Los Angeles Rams vs Arizona Cardinals player stats from the 2025 season show two clear wins for the Rams, but the numbers also show some strong moments for Arizona. The Rams won 45 to 17 on December 7, 2025, and 37 to 20 on January 4, 2026. In both games, quarterback Matthew Stafford played without an interception, receiver Puka Nacua caught a lot of passes, and the Rams’ pass rush gave Cardinals quarterback Jacoby Brissett a hard day. This guide explains the main numbers in plain English, so you can see who played best without reading a long box score. The two teams also meet again on October 18 and November 15, 2026, so these stats are a good place to start before those games.
Which Rams vs Cardinals games should you look at first?
The two newest games are the ones from December 7, 2025, and January 4, 2026, and the Rams won both. Both games belong to the 2025 NFL season, and together they give you the best picture of how these players match up.
| Date | Place | Final score | Records after the game |
|---|---|---|---|
| December 7, 2025 | State Farm Stadium, Arizona | Rams 45, Cardinals 17 | Rams 10-3, Cardinals 3-10 |
| January 4, 2026 | SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles | Rams 37, Cardinals 20 | Rams 12-5, Cardinals 3-14 |
Before these two games, the teams met on December 28, 2024. The Rams won that one 13 to 9. This article focuses on the two newest games because their full player numbers are easy to find and check.
What happened in the January 4, 2026 game?
The Rams beat the Cardinals 37 to 20 at SoFi Stadium, and they scored the last 21 points of the game. For a long time, it was a close game. The Rams led 16 to 6 at halftime, but the Cardinals scored two touchdowns in the third quarter and moved ahead 20 to 16.
Then Stafford took over. He threw a 21-yard touchdown pass to Colby Parkinson just before the end of the third quarter. In the fourth quarter, he threw a 22-yard touchdown pass to Tyler Higbee and a 1-yard touchdown pass to Parkinson again. The Cardinals scored no points in the fourth quarter. A crowd of 72,004 fans watched the game.
Who had the best passing stats on January 4?
Matthew Stafford had the best passing day, mostly because he scored four touchdowns and did not throw an interception. Here are the main passing numbers for both starting quarterbacks.
| Player | Team | Completions / Attempts | Yards | TD | INT | Sacks taken | Passer rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Matthew Stafford | Rams | 25 / 40 | 259 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 114.5 |
| Jacoby Brissett | Cardinals | 22 / 31 | 243 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 101.9 |
Brissett also played well in some ways. He completed 71 percent of his passes, and he threw touchdown passes of 43 yards and 7 yards. The problem was the pass rush. He was sacked six times, and he lost one fumble. Stafford, in comparison, was sacked only once.
Here is a small detail that many fans missed. Cardinals punter Matt Haack threw one pass in this game, and he completed it for 28 yards. It was not a big part of the game, but it shows up in the box score.
Which receivers and running backs stood out on January 4?
Puka Nacua caught the most passes, but Cardinals receiver Michael Wilson and Rams tight end Tyler Higbee had the biggest yardage. Nacua caught 10 of his 11 targets. Wilson made a 43-yard touchdown catch, and Higbee turned five catches into 91 yards.
| Player | Team | Targets | Catches | Yards | TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Puka Nacua | Rams | 11 | 10 | 76 | 1 |
| Tyler Higbee | Rams | 6 | 5 | 91 | 1 |
| Colby Parkinson | Rams | 7 | 4 | 36 | 2 |
| Michael Wilson | Cardinals | 8 | 5 | 99 | 1 |
| Trey McBride | Cardinals | 8 | 7 | 65 | 0 |
| Josiah Deguara | Cardinals | 2 | 2 | 15 | 1 |
A “target” means the quarterback threw the ball to that player, even if he did not catch it. Targets help you see who the quarterback trusts. In this game, Nacua (11), Wilson (8), and McBride (8) got the most targets.
The running game was quiet for both teams. Kyren Williams ran 12 times for 60 yards for the Rams, and Blake Corum ran 13 times for 59 yards. For Arizona, Michael Carter had 7 carries for 18 yards, and Emari Demercado had 2 carries for 29 yards, including an 18-yard run. Neither team scored a rushing touchdown.
How did the defenses and kickers do on January 4?
The Rams defense was a big reason for the win, because it sacked Brissett six times and hit him 12 times in total. Desjuan Johnson had two sacks and four quarterback hits, which was the best defensive day on the field. Jared Verse, Josaiah Stewart, Braden Fiske, and Byron Young each had one sack. Cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon caught an interception, and Josaiah Stewart forced a fumble.
Arizona had only one sack, and it came from Josh Sweat. The Cardinals still had busy tacklers. Safety Jalen Thompson had 10 tackles, and safety Budda Baker had 9.
The kickers did not miss. Rams kicker Harrison Mevis made all three field goals (34, 42, and 40 yards) and all four extra points. Cardinals kicker Chad Ryland made both of his field goals, including a long one from 56 yards.
What were the player stats in the December 7, 2025 game?
