The Playbook

The Los Angeles Rams are beginning to resemble the Black Knight from “Monty Python and the Holy Grail.” Their arms have been chopped off, their legs are missing, and they’re bleeding all over the battlefield. Yet Sean McVay is still standing on the sideline screaming, “’Tis but a scratch!”

Welcome to Rams-Cardinals Part Deux, where the only thing longer than the injury report is the list of excuses neither team wants to hear.

Five weeks after Arizona stunned Los Angeles with an 18-16 walk-off victory at SoFi Stadium, the NFC West rivals reunite Sunday at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Ariz., for a rematch that could determine whether the Rams enter their bye week riding a four-game winning streak or reliving their most embarrassing loss of the season.

That Week 6 defeat still haunts McVay. His defense didn’t surrender a touchdown, but six Arizona field goals were enough to bury the Rams. Los Angeles took the lead with 46 seconds remaining, only to watch the Cardinals march downfield, aided by a questionable officiating decision, and steal the game as time expired.

Now the Rams (5-4) want revenge. Unfortunately, they’re bringing what amounts to a skeleton crew to the battlefield.

Puka Nacua is sidelined with a knee injury. Davante Adams remains on injured reserve with a ruptured hamstring. Tight end Terrance Ferguson is out, and left guard Steve Avila’s hamstring injury leaves another hole in an offensive line tasked with protecting 38-year-old Matthew Stafford.

It’s enough to make McVay wish he could borrow a few healthy bodies from the practice squad, the parking lot or the concession stands.

Arizona (3-6) isn’t exactly swimming in good fortune, either.

Starting quarterback Gardner Minshew suffered a season-ending elbow injury, while leading receiver Michael Wilson is done for the year with a neck fracture. Rookie Carson Beck, a third-round pick, is expected to make his first NFL start against a defense featuring Aaron Donald and Myles Garrett, who have a combined five Defensive Player of the Year awards between them.

Welcome to the NFL, kid. Here’s your complimentary helmet and a ticket to Sack City.

Garrett returned from injured reserve last week and immediately terrorized Washington quarterback Jayden Daniels, recording a hat trick with three sacks and a forced fumble in the Rams’ 20-13 victory. Los Angeles finished with four sacks and has allowed opponents to convert just 31.6% of their third downs, fourth-best in football.

Beck’s best friend Sunday might be tight end Trey McBride, Arizona’s most dangerous remaining offensive weapon. With Wilson gone, McBride figures to command enough targets to qualify as a one-man receiving corps.

For Los Angeles, the offensive blueprint practically writes itself: Feed Kyren Williams and Blake Corum, control possession and ask Stafford to manufacture just enough offense with receivers most fans couldn’t identify without a roster sheet in front of them.

That won’t be easy. Arizona limited Seattle to 3.6 yards per carry last week and already proved it can frustrate Stafford, holding the Rams to 16 points in their first meeting.

The Cardinals haven’t scored more than 21 points in four of their last five games, including just 3 points against Seattle. Their offense averages an NFL-worst 1.33 points per possession at home.

This is the matchup of the stoppable force meeting the movable object. Something has to give.

The Rams desperately need their fourth consecutive victory. Arizona desperately needs something resembling an offense.

And McVay desperately needs to find a way to win before somebody chops off another limb.

Marquee Matchup

Kyren Williams & Blake Corum vs. Cardinals Run Defense

The Rams aren’t hiding their game plan. With Puka Nacua, Davante Adams and Terrance Ferguson sidelined, Sean McVay might as well hand Arizona a laminated card that reads: we’re going to run the ball.

The Cardinals held Seattle to just 3.6 yards per carry last week and already suffocated McVay’s offense once this season.

Williams and Corum must establish the ground game, keep Matthew Stafford out of obvious passing situations and prevent Arizona from unleashing its blitz packages against an offensive line missing Steve Avila.

If the Rams can’t run, Stafford will be forced to win with an inexperienced receiving corps against a defense that knows exactly what’s coming.

Duarte’s Decision

Cardinals 20, Rams 19

I’ve picked against the Rams three consecutive weeks, and they’ve won all three. So why stop now?

McVay struggles against his former coordinators, and Mike LaFleur already beat him once this season. The Cardinals know the Rams will run the football, and after holding Seattle to 3.6 yards per carry they should be able to stop it.

I’m predicting multiple sacks, costly mistakes and a Stafford pick-six that ultimately decides another heartbreaker.

Key Stat

5-9

That’s Sean McVay’s record against his former coordinators. Mike LaFleur already beat his old boss once this season, and another victory would make it a clean sweep. Including 0-7 against the LaFleur brothers all time.

Forget the players. The most fascinating chess match Sunday will unfold between two coaches who know each other’s playbooks almost as well as their own.

McVay has spent years being hailed as an offensive genius. Without his two best receivers, he’ll get a chance to prove it on Sunday. If not, his former apprentice gets another opportunity to make the master look ordinary.

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