Instant analysis of brutal 41-10 loss

The Los Angeles Rams were looking to bounce back from a heartbreaking overtime loss to the Detroit Lions but things certainly didn’t get any better on Sunday in Arizona. Against a Cardinals team they’ve beaten in 13 of their last 15 meetings, the Rams were trounced by a score of 41-10.

It was a game that felt over early on. The Cardinals led 21-0 after less than 17 minutes and they never came close to relinquishing that lead, scoring points on seven of their first eight possessions. The Rams had absolutely no answer for Kyler Murray, James Conner or Marvin Harrison Jr., with the three of them torching Los Angeles’ defense throughout the game.

Now with an 0-2 record, the Rams are in the basement of the NFC West and have the 49ers up next on the schedule. It’s not the start they were looking for and things were made even worse when Cooper Kupp suffered an ankle injury in the first half and was unable to return.

Final score: Cardinals 41, Rams 10

Game notes

Michael Chow/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

• The Rams couldn’t have gotten off to a worse start in this game. They failed on fourth-and-2 on their opening drive, which the Cardinals then converted into a touchdown on their next possession. On the Cardinals’ second drive, they scored a 60-yard touchdown to Marvin Harrison Jr. on the very first play. The Rams punted it on their third drive, but the Cardinals took the ball and went 99 yards in 13 plays for a touchdown, going up 21-0 after only 16 and a half minutes.
• Once again, Ronnie Rivers got snaps before Blake Corum at running back, so he’s firmly entrenched as the No. 2 option on the depth chart. Corum did open the game with a nice 41-yard kick return on the opening kickoff.
• The Rams’ makeshift offensive line was abysmal in the first half, both in the running game and pass protection. Matthew Stafford was sacked three times in the first 19 plays and was forced to throw under duress constantly. Warren McClendon Jr. was a clear weak link at left tackle, allowing a pair of easy sacks on Stafford.
• The Rams had an opportunity to cut into the Cardinals’ lead before halftime when they were down 24-3 and had first-and-goal from the 4. After a 1-yard run and an incomplete pass to Demarcus Robinson, Stafford hit Kyren Williams for a 1-yard loss and then threw incomplete to Tyler Johnson in the end zone. It’s understandable that the Rams would go for…