Ahkello Witherspoon made a diving interception on a deflected pass in the end zone with 37 seconds to play, and the Los Angeles Rams barely maintained command of the NFC West race with a 13-9 victory over the Arizona Cardinals on Saturday night. .
Puka Nkua had 129 yards receiving and Kieren Williams scored the lone touchdown for the Rams (10-6), who grinded out a difficult offensive night and avoided a hair-raising fourth quarter for their fifth straight win.
The Rams host the Seattle Seahawks (9-7) in their regular-season finale next week, but they could win coach Sean McVay’s fourth division title before then.
If the Buffalo Bills, Cleveland Browns, Minnesota Vikings, Washington Commanders and San Francisco 49ers combine for three wins — or two wins and a tie — over the next two days, the Rams will be the NFC West champions based on their strength of schedule. , not what happens against Seattle.
If the Rams don’t get that strength-of-schedule help this week, they’re still in command of the division race: The Seahawks will have to beat the Rams and get help from several teams to claim the West while denying the Rams. Sixth playoff berth in eight seasons under McVay.
The Rams avoided a winner-take-all finale against Seattle by holding off the Cardinals, who played a tremendous defensive game a week after being eliminated from playoff contention.
Kyler Murray passed for 321 yards and threw two late interceptions for Arizona (7-9), which managed just three points on three drives into Rams territory in the fourth quarter.
Arizona drove to the Los Angeles 5 in the final minute, but when Murray’s first-down pass deflected off tight end Trey McBride’s helmet, Witherspoon made a fingertip interception in the end zone. which was upheld by video review.
Matthew Stafford, who passed for 189 yards, ran out the clock in the Rams’ ninth win in 11 games after their bye.
McBride had both his 100th reception and his first touchdown catch of the season for Arizona, which has lost five of six. McBride had 12 catches for 123 yards, and Marvin Harrison Jr. had 96 yards receiving.
Williams’ 14th rushing TD of the season opened the scoring 3:23 before halftime and capped the Rams’ first good drive.
Arizona finally scored midway through the third quarter on a 1-yard catch by McBride, who eventually scored his first touchdown on his 98th catch of the season. He is the 10th tight end in NFL history to catch 100 passes in a season.
The Cardinals led 10-9 on Chad Ryland’s short field goal after their second straight impressive drive in the fourth quarter. Rams rookie Joshua Carty kicked his second field goal with 6:41 left to cap a seven-and-a-half-minute drive.
Arizona drove to the Rams 40, but the drive was intercepted by Cam Kinchens before Murray reached the goal line with 3:02 left. But Kinchens returned the ball to the 11 instead of punting it down, costing the Rams 40 yards of field position, and the Rams’ offense got the ball back on the Cards just 1:01 later.
Michael Hocht blocked Arizona’s extra-point attempt in the third quarter. The linebacker leads the NFL with three blocked kicks this season, the second-most in Rams history.
Cardinals CB Garrett Williams was evaluated for a concussion in the second half. RB James Conner was consistent despite a knee injury, but had just four ineffective carries before being shut down.
Rams RT Rob Havenstein sat out practice this week with a shoulder injury. The veteran missed his fifth game of the season.
The Rams have won three straight and 11 of their last 15 over Seattle. The Cardinals finish at home against the 49ers.
Reporting by the Associated Press.
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