If you love football, Week 18 of the NFL 2025 season gave you a great game to watch. The Los Angeles Rams played the Arizona Cardinals on January 4, 2026, at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California. The Rams won the game 37-20, and it was a very exciting match. In this article, we will look at the best player stats, the key moments of the game, and what this win means for both teams.
Quick Game Facts
Before we dive deep into the stats, here are the basic facts about the game:
- Date: January 4, 2026
- Location: SoFi Stadium, Inglewood, California
- Attendance: 72,004 fans
- Final Score: Los Angeles Rams 37, Arizona Cardinals 20
- Rams Head Coach: Sean McVay (Season Record: 12-5)
- Cardinals Head Coach: Jonathan Gannon (Season Record: 3-14)
This was the last game of the regular season for both teams. The Rams needed to win to stay in the playoff race, and they did exactly that.
How the Game Went
The game started with both teams playing carefully. The Rams did not play their best football right away. The Cardinals actually made things interesting in the second half with some big plays that surprised a lot of fans.
Arizona had two very exciting moments back to back. First, punter Matt Haack threw a 28-yard pass to running back Emari Demercado on a fake punt. Right after that, wide receiver Michael Wilson caught a 43-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Jacoby Brissett. These two plays brought the Cardinals back into the game and made it close.
But the Rams did not panic. Quarterback Matthew Stafford and his teammates answered back quickly. The Rams scored two more touchdowns and shut down Arizona’s offense in the final quarter. In the end, the Rams were too strong for the Cardinals to beat.
With this win, the Los Angeles Rams locked up the number 5 seed in the NFC Playoffs. That is a big deal because it means they will continue playing in the postseason.
Los Angeles Rams Player Stats
The Rams had many players who did a great job in this game. Let us go through the most important performances.
Matthew Stafford (Quarterback)
Matthew Stafford had a very solid game. He completed 25 out of 40 passes for 259 yards. Most importantly, he threw 4 touchdown passes. That is a big number for any quarterback in a single game. Stafford was calm under pressure and kept the Rams moving forward even when the game got tight in the second half. His ability to connect with his receivers in key moments was the main reason the Rams won.
Puka Nacua (Wide Receiver)
Puka Nacua was one of the most exciting players to watch in this game. He caught 10 passes for 76 yards and scored 1 touchdown. One of his catches was a beautiful one-handed grab in the end zone just before halftime. Plays like that are the kind that fans remember for a long time. Nacua showed again why he is one of the most talented young receivers in the NFL.
Tyler Higbee (Tight End)
Tyler Higbee had not played much recently because of an injury. But he came back in this game and played very well. He caught 5 passes for 91 yards and scored 1 touchdown. His touchdown came in the fourth quarter and helped the Rams put the game away for good. It was a feel-good moment for a player who worked hard to come back from injury.
Colby Parkinson (Tight End)
Colby Parkinson was one of Stafford’s favorite targets in this game. He caught two touchdown passes from Stafford, which helped the Rams build a strong lead. Parkinson was open when his team needed him most, and he made the most of his chances.
Kyren Williams (Running Back)
Kyren Williams carried the ball 12 times for 60 rushing yards. He did not score a touchdown, but his running helped the Rams control the ball and keep Arizona’s offense off the field. Good running backs do not always need to score. Sometimes their job is to keep drives alive and tire out the defense.
D. Johnson (Defensive End)
On the defensive side, D. Johnson had a big game. He recorded 2 sacks, which means he tackled the Arizona quarterback behind the line of scrimmage two times. Sacks are very important because they stop drives and put pressure on the other team’s offense. Johnson’s performance helped slow down Arizona’s passing game.
J. McCollough (Safety)
Safety J. McCollough was also very active in this game. He made 5 solo tackles and 7 total tackles. His work in the secondary helped the Rams defend against Arizona’s passing attack.
Arizona Cardinals Player Stats
Even though the Cardinals lost, some of their players still had good individual performances.
Jacoby Brissett (Quarterback)
Jacoby Brissett was not bad in this game. He completed 22 out of 31 passes for 243 yards and threw 2 touchdown passes. He did throw 1 interception, which hurt Arizona’s chances. Overall, Brissett played decently, but the Cardinals did not have enough weapons around him to beat the Rams.
Michael Wilson (Wide Receiver)
Michael Wilson had a breakout performance. He caught 5 passes for 99 yards and scored 1 touchdown on a long 43-yard catch. His performance pushed him past 1,000 receiving yards for the season, which is a milestone moment for any wide receiver. It was the first time in his career that Wilson crossed that number, and it is something he can be very proud of.
