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The Arizona Cardinals did more than escape Los Angeles with an 18-16 win Sunday. They finally played the kind of aggressive defense that had been missing through much of the first six weeks, pressuring Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford, creating two takeaways and giving an offense that repeatedly stalled in the red zone enough margin to survive.
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Locked On Cardinals host Alex Clancy’s central takeaway was not simply that the Cardinals won as double-digit underdogs. It was that defensive coordinator Nick Rallis finally leaned into a proactive approach. Clancy pointed to three sacks of Stafford and a more disruptive front, arguing that Arizona cannot return to sitting in coverage and allowing opposing quarterbacks to operate comfortably.
Safety Budda Baker, linebackers Mack Wilson Sr. and Cody Simon, cornerback Garrett Williams, and outside linebacker Josh Sweat helped fuel the more physical showing. Clancy also highlighted defensive lineman Walter Nolen’s work in the backfield and credited him with helping create one of Sweat’s pressures.
The defense had to carry the day because the offense again failed to turn its movement between the 20s into touchdowns. Kicker Chad Ryland went 6-for-6 on field goals, including the 43-yard winner as time expired. Quarterback Jacoby Brissett delivered the late drive Arizona needed, hitting wide receiver Jalen Brooks on a key completion.
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Clancy called the result a signature win for head coach Mike LaFleur, whose first game against his former team produced a road victory even without an offensive breakthrough. That assessment rests less on aesthetics than execution: The Cardinals controlled possession, avoided a collapse after Puka Nacua’s late 42-yard reception helped set up a Rams touchdown, and answered with a composed final sequence.
Arizona hosts the Denver Broncos on Sunday, Oct. 25. The red zone issues and conservative early-down offensive approach remain problems, but the Rams game gave Rallis a clearer blueprint: Pressure the quarterback, disrupt timing and force the opponent to adjust rather than waiting for the next mistake.
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This story was originally published October 20, 2026 at 8:30 PM.