The Arizona Cardinals (4-6) overcame injuries and took a few chances on their way to a 27-17 victory over the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday.
Colt McCoy started in place of the injured Kyler Murray and was 26-for-37 passing for 238 yards and a touchdown. His primary target was DeAndre Hopkins, who finished just shy of the century mark with 98 yards on 10 catches.
Tight end Zach Ertz was injured during the Cardinals first series and did not return.
James Conner had 69 yards and two touchdowns on 21 carries.
The Rams (3-6) started John Wolford at quarterback in place of the injured Matthew Stafford. Wolford was 24-for-36 for 212 yards and a touchdown with one interception.
During the game, the Cardinals were 3-for-3 on fourth down. Each time the Cardinals went for it on fourth down, they were able to end the drive with points.
Budda Baker and the Arizona Cardinals were the beneficiaries of a lucky bounce. Defending a pass, Isaiah Simmons saw the ball strike his helmet before landing in the arms of Baker, who returned it 53 yards.
The interception ended a promising possession for the Rams, who had already moved the ball 29 yards on six plays.
The Cardinals ended up with up with a 46-yard field goal from Tristan Vizcaino, who was signed on Saturday in place of the injured Matt Prater.
Score: Cardinals 27, Rams 10 (3:44 fourth)
Cardinals head coach Kliff Kingsbury has elected to go for it on fourth down three times. On each of those drives, the Cardinals put points on the board.
The latest gamble game on fourth-and-3 from the Rams 41. Quarterback Colt McCoy threw to Rondale Moore, who made a catch in tight coverage for a 26-yard gain.
James Conner carried on back-to-back plays with the second going for 6 yards for a touchdown. The point after made it 24-10 Cardinals.
Score: Cardinals 24, Rams 10 (7:41 fourth)
Los Angeles wide receiver Cooper Kupp is on the sideline after being rolled up on and then rolling off the field during the third quarter.
It is unknown if Kupp will return.
In the first half, Cardinals tight end Zach Ertz went to the locker room on a cart. Quarterback Kyler Murray missed the start with a leg injury and backup Colt McCoy missed a series after he was hit hard.
The Rams are also using their back up, John Wolford, with their usual starter Matt Stafford out with a concussion.
A pair of penalties against J.J. Watt helped extend a Rams drive that produced a touchdown.
Watt was first penalized for a defensive delay of game after a second-and-goal play from the Arizona 14 when a pass was batted down, scooped up by Watt and then spiked when the play was blown dead. On the next play, third-and-goal from the Arizona 9, Watt was flagged for a neutral zone infraction.
The Rams were in the end zone on the next play.
On a positive note, end the Cardinals began their next drive, Colt McCoy returned to the field.
Score: Cardinals 17, Rams 10 (4:24 third)
Third-string quarterback Trace McSorley has entered the game for the Arizona Cardinals.
Backup quarterback Colt McCoy started the game for the Cardinals with Kyler Murray inactive.
Entering the game, McSorley had throw just four passes during the 2022 season with two of them completions for 12 yards. Those came in the season-opening 44-21 loss to Kansas City.
It’s been a game of backups as John Wolford started in place of the injured Matt Stafford for the Rams. Bryce Perkins spelled him briefly in the first half.
Score: Cardinals 17, Rams 3
A.J. Green pulled in a touchdown pass in the corner of the end zone to give the Arizona Cardinals at 17-3 lead over the L.A. Rams at the half. It was Green’s first touchdown of the season.
The drive was a short one after Myjai Sanders forced a fumble that was covered by J.J. Watt. The recovery by Watt could have been returned for a touchdown, but the play had been blown dead by the officials and needed to be reviewed.
The touchdown completed a quick change of events. The game was tied 3-3 until the Cardinals scored their first touchdown with 1:56 left in the half.
The Cardinals will open the second half with the ball and a chance to add to their lead.
Score: Cardinals 17, Rams 3
James Conner carried the ball 4 yards for a touchdown that gave the Cardinals a lead over the L.A. Rams. The point after put the Cardinals up 10-3.
In order to get the touchdown, the Cardinals needed to convert on fourth down for the second time in the game. They converted a fourth-and-2 on their earlier field goal drive.
The drive snapped a string of possessions in which the team combined for five punts. The Rams have gone three-and-out on three straight series.
Cardinals quarterback Colt McCoy, starting for the injured Kyler Murray, has completed 16 of 23 passes for 123 yards. Conner has seven carries for 16 yards. The touchdown run is his longest carry of the game. DeAndre Hopkins has seven catches for 58 yards.
Score: Cardinals 10, Rams 3 (1:56 second)
The number of punts the game is quickly approaching the number of points.
After field goals by the Rams and Cardinals on their first possessions, the offenses have stalled.
Both teams have now punted twice.
Ertz, the Cardinals tight end who was injured on the team’s scoring drive, is questionable to return with a leg injury.
Score: Cardinals 3, Rams 3 (10:39 second)
After 11 straight passing plays, the Arizona Cardinals went to the running back and came up empty on back-to-back plays.
That left Arizona to settle for a 36-yard field goal from Tristan Vizcaino, who was signed by the team on Saturday.
Colt McCoy, starting for Kyler Murray, completed 8 of 11 attempts for 59 yards.
During the drive, tight end Zach Ertz injured his leg and left the sidelines on a cart.
Score: Cardinals 3, Rams 3 (end of first)
The Rams received the ball to start the game and took nearly 9 minutes off the clock with a drive that ended with a 36-yard field goal.
The drive covered 57 yards and quarterback John Wolford, starring in place of the injured Matthew Stafford, attempted five passes on the 14-play drive. He completed four of them for 29 yards.
Score: Rams 3, Cardinals 0 (6:16 first)
Injuries continue to take a toll on the Arizona Cardinals and quarterback Kyler Murray is the latest to be on the sidelines.
Colt McCoy will start in place of Murray against the Rams.
The Rams will also be without their starting quarterback, Matthew Stafford. John Wolford will start in his place.
Here are the inactives for the game.
The game can be seen at 2:25 p.m. MST time on Fox.
Kenny Albert (play-by-play) and Jonathan Vilma (analyst) will be in the broadcast booth for the game.
How to watch:NFL Week 10 schedule, television information
The Cardinals are coming off a 31-21 loss against the Seattle Seahawks.
The Rams lost to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 16-13.
The Rams beat the Cardinals in Week 3, 20-12.
The Rams are a 1.5-point favorite in the game.
The experts are mixed on their predictions, which only emphasizes how close of a game this could be.
The Arizona Republic’s Bob McManaman made his own prediction in his Cardinals-Rams scouting report.
NFL Week 10 picks, predictions::What do the experts say about every game this week?
Cardinals-Rams scouting report:Critical moment for underachieving NFC West rivals
Injury updates:Arizona Cardinals travel to L.A. without Prater; center Rodney Hudson on injured reserve
‘Hard Knocks’:DeAndre Hopkins, Budda Baker among highlights in Episode 1 with Arizona Cardinals
Moore:Cussin’ Kyler Murray needs to clean up his language on HBO’s ‘Hard Knocks’
More Cardinals:DeAndre Hopkins worried PED suspension might keep him out of NFL Hall of Fame
Looking ahead:Out for Mexico game, Cardinals’ Will Hernandez still looks forward to special trip
Reach the reporter at emily.horos@azcentral.com or 602-444-2426. Follow her on Twitter @ejhoros.
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