Cardinals upset Rams 18-16 on Chad Ryland's sixth field goal

Ryland's sixth kick seals it as time expires

The Arizona Cardinals beat the Los Angeles Rams 18-16 at SoFi Stadium on a 43-yard field goal from Chad Ryland with no time left on the clock. It was Ryland's sixth field goal of the day, capping a back-and-forth game the Cardinals led for most of the second half before the Rams pulled ahead late.

Matthew Stafford found Colby Parkinson for a 6-yard touchdown with 47 seconds left, and Ethan Evans added the extra point to put the Rams up 16-15. Arizona answered immediately, moving into field goal range on a long catch by Jalen Brooks and an unnecessary roughness penalty on Josh Wallace. Three plays later, Ryland's kick split the uprights as time ran out.

Brissett and a shaky defense turn it around

Jacoby Brissett passed for 218 yards on 24 of 35 throwing, with one interception, directing an Arizona offense that never found the end zone but did enough. Bam Knight ran 15 times for 80 yards and Trey McBride caught seven passes for 53 yards. The bigger story was the defense, which had allowed 148 points over the previous four games. Mack Wilson Sr. led the Cardinals with nine tackles and Budda Baker added a sack.

Arizona finished with 22 first downs and 338 total yards against a Rams defense that had been one of the better units in the league. The Cardinals turned the ball over once, matching the Rams' single turnover, and leaned on five field goals from Ryland before his game-winner.

Stafford's big day wasn't enough for the Rams

Matthew Stafford threw for 222 yards and two touchdowns, going 25 of 33, but the Rams offense stalled for most of the afternoon before its final drive. Kyren Williams managed only 50 yards on 10 carries and Puka Nacua caught six passes for 80 yards. Nate Landman led the Rams with 10 tackles.

The loss drops the Rams to 2-4 overall and 1-3 at home, with new Cardinals coach Mike LaFleur beating his former boss Sean McVay in his first try. LaFleur spent the previous three seasons as McVay's offensive coordinator. 'These guys are a resilient group,' LaFleur said after the win.

Records, injuries and what's next

Arizona improves to 2-4 overall and 2-2 on the road, with its second win this season at SoFi Stadium after also beating the Chargers there in Week 1. Receiver Jalen Brooks said of the locker room, 'We know how good of a team we are.'

Both teams are banged up. The Rams are without Davante Adams, out after hamstring surgery, Poona Ford, out after triceps surgery, and Kobie Turner, out with a groin injury, and kicker Blake Grupe is on injured reserve with a torn ACL. The Cardinals are missing James Conner, who had season-ending foot surgery, along with Wydett Williams Jr. with a concussion, Andrew Wingard with a knee bruise and Jeremiyah Love with an ankle injury.

Facts per ESPN box score. Opinion is the taproom's.