Cardinals Beat Rams 18-16 on Field Goal at Expiration

The Arizona Cardinals beat the Los Angeles Rams 18-16 at SoFi Stadium on October 18, when Chad Ryland kicked a 43-yard field goal as time expired. The loss dropped the Rams to 2-4 and deepened concerns about a season that began with high expectations. Ryland accounted for all of Arizona’s points, converting all six of his field-goal attempts. Los Angeles took a 16-15 lead with 47 seconds remaining on Matthew Stafford’s six-yard touchdown pass to Colby Parkinson and the extra point. With the Rams’ kicker Blake Grupe out after a knee injury, punter Ethan Evans handled the kick. Arizona began its final drive at its own 35-yard line. On the first play, quarterback Jacoby Brissett completed a pass to Jalen Brooks, and a 15-yard unnecessary-roughness penalty on Rams cornerback Josh Wallace moved the ball to the Los Angeles 29 with 41 seconds left. Ryland then made the winning kick. The penalty drew criticism from broadcast analysts, who questioned whether the contact warranted a foul. The game accounts also noted that the Rams had jumped offside on the play, giving Brissett a free play. The penalty’s appropriateness was not resolved by an authoritative league ruling in the reports....