Fastrack · Cardinals Edge Rams in Last-Second Upset

The Arizona Cardinals beat the Los Angeles Rams 18-16 Sunday on Chad Ryland's 43-yard field goal as time expired. It was Ryland's sixth field goal of the game.

2-4 record drops the Rams to last in the NFC West.
Kicker Blake Grupe hurt his knee making a tackle on the opening kickoff.
Punter Ethan Evans kicked the go-ahead extra point with 47 seconds left.
3 sacks and 7 hits on Stafford with left tackle Alaric Jackson suspended.

Why it matters: Without a kicker, McVay went for two and tried a fourth-and-1, both failing. Those four points matched the final margin.

Special teams coverage has forced a kicker or punter to tackle two straight weeks.
Grupe replaced Harrison Mevis, released after a missed overtime kick against Buffalo.

The story so far

6 steps · since Oct 12

Oct 12Rams Vow Kicking Changes After Costly Overtime Loss to Bills7 sources
Oct 13Report: Rams Cut Kicker Harrison Mevis After Overtime Loss11 sources
Oct 16
Oct 188:03 AMCardinals Edge Rams in Last-Second UpsetYou are here
Oct 18
Oct 184:39 PMRams' Kicker Blake Grupe Injured in Debut7 sourcesLatest

How 9 sources split on this story

Source landscape

Factuality

High

Mixed

Low

Strong LeftLeftLean LeftCenterLean RightRightStrong Right

Political Bias

Coverage by lean% of 9 sources

9 sources · 22 articles · 67% Center coverage

Where they split: Coverage divides on how much a disputed unnecessary roughness call on Josh Wallace decided the game versus the Rams' own mistakes.

Center coverage, 6 sources: The center sees mounting worry over special teams and line depth amid a 2-4 start.

Heavy4hCardinals HC Mike LaFleur Reveals When He Knew Arizona Would Beat the Rams USA Today4hOnce Super Bowl favorites, can Rams salvage 2026 season after 2-4 start?BBC News30mNFL results: Los Angeles Rams lose again as Kansas City Chiefs stay unbeaten Newsweek4hRams RB Kyren Williams Calls Out HC Sean McVay After Loss to Cardinals Reuters7hChad Ryland's sixth FG is a winner as Cardinals edge Rams WPXI Pittsburgh5hSuper Bowl favorite Rams' latest loss has Sean McVay searching for ways 'not to beat ourselves'

Left coverage, 1 sources: The left sees a lifeless, preseason favorite outcoached by McVay's former pupil.

Los Angeles Times7hWhat Super Bowl? Rams look lifeless during loss to Cardinals

Right coverage, 2 sources: The right sees self-inflicted errors, not a questionable flag, as the root of the slide.

OutKick6hRams have a legitimate gripe with NFL officials, but their 2-4 record is the bigger problem New York Post5hMatthew Stafford, Puka Nacua deliver sobering messages after Rams' stunning loss to Cardinals: ‘We are what our record is’

What’s next: The Rams face the Raiders, Chargers and Commanders over the next three weeks.

Receiver Davante Adams left with a non-contact injury on the final drive.
The Rams could need a third kicker if Grupe's injury is serious.
How serious are Grupe's and Adams' injuries?
Will the Rams make changes to special teams coaching under coordinator Bubba Ventrone?