ARIZONA CARDINALS

Energy or execution? Cardinals get raided by Rams through the air

Dec 1, 2019, 7:20 PM | Updated: Dec 2, 2019, 1:20 pm

Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp pulls in a catch as Arizona Cardinals strong safety Budd...

Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp pulls in a catch as Arizona Cardinals strong safety Budda Baker (32) defends during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2019, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

(AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

GLENDALE, Ariz. — A ticked-off Los Angeles Rams team turning around on a short week to beat the Arizona Cardinals doesn’t sound surprising.

They’ve thumped the Cardinals by an average of 26.4 points over the last five meetings after a 34-7 win at State Farm Stadium on Sunday.

But to Arizona head coach Kliff Kingsbury, the offense putting up 81 yards of offense through three quarters and a defense allowing historically bad numbers to a 7-5 ballclub — regardless of its Super Bowl appearance just a year ago — did surprise.

“First game all year I didn’t think we competed the way we’re able to,” Kingsbury said Sunday. “I didn’t think we had the juice, coaches or players.”

“We didn’t play like we’ve been playing with the same intensity, effort, passion, the things we’ve had all year. Even when execution wasn’t there, we fought (before the Rams game). We didn’t look like the same team tonight.”

The Rams finished with 549 total yards and 424 of those through the air. Quarterback Jared Goff went 32-of-43 with two touchdowns and no interceptions as Arizona’s coverage broke down time and time again.

Only 10 times has the Cardinals franchise allowed more net total yards or net passing yards in a game.

It didn’t take long to see red flags as the Rams marched down the field on its first three possessions — even if they stalled twice and went 1-of-2 on field goals. It just didn’t end until the score was 34-0 not even halfway through the third quarter.

Chunk plays came with frequency as Arizona defenders broke down in coverage before the snap and later as receivers ran through Arizona’s zones.

It wasn’t like Arizona’s offense was doing the defense any favors. It had 63 total yards at halftime. By the end of the game, rookie quarterback Kyler Murray produced his worse outing of the year with 163 passing yards, six sacks taken and a pick-six.

Still, the Cardinals had allowed the Rams to tally 390 total yards by halftime.

“All cylinders we were off,” Cardinals linebacker Jordan Hicks said. “We were getting things we had practiced. It’s communication, it’s taking what we’ve done in practice and applying it in the game.

“I think you say lack of energy, I say lack of execution,” Hicks added. “We have to do a better job of executing, and like I said, doing what we practiced. We practiced 95% of plays where guys were running wide open. It’s unacceptable.”

Six Rams receivers had catches of 20 yards or more. Tight end Tyler Higbee set career highs with seven catches for 107 yards, including an easy touchdown when Arizona linebacker Haason Reddick fell down in coverage.

That, of course, continued a troubling theme for the NFL’s worst defense against pass-catching tight ends.

“Any answer I can give isn’t good enough at this point,” Kingsbury said. “Anything I can say at this point will fall upon deaf ears and it should.”

Receiver Robert Woods led the Rams’ aerial attack with 13 catches for 172 yards, and his biggest play came on a 3rd-and-9 at Los Angeles’ own 9-yard line.

Woods caught a screen pass on the left side that was snuffed out by Arizona, but he looped across the field and used a Goff block on Cardinals cornerback Patrick Peterson to spring him for a 48-yard gain. Cooper Kupp finished that drive by beating Peterson in man coverage with an out route in the end zone to put the Rams ahead, 27-0, halfway through the third.

Murray threw a pick-six to rookie Taylor Rapp two plays into Arizona’s next drive to all but seal the loss.

The Cardinals’ individual struggles defensively weren’t limited to Peterson. Chandler Jones and Jonathan Bullard split Arizona’s lone sack as the Rams got the ball out of Goff’s hands quickly.

Kingsbury remained optimistic the defense can improve without massive personnel changes.