The Rams won 45 to 17, and Stafford, Nacua, and Blake Corum all had big days. This game was played in Arizona, and the Rams led 24 to 10 at halftime. After that, the Cardinals could not catch up.
| Player | Team | Main stats |
|---|---|---|
| Matthew Stafford | Rams | 22 of 31, 281 yards, 3 TD, 0 INT, no sacks, 131.2 rating |
| Puka Nacua | Rams | 7 catches, 167 yards, 2 TD (28 and 31 yards) |
| Blake Corum | Rams | 12 carries, 128 yards, 2 TD (including a 48-yard run) |
| Kyren Williams | Rams | 13 carries, 84 yards, 1 TD |
| Colby Parkinson | Rams | 3 catches, 32 yards, 1 TD |
| Davante Adams | Rams | 4 catches, 29 yards |
| Jacoby Brissett | Cardinals | 25 of 44, 271 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT, 3 sacks |
| Michael Wilson | Cardinals | 11 catches, 142 yards, 2 TD |
| Trey McBride | Cardinals | 5 catches, 58 yards |
| Zonovan Knight | Cardinals | 7 carries, 16 yards, 3 catches, 18 yards |
Stafford’s passer rating of 131.2 is very high, and he was never sacked. Nacua was his favorite target with 11 throws his way. On the other side, Wilson was very busy. He was targeted 16 times and caught 11 passes. Even so, Arizona’s offense could not keep up with the Rams’ running game, which gained 253 yards between Corum, Williams, and Ronnie Rivers.
The Cardinals started well. Wilson caught a 19-yard touchdown in the first quarter, and Arizona led 7 to 0. By the end of the third quarter, the Rams led 38 to 10, and the game was out of reach.
How do the stats from both games compare?
Over the two games, the Rams had the better passing game and the cleaner day with the ball. Here are the combined numbers for the main players.
| Player | Team | Combined stats from both games |
|---|---|---|
| Matthew Stafford | Rams | 47 of 71, 540 yards, 7 TD, 0 INT |
| Jacoby Brissett | Cardinals | 47 of 75, 514 yards, 4 TD, 2 INT, 9 sacks |
| Puka Nacua | Rams | 17 catches, 243 yards, 3 TD |
| Michael Wilson | Cardinals | 16 catches, 241 yards, 3 TD |
| Trey McBride | Cardinals | 12 catches, 123 yards |
| Blake Corum | Rams | 25 carries, 187 yards, 2 TD |
| Kyren Williams | Rams | 25 carries, 144 yards, 1 TD |
Look at the two quarterbacks. They completed the same number of passes (47), and their yards were close (540 and 514). The difference is in the other columns. Stafford had three more touchdowns, no interceptions, and was sacked only once. Brissett had two interceptions and was sacked nine times. That gap explains a lot about why the scores were so different.
The receivers were almost equal. Nacua and Wilson each finished close to 240 yards and three touchdowns. The difference was the help they got. The Rams had Higbee, Parkinson, and a strong running game. The Cardinals had McBride, but not as much support around him.
Note: Small differences can appear between stat websites. For example, Brissett’s passer rating on January 4 is listed as 101.9 on one site and 102.0 on another. This is usually a rounding choice, not a real difference.
What do the short names in a box score mean?
Most box scores use short names, and they are easy to learn. Here are the ones you will see most often in Rams vs Cardinals player stats.
- C/ATT or CMP/ATT: Completions and attempts. This shows how many passes a quarterback completed and how many he threw.
- YDS: Yards gained.
- TD: Touchdowns.
- INT: Interceptions. This is when a defender catches a pass meant for the other team. Fewer is better for a quarterback.
- SCK or SK: Sacks. For a quarterback, this means how many times he was tackled behind the line. For a defender, it means how many quarterbacks he tackled.
- RTG or RATE: Passer rating, a number that combines completions, yards, touchdowns, and interceptions. A rating over 100 is usually a very good day.
- TGT: Targets, or how many times a player was the intended receiver.
- REC: Receptions, or catches.
- LNG: The longest play of that type.
- ATT (in rushing): Carries, or the number of times a player ran with the ball.
Who played best in these games?
Based on the numbers, Matthew Stafford was the best quarterback, Puka Nacua was the best Rams receiver, and Michael Wilson was the best Cardinals player. “Best” is always a bit of an opinion, so here are the top picks and the reasons.
- Best quarterback: Matthew Stafford. He had seven touchdowns, no interceptions, and very few sacks across both games.
- Best receiver: Puka Nacua, with 243 yards and three touchdowns. Michael Wilson was almost as good, with 241 yards and three touchdowns.
- Best running back: Blake Corum, who ran for 128 yards and two touchdowns on December 7.
- Best defender: Desjuan Johnson, who had two sacks and four quarterback hits on January 4.
- Best Cardinals tight end: Trey McBride, who caught 12 passes in two games.
When do the Rams and Cardinals play next?
The Rams and Cardinals play twice in 2026, on October 18 and November 15. The first game is on Sunday, October 18, 2026, at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California. The second is on Sunday, November 15, 2026, at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.
That means the first game is about ten days away. Kickoff times can change, so check the official NFL or team schedule before you plan your day. After each game, you can use the same steps from this article to read the new box score.
Conclusion
Los Angeles Rams vs Arizona Cardinals player stats show that the Rams had the better quarterback play, the better pass rush, and more help around their stars in both games. The Cardinals had real bright spots, especially Michael Wilson and Trey McBride, but too many sacks and turnovers held them back. Use the tables above as a quick guide, and check the new numbers after the next game on October 18.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who had the most receiving yards in the Rams vs Cardinals games?
Puka Nacua had the most receiving yards on December 7, 2025, with 167. Michael Wilson of the Cardinals led January 4, 2026, with 99. Over both games, Nacua finished with 243 yards and Wilson finished with 241, so the two receivers were very close to each other.
Did Matthew Stafford throw an interception in these games?
No. Matthew Stafford threw no interceptions in either game. He threw 3 touchdowns on December 7, 2025, and 4 touchdowns on January 4, 2026. Across both games, he completed 47 of 71 passes for 540 yards and 7 touchdowns, which is a very strong result.
Where can I find full player stats for a Rams vs Cardinals game?
Pro-Football-Reference and FantasyData both show full box scores with passing, rushing, receiving, and defense numbers. ESPN and Covers also list player stats for each game. The numbers in this article come from Pro-Football-Reference and FantasyData, so you can check any line yourself.
