The Arizona Cardinals walked out of Los Angeles with more than an upset win over the Rams. They came away with evidence that the way forward might look a lot different than what they’d shown earlier this season.
That starts on defense. The unit that took the field Sunday looked nothing like the version Arizona had been rolling out before.
Defensive coordinator Nick Rallis made the right adjustments, and head coach Matt LaFleur’s familiarity with Sean McVay and the Rams’ offensive ideas seemed to help shape the game plan. The bigger point was even clearer: Arizona may not need fireworks on offense every week if its defense can control games like that.
Jacoby Brissett fit that script. He didn’t throw a touchdown, but that may actually sharpen the case for how Arizona should view him.
The Cardinals did not need him to carry the win. They needed him to stay steady, avoid mistakes, and keep the offense on schedule.
That’s the kind of job a quality journeyman or backup quarterback is built for, and it’s been a big part of Brissett’s career. If he keeps the ball moving without giving games away, Arizona can be patient - especially if the defense keeps playing like it did Sunday.
That performance also changes the look of what’s coming next. A four-game stretch against Denver, Dallas, Seattle, and another meeting with the Rams seemed much tougher before this win.
But the picture has shifted. Bo Nix and Denver have had trouble finding consistency.
Dallas has had its own problems. Seattle hasn’t held onto its early-season form.
And now Arizona has already beaten the Rams on the road.
One win doesn’t erase everything, but it can change the temperature around a team in a hurry. Arizona entered Los Angeles needing a victory and left with something more useful than points in the standings: a blueprint.
“The work works.”
In Other News...
Mike LaFleur Loved The Win But Knows Cardinals Have A Problem
The win over the Rams gave Mike LaFleur plenty to like, especially the way Arizona kept hanging around and found a way to finish. He praised the Cardinals resilience afterward and leaned on Chad Rylands scoring to get the job done, a reminder that sometimes a divisional game can turn into a survival test more than a showcase.
Still, the way Arizona got there underscored a problem the staff cannot ignore for long. Special teams carried too much of the load, and even in a victory, the Cardinals left the field knowing they need far cleaner work in that phase if they want these close games to keep tilting their way. [Read more 🡒]
Josh Sweat Suddenly Sits At Center Of Cardinals Trade Debate
The NFL trade deadline chatter around edge rushers already had a familiar ring to it, but Josh Sweats name is suddenly part of it in a way Cardinals fans will notice. ESPN reported that the Cowboys are exploring another possible move before the deadline, and league sources pointed to Sweat as a logical target for a Dallas defense looking for help up front. For Arizona, it is the kind of attention that comes with having a productive pass rusher on the roster, even if nothing has advanced beyond speculation.
Sweats situation is what makes this more interesting than a routine rumor mill entry. He is not a short-term stopgap, which means any conversation would carry more weight than a simple rental deal, and that naturally raises the stakes for a Cardinals team trying to balance present value with longer-term plans. For now, though, there is no confirmed trade and no indication of where the talks might go, leaving his status as one of the more closely watched names heading toward the deadline. [Read more 🡒]
Budda Baker Is Back At The Center Of A Cardinals Debate
Budda Baker is right back in the middle of a familiar kind of NFL conversation, the sort that follows a respected veteran whenever the trade deadline starts looming. A CBS Sports feature put the Cardinals safety on a wish list of players the league might like to see moved, leaning on his track record and the idea that a fresh start could make sense for both player and team.
For Arizona, the attention is less about any actual transaction than about what it says regarding a standout defender who has long been central to the franchise. The piece floated the Bills, Bengals and Jaguars as possible landing spots, but there is no report of a deal nearing completion, only the usual deadline buzz that can turn into something more if the right offer ever comes along. [Read more 🡒]