Ryland's 43-yard kick at the gun lifts Cardinals past Rams 18-16

Ryland kicked a 43-yard field goal as time expired Sunday, and the Arizona Cardinals beat the Los Angeles Rams 18-16 after Matthew Stafford's touchdown pass had put the Rams ahead with 47 seconds left.

The kick capped a five-play, 40-yard drive from Arizona's 35. A 21-yard completion from Jacoby Brissett and a 15-yard unnecessary roughness penalty on the Rams moved the Cardinals into range. Brissett, who started, threw for 218 yards and one interception.

Arizona (2-4) had led since Ryland's 38-yarder in the third quarter and held a 15-9 edge in the fourth, until Stafford drove the Rams 86 yards in nine plays from their own 14.

Puka Nacua caught a 43-yard pass on the way, and Stafford finished the drive with a 6-yard touchdown pass that replay reversed from a ruling short of the goal line.

Quentin Lake intercepted Brissett on Arizona's second snap of the game, and the Rams turned that into a field goal at SoFi Stadium. Ryland tied it before the first quarter ended. In the second, Stafford threw a 15-yard touchdown pass for a 9-6 lead, and Ryland answered with another field goal before halftime.

Arizona kept settling for field goals in the second half, but the Rams could not take advantage. Los Angeles lost a fumble in the fourth quarter while trailing 15-9. Bam Knight ran for 80 yards on 15 carries.

Stafford went 25 of 33 for 222 yards and two touchdowns for the Rams (2-4), and Nacua caught six passes for 80 yards. Arizona sacked Stafford three times, one by Budda Baker, and the Rams ran only 52 plays to the Cardinals' 69.

Arizona outgained Los Angeles 337 yards to 314 and ran for 119 yards to the Rams' 92. Each offense finished at 0.01 EPA per play, and each team gave the ball away once. Ryland's final kick moved Arizona's chance of winning from about 50% to 100%.

Up next

Cardinals: host the Denver Broncos on Sunday, October 25.

Rams: visit the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday, October 25.