Takeaways from a near-flawless defensive performance by the Cardinals

Arizona Cardinals linebacker Dennis Gardeck (45) sacks Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) on Sept. 15, 2024, at State Farm Stadium in Glendale.

Now, that was unexpected. The Arizona Cardinals poured it on early and often against the L.A. Rams in a 41-10 win Sunday afternoon at State Farm Stadium.

Yes, the Rams are banged up on the offensive line, were without wide receiver Puka Nacua and then wide receiver Cooper Kupp left the game with an ankle injury.

However, the Cardinals’ defense was relentless, had five sacks and held running back Kyren Williams to 25 yards on 12 runs. Overall, the Rams totaled 245 yards with 28 coming on the final possession and averaged 4.7 yards per play.

There were eight players who totaled 12 tackles for loss and there were nine quarterback hits.

Here are the takeaways:

Budda was everywhere

Safety Budda Baker set the tone on the second play of the game, dropping Williams for a 1-yard loss. He had eight tackles (all solo) with two for loss and one pass defensed. The latter came on a pass to Kupp on third-and-4.

Overall, he had five tackles that limited Williams to runs of two yards or less.

Baker exchanged a hug with Monti Ossenfort as he entered the locker room after the game and just might have been sending a cosmic message to the general manager about his contract.

Gardeck the sack machine

Maybe edge rusher Dennis Gardeck hears the critics who blister the team’s pass rush and consider him a weakness. Who knows? But all he did Sunday was sack quarterback Matthew Stafford three times, with two coming on third down and the other forcing a fumble.

He added six solo tackles with four for loss and had three quarterback hits.

Third-down success

In addition to Gardeck’s two third-down sacks, edge rusher Zaven Collins had one as did inside linebacker Krys Barnes. The latter came on third-and-1 when Stafford tried to run for the first down and Barnes knocked him out of bounds for a 1-yard loss.

Overall, the Rams converted only 2-of-11 plays on third down and one was on their final possession. Notably, most were manageable situations. However, Stafford was 3-for-5 for 20 yards on third down with one conversion and that was a 12-yard play on third-and-8.

Four of the sacks were on third down and seven of the first eight opportunities had yards to go of 2, 4, 4, 4, 5, 3 and 1 and all failed.

Prater rolls on

Kicker Matt Prater, who turned 40 in August, had field goals of 48 and 57 yards and the latter was an NFL best 81st of his career.

After a 41-yard return by Rams rookie Blake Corum on the game-opening kickoff, Prater simply blasted the next seven kicks into or through the end zone for touchbacks.

Blake Gillkin had to punt only once, and it was for 60 yards with a 12-yard return. Greg Dortch had two punt returns for 32 yards.

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