Trey McBride (Tight End)
Trey McBride had another great game with 7 receptions. These catches extended his NFL single-season record for receptions by a tight end to 126. That is a historic achievement. McBride had a fantastic season even though his team did not win many games. He proved himself as one of the best tight ends in the entire league.
Emari Demercado (Running Back)
Demercado carried the ball 2 times for 29 yards. He also made a great catch on the fake punt play that shocked everyone watching. His ability to catch the ball and make yards after contact was impressive.
J. Thompson (Safety)
Safety J. Thompson was Arizona’s top defensive player in this game. He made 7 solo tackles and 10 total tackles. He was everywhere on the field, trying to slow down the Rams offense. His effort was strong even as his team fell behind.
J. Sweat (Linebacker)
J. Sweat recorded 1 sack against Matthew Stafford. He was one of the few Cardinals defenders who put consistent pressure on the Rams offense throughout the game.
Full Team Stats Comparison
Here is a simple comparison of how both teams performed overall:
| Stat | Rams | Cardinals |
|---|---|---|
| Total Yards | 395 | 317 |
| Passing Yards | 259 | 243 |
| Rushing Yards | 60 | 29 |
| First Downs | 25 | 17 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 2 |
| Third Down Conversions | 9/16 | 4/11 |
| Time of Possession | 32:11 | 27:49 |
| Penalties | 4 for 20 yds | 6 for 45 yds |
The Rams were better in almost every category. They had more total yards, more first downs, zero turnovers, and they had the ball for longer. The Cardinals had more penalties and gave the ball away twice, which made it very hard for them to win.
What This Win Means for the Rams
This win was very important for the Los Angeles Rams. It gave them a final regular season record of 12-5, which is very good. More importantly, it locked them into the number 5 seed in the NFC Playoffs.
The Rams showed in this game that they can be dangerous when they play well. Stafford is still one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL, and receivers like Puka Nacua and tight ends like Higbee and Parkinson give him great options. If the defense keeps playing the way they did in the second half, the Rams could make a deep playoff run.
What This Season Means for the Cardinals
The Cardinals finished the season with a 3-14 record, which is one of the worst in the league. It was a very difficult year for the team and their fans. However, there are reasons to feel good about the future.
Trey McBride proved he is one of the best tight ends in football. Michael Wilson showed he can be a number one wide receiver. And young players around the team gained experience that will help them grow. The Cardinals will likely get a high draft pick, which they can use to build a better roster for next season.
Final Thoughts
The Week 18 matchup between the Los Angeles Rams and the Arizona Cardinals was a fun game to watch, even if the final score was not that close. The Rams showed why they are a strong playoff team. Players like Matthew Stafford, Puka Nacua, and Tyler Higbee gave great performances at just the right time.
For the Cardinals, the season was tough, but players like Trey McBride and Michael Wilson gave their fans something to smile about. These young players will be key pieces as Arizona tries to build a better team in the years ahead.
The Rams are now heading into the playoffs with confidence. Their offense is sharp, their defense is improving, and they have a great coach in Sean McVay. Football fans everywhere will be watching to see how far Los Angeles can go in the postseason.
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10 Frequently Asked Questions
1. Who won the Rams vs Cardinals game in Week 18? The Los Angeles Rams won the game with a final score of 37-20.
2. Where was the game played? The game was played at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California on January 4, 2026.
3. How many touchdown passes did Matthew Stafford throw? Matthew Stafford threw 4 touchdown passes in this game.
4. Who scored the most receiving yards for the Cardinals? Michael Wilson led the Cardinals with 99 receiving yards and 1 touchdown.
5. Did Trey McBride break any records in this game? Yes. Trey McBride’s 7 catches in this game extended his NFL single-season record for receptions by a tight end to 126.
6. What was Puka Nacua’s standout moment in the game? Puka Nacua made a one-handed touchdown catch just before halftime. He finished with 10 catches for 76 yards and 1 touchdown.
7. What playoff seed did the Rams earn with this win? The Rams earned the number 5 seed in the NFC Playoffs with this victory.
8. Did Arizona have any exciting plays in the game? Yes. The Cardinals ran a fake punt where punter Matt Haack threw a 28-yard pass to Emari Demercado. Right after, Michael Wilson caught a 43-yard touchdown pass to make the game close.
9. How many sacks did the Rams defense get? The Rams defense recorded 2 sacks, both by D. Johnson.
10. What was the Cardinals’ final season record? The Arizona Cardinals finished the 2025 NFL regular season with a 3-14 record.
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