10 takeaways from Rams’ ‘get right’ game vs. Cardinals

The Los Angeles Rams needed a get-right game heading into Week 14 following a loss to the Carolina Panthers. That’s exactly what they got, beating the Arizona Cardinals 45-17. Whenever the Rams have needed to get back on track, the Cardinals have played that role well. Matthew Stafford was back to his MVP self while the defense had a performance much more reminiscent of the rest of the season. Here are 10 takeaways as the Rams improve to 10-3.

1. Slow start, but defense finds groove

The Rams defense looked like it was going to be picking up where it left off last week on the opening drive. Jacoby Brissett found tight end Trey McBride on two big plays and then Michael Wilson in the back of the end zone. It took all of five plays for the Cardinals to score their first touchdown of the game and take a 7-0 lead.

However, the defense found itself as the game progressed. After the Cardinals tied the game at 10, the next six drives lasted less than five plays. The defense played more aggressive, bringing pressure from the second level. Nate Landman even got his first career interception with the Rams. If not for a garbage time touchdown in the fourth quarter, the defense would have had a shutout in the second half.

2. Offense controlled the game immediately

Offensively, the Rams are in a very good spot. There are two teams that have stopped them this season and both of those units are two of the best in the NFL. Those two defenses would be the Houston Texans and Seattle Seahawks. If the Rams can protect the ball, the offense has the ability to control the game if they need to and they did to start this game. This is an offense that can lift up the defense when they need it and until they can get a stop.

To start this game, the Rams scored on their first five possessions. They faced a single third down in the entire first half. The Rams offense had a success rate of 64.2 percent. No team in the NFL had a success rate over 60 percent this week. This is an offense that has become very difficult to stop, scoring 30 or more points in five of their last seven games. As they avoid the self-inflicted mistakes, it’s hard to see them slowing down.

3. Rams find variety in red zone

There were certainly some frustrations when the Rams got down into the red zone on the opening drive with the run game and then opted for three consecutive passes. While the Rams should have leaned on the run game more in that situation, Matthew Stafford just missed Davante Adams on two ‘would have been’ touchdowns. In a sense, it was an example of the Rams becoming overly reliant on Adams in the red zone. That changes for the rest of the game.

On the next two red zone...