The Los Angeles Rams had a 34-11 convincing victory over the Arizona Cardinals in Inglewood, California on Monday night, and Matthew Stafford rushed for one touchdown and two more passes as the NFC Division advanced to the playoffs.
Cooper Kupp and Odell Beckham took on the Little Aries, who outscored their defense to advance to the division round for the third time in four seasons.
Stafford threw 202 yards in the 13-of-17 pass, while the Rams had 140 rushing yards led by Sony Michelle (13 carry, 58 yards) and Kem Akers (17, 55).
Fourth-placed Los Angeles will face second-placed Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday and the winner will advance to the NFC Championship game.
Quartbeck Kayler Murray had just 137 passing yards and two blocks as the Cardinals lost for the fifth time in their last six games, in Week 14, they the rams were defeated 30-23 at home.
Arizona had a minus-1 net yard near the middle of the second quarter, finishing with 183 yards after the first five games of the game. Cardinals Chase Edmonds and James Conner covered just 47 yards in 12 trucks.
When Stafford lobbied a 4-yard TD pass to Beckham in the back, left corner of the last zone, the Rams took a 7-0 lead with 3:50 left in the first quarter. With 11:58 remaining in Stafford’s second quarter, the 1-yard midfielder made it a 14-0 lead.
The situation worsened for the Cardinals when the Rams ’junior David Long stopped Murray’s screen pass and sent him back 3 yards for TD and were ahead 21-0 with 7:59 left in the division.
At the start of the third quarter, the Cardinals finally put 28-0 in Kupp’s 7-yard TD reception early in the third quarter. Connor rushed for a 2:11 TD remaining 4:11 in the third quarter and added a two-point conversion to Arizona 28-8.
The Cardinals lost their safety when Buddha Baker collided with Akers at the end of the third quarter and fainted. He was taken from the field on a stretcher and was assessed for a concussion at a local hospital. According to the team, Baker never lost the feeling and movement in his limbs.
Stafford secured his first playoff victory in four attempts after three previous defeats to the Detroit Lions.
Murray finished his third season in the first playoff game of his career, completing 19 of 34 passes.
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