Veteran quarterback Matthew Stafford and star receiver Odell Beckham Jr. both (finally) recorded their first career playoff win Monday night as the Los Angeles Rams easily handled the Arizona Cardinals, 34-11, at SoFi Stadium to close out the NFL’s Super Wild Card weekend.
Stafford, of course, spent the first 12 years of his career with the Detroit Lions before landing in L.A. this season. He threw for 202 yards, two touchdowns and ran for another score in the rout.
Beckham signed with the Rams midway through this season after leaving the Cleveland Browns. He played the first five years of his career for the New York Giants, then 2.5 injury-plagued years in Cleveland. He caught his first career playoff touchdown and threw a 40-yard pass on a trick play. Rams receiver Cooper Kupp added a touchdown catch on 61 yards receiving.
L.A. jumped out to a 28-0 lead and never looked back. After the game, Rams head coach Sean McVay spoke volumes of Stafford.
“I thought he did a great job leading the way,” McVay said. “He’s still the same great player to me, and he always was before this game. I think it’s good so you guys don’t have to talk about that anymore. So pleased to be able to do this with him. He’s our leader out there, and we wouldn’t be here without him.”
L.A.’s offense was humming so well that the team’s stout defense was overshadowed. Cardinals QB Kyler Murray was under constant pressure and threw two interceptions, one of which was returned by Rams linebacker David Long for a three-yard score—the shortest pick-six in postseason history.
LB Von Miller notched six tackles and a sack in his first postseason appearance since winning MVP at Super Bowl 50 with Denver. Rams safety Eric Weddle played in his first game since coming out of retirement.
Murray completed 19 of 34 passes for 137 yards with two interceptions and a 40.9 passer rating. Afterwards, he called the performance “disappointing.”
“It’s disappointing that we didn’t make it a game and come out and play the football we know we’re capable of playing, that’s really the most disappointing part,” Murray said. “Losing is one thing, but when you don’t even make it competitive, it’s another thing.
“I put a lot on my shoulders, put a lot on myself and to dream of this moment and then be in the playoffs, the first game of the playoffs and then to play the way I did, to play the way we did, it’s—like I said—disappointing.”
The Cardinals were the last unbeaten team during the regular season and the first to record 10 wins.
The Rams will head to Florida to face the defending Super Bowl champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The winner gets a spot in the NFC title game.
SoFi Stadium will be the site of Super Bowl LVI next month.