While he said the coaching and playing must improve, though, he was still miffed regarding the out-of-character effort coming off a bye week relatively healthy.

“This is a game I feel like the energy wasn’t there,” rookie corner Byron Murphy added. “From the first play of the game we all have to be on the same page. The energy has to be high, and as a whole team we have to be better.”

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Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray (1) runs into the end zone for a touchdown against the Los Angeles Rams during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2019, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray (1) runs for a touchdown as Los Angeles Rams outside linebacker Samson Ebukam looks on during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2019, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald (11) makes a catch as Los Angeles Rams linebacker Travin Howard pursues during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2019, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray, right, is sacked by Los Angeles Rams defensive end Michael Brockers during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2019, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald (11) is tacked by =l2during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2019, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Los Angeles Rams wide receiver JoJo Natson (19) is hit by Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Pharoh Cooper (12) on a punt return during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2019, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray (1) is tackled by Los Angeles Rams outside linebacker Samson Ebukam (50) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2019, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Christian Kirk (13) runs into the goal post on an incomplete pass during the second half of an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2019, in Glendale, Ariz. The Rams won 34-7. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) Los Angeles Rams running back Darrell Henderson (27) greets fans after an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2019, in Glendale, Ariz. The Rams won 34-7. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Los Angeles Rams running back Todd Gurley, left, greets Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald after an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2019, in Glendale, Ariz. The Rams won 34-7. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp, right, greets Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald after an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2019, in Glendale, Ariz. The Rams won 34-7. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) Los Angeles Rams fans cheer after an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2019, in Glendale, Ariz. The Rams won 34-7. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay, left, greets Arizona Cardinals head coach Kliff Kingsbury after an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2019, in Glendale, Ariz. The Rams won 34-7. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Los Angeles Rams quarterback Blake Bortles (5) scrambles against the Arizona Cardinals after an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2019, in Glendale, Ariz. The Rams won 34-7. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Christian Kirk (13) makes a catch as Los Angeles Rams defensive back David Long (25) defends during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2019, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray (1) warms up prior to an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2019, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray warms up prior to an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2019, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Los Angeles Rams kicker Greg Zuerlein (4) celebrates his field goal with punter Johnny Hekker (6) during the first half of an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2019, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Los Angeles Rams quarterback Jared Goff (16) throw against the Arizona Cardinals during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2019, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Robert Woods (17) runs the ball after the catch during the first half of an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2019, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) Arizona Cardinals defensive back Tramaine Brock (20) tackles Los Angeles Rams tight end Tyler Higbee (89) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2019, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) Los Angeles Rams running back Todd Gurley runs the ball against the Arizona Cardinals during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2019, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray (1) throws against the Los Angeles Rams during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2019, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray is sacked by Los Angeles Rams defensive end Dante Fowler during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2019, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald (11) greets Military personnel as he takes the field prior to an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2019, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Los Angeles Rams tight end Tyler Higbee pulls in a touchdown as Arizona Cardinals outside linebacker Haason Reddick (43) defends during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2019, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Los Angeles Rams defensive end Dante Fowler, center, celebrates his sack against the Arizona Cardinals with Los Angeles Rams outside linebacker Clay Matthews (52) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2019, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Los Angeles Rams running back Todd Gurley (30) runs against the Arizona Cardinals during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2019, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Los Angeles Rams quarterback Jared Goff (16) throws against the Arizona Cardinals during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2019, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Los Angeles Rams tight end Tyler Higbee (89) makes a catch against the Arizona Cardinals during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2019, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Los Angeles Rams defensive end Dante Fowler, left, sacks Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2019, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Arizona Cardinals linebacker Chandler Jones, left, battles Los Angeles Rams offensive tackle Andrew Whitworth (77) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2019, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) An Arizona Cardinals fan cheers during the first half of an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2019, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Los Angeles Rams quarterback Jared Goff (16) warms up prior to an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2019, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

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