Witherspoon’s last-minute interception preserves Rams’ win over Cardinals

INGLEWOOD, Calif. — The Los Angeles Rams spent your complete second half struggling on offence whereas bending simply sufficient on defence to protect a tiny lead.

Arizona even backed Los Angeles into its personal finish zone within the closing minute, needing only one large play to steal a win.

Ahkello Witherspoon and the Rams held on by their fingertips, and now they’re getting ready to one other NFC West title.

Witherspoon made a diving interception on a deflected cross in the long run zone with 37 seconds to play, and the Rams barely maintained command of the division race with a 13-9 victory over the Cardinals on Saturday night time.

Puka Nacua had 129 yards receiving and Kyren Williams scored the one landing for the Rams (10-6), who grinded via a troublesome offensive night time and survived a hair-raising fourth quarter for his or her fifth consecutive victory.

“We didn’t do an entire lot nice, to be sincere with you,” mentioned Matthew Stafford, who handed for 189 yards within the Rams’ ninth win in 11 video games. “Didn’t run it nice. Didn’t throw it nice. However discovered a solution to get a win and get sufficient factors.”

The Rams host Seattle (9-7) of their regular-season finale subsequent weekend, however they may have already got coach Sean McVay’s fourth division title clinched earlier than then.

If the Payments, Browns, Vikings, Commanders and 49ers mix for 3 wins — or two wins and a tie — over the following two days, Los Angeles might be NFC West champions based mostly on its power of schedule, it doesn’t matter what occurs in opposition to Seattle.

If the Rams don’t get that strength-of-schedule assist this week, they’re nonetheless in control of the division race: The Seahawks should beat the Rams and get assist from a number of groups to assert the West whereas denying the Rams’ sixth playoff berth in eight seasons below McVay.

The Rams narrowly prevented a winner-take-all finale in opposition to Seattle by holding off the Cardinals, who performed an incredible defensive sport one week after getting eradicated from playoff competition.

Kyler Murray handed for 321 yards and threw two late interceptions for Arizona (7-9), which managed simply three factors out of three drives into Rams territory within the fourth quarter.

Arizona drove to the Los Angeles 5 within the closing minute, however the Rams referred to as an all-out blitz on first down. Murray’s fast cross deflected off tight finish Trey McBride’s helmet, and Witherspoon made a 10-fingertip interception in the long run zone that was upheld by video evaluation though the ball touched the bottom whereas between his palms.

“Simply the way in which the NFL works, you by no means actually know, actually,” Witherspoon mentioned. “I assumed I caught it. You noticed by my celebration. However as soon as I noticed that replay, any time that ball hits the bottom, you by no means know.”

McBride made each his a hundredth reception and his first landing catch of the season for Arizona, which has misplaced 5 of six. McBride had 12 catches for 123 yards, and Marvin Harrison Jr. had 96 yards receiving.

“The ball didn’t bounce our manner,” Arizona coach Jonathan Gannon mentioned. “Acquired the ball on the finish, thought we had been going to win, they usually made a great play. It stings as a result of we’re there, however we’re not there. Once we play our model of ball, we will compete and beat everybody, but it surely doesn’t imply so much.”

Williams’ 14th speeding TD of the season 3:23 earlier than halftime opened the scoring and capped the Rams’ first good drive.

Arizona lastly scored halfway via the third quarter on a 1-yard catch by McBride, who bought his first landing on the 98th reception of his franchise-record season for a decent finish.

The Cardinals bought to 10-9 early within the fourth quarter with Chad Ryland’s brief subject aim after their second straight spectacular drive. Rams rookie Joshua Karty made his second subject aim with 6:41 left.

Arizona drove to the Rams 40, however stalled earlier than rookie Kam Kinchens intercepted Murray’s fourth-down heave to the aim line with 3:02 left. However Kinchens price the Rams a couple of dozen yards of subject place by returning it to the 11 as an alternative of batting it down, and the Rams’ offence punted the ball again to the Playing cards simply 1:01 later.

“I felt like for certain we had been going to win that sport,” Murray mentioned. “We drove down the sector, and (there’s) nothing the protection can do to cease us, and on the finish a (awful) flip of occasions. We bought unfortunate.”

Michael Hoecht blocked Arizona’s extra-point try within the third quarter. The 6-foot-4 linebacker leads the NFL this season with three blocked kicks, the second-most in Rams historical past.

Cardinals: CB Garrett Williams was evaluated for a concussion within the second half. … RB James Conner suited up regardless of a knee harm, however had simply 4 ineffective carries earlier than getting shut down.

Rams: RT Rob Havenstein sat out with a shoulder harm incurred throughout follow this week. The veteran missed his fifth sport of the season, and backup Joe Noteboom dedicated three holding penalties.

The Rams have received three straight and 11 of their final 15 over Seattle. The Cardinals end at house in opposition to the 49ers.