If you just looked at the scores from the rams vs cardinals 2024 series, you might think you were looking at two completely different sports. On one hand, you have a 41-10 blowout in the desert. On the other, a gritty 13-9 slugfest in Los Angeles that felt like a 1970s defensive clinic. It was a season where the Arizona Cardinals finally looked like they had the Rams' number, only for Sean McVay to snatch back the narrative when the playoffs were on the line.
Football is weird.
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Seriously, how do you go from surrendering 489 total yards in September to allowing just 9 points in December? That’s the puzzle of the 2024 NFC West. The rivalry between these two teams has often been lopsided—mostly in favor of L.A.—but this year felt different because Arizona didn't just compete; they physically overwhelmed the Rams in their first meeting.
The September Shock: Kyler Murray’s Masterclass
When the Rams rolled into Glendale for Week 2, most people expected a typical divisional grind. Instead, they ran into a buzzsaw named Kyler Murray. He didn't just play well; he finished the game with a perfect 158.3 passer rating.
That doesn't happen often.
Basically, Murray was 17-of-21 for 266 yards and three touchdowns. He was dancing. He was buying time. He was making a seasoned Rams defense look like they were chasing a ghost in a red jersey. The real story of that afternoon, though, was the emergence of Marvin Harrison Jr.
The MHJ Arrival
Everyone knew the rookie was good, but the first quarter of that Week 2 matchup was legendary.
- 4 catches
- 130 yards
- 2 touchdowns
In just fifteen minutes of football, Harrison Jr. proved he was worth every bit of the draft hype. He was catching 60-yard bombs and making it look effortless. By the time the Rams figured out how to bracket him, the score was already 14-0. The Cardinals eventually cruised to a 41-10 victory, and for the first time in a long time, it felt like the balance of power in the NFC West was shifting.
The Rams were hurting, too. Cooper Kupp went down with an ankle injury in that game, which basically neutered the offense for weeks. It was a dark day for L.A. fans. They couldn't run the ball (Kyren Williams was held to 25 yards), and Stafford was under constant fire from Dennis Gardeck, who racked up three sacks.
The December Grudge Match: Defense Wins Championships
Fast forward to Week 17. The vibe in Inglewood was totally different. The Rams were 10-6 and fighting for the division crown, while the Cardinals were trying to play spoiler at 7-9. If the first game was a fireworks show, the second rams vs cardinals 2024 matchup was a muddy trench war.
There were no 60-yard bombs this time. Instead, it was about Braden Fiske living in the Arizona backfield and the Rams' secondary finally finding an answer for Murray’s scrambling. Fiske, the rookie defensive lineman, ended the night with two sacks, looking like the heir apparent to the retired Aaron Donald.
The Witherspoon Dagger
The game came down to the absolute wire. Arizona was trailing 13-9 but had the ball at the Rams' 5-yard line with just seconds left. Every Cardinals fan in SoFi Stadium was holding their breath. Murray threw a pass that got deflected—the kind of play that usually breaks a defense's heart—but Ahkello Witherspoon snatched it out of the air for a game-sealing interception.
It was a survive-and-advance kind of win.
Honestly, the offensive stars were mostly quiet, with one major exception: Puka Nacua. He hauled in 10 catches for 129 yards, essentially carrying the Rams' passing game on his back while the running game struggled to find holes. The Cardinals actually won the time of possession battle (36:55 to 23:05), but they couldn't turn those long drives into touchdowns.
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Why the 2024 Split Matters for the Future
When you look at the stats, the 2024 season showed that the "Little Brother" Cardinals aren't so little anymore. They proved they can blow the doors off a Sean McVay team when they're healthy and clicking. Jonathan Gannon has built a culture in Arizona that is clearly more physical than it used to be. James Conner's 122-yard performance in the first game wasn't a fluke; it was a statement.
However, the Rams proved that their veteran composure still carries weight. Winning a 13-9 game is arguably harder than winning a 41-10 blowout because it requires perfect execution in the "clutch" moments. The Rams' ability to clinch the NFC West (thanks to that Week 17 win and some help from the Bengals) shows they still have the championship DNA that Arizona is trying to cultivate.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Bettors
- The Home Field Advantage is Real: These teams were polar opposites depending on where they played. Arizona's speed looked much faster on their home turf.
- Watch the Defensive Front: The Rams' success in the second half of the season was tied directly to their young defensive line (Fiske and Turner). If they can't pressure the QB, they are vulnerable to the deep ball.
- Marvin Harrison Jr. is a Matchup Nightmare: You can't cover him one-on-one. The Rams only stopped him in the second game by using heavy safety help, which opened up the middle for Trey McBride.
If you're looking back at the rams vs cardinals 2024 season, don't just look at the record books. Look at the tape of those two games. They tell the story of a division that is becoming the most competitive in the NFL. The gap has closed. The 2025 season is going to be even more of a coin flip when these two meet.
What to do next:
If you're analyzing this series for a fantasy league or just for your own knowledge, go back and watch the 4th-and-short stops in the Week 17 game. It shows exactly how the Rams' defensive scheme evolved to handle mobile quarterbacks. Also, keep an eye on the injury reports for the next time these teams meet; the presence or absence of a healthy Cooper Kupp completely changes how Arizona can play their safeties.