Missed Chance On Monday Night: Cardinals Fall To…

The Cardinals didn’t clinch a playoff spot Monday night, didn’t all but wrap up the NFC West.

Instead, they were outplayed by the depleted Los Angeles Rams at State Farm Stadium in front of a national TV audience, losing a crucial game, 30-20, to the Rams.

A miracle onside kick recovery went nowhere.

The Cardinals (10-3) are now tied with the Packers and Buccaneers for the best record in the NFC, and fall behind both in the tiebreaker. The Rams (9-4) are now just a game behind with four games left in the race for the division title that would’ve been all but over had the Cards won Monday.

But turnovers, which have been the main reason the Cardinals are an undefeated 7-0 on the road, are the main reason they are now 3-3 at home. Quarterback Kyler Murray threw two interceptions against the Rams, both of them turned into touchdowns the other way. The first came with the Cardinals at the Los Angeles 4-yard line, costing the Cards a potential touchdown themselves.

Wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins wasn’t in the game at the end and appeared to be limping on the sideline, and running back James Conner got hurt on the final play and was also limping off.

The Rams were without four starters because of Covid, including Pro Bowl cornerback Jalen Ramsey. But defensive lineman Aaron Donald wrecked the Cardinals much of the first half, and the turnovers changed the game.

Conner scored two touchdowns for the Cardinals. A.J. Green had 102 yards on seven catches. But Rams star receiver Cooper Kupp had 13 catches for 123 yards and a touchdown, while Matthew Stafford had three TD passes without a turnover.