

Orange County Register

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Swanson: Rams do what’s expected in victory against Arizona Cardinals

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