Puka Nacua is putting on a show in the desert and the Rams, powering Los Angeles to a 24-10 halftime lead over Arizona.
Nacua caught six passes on seven targets for 136 yards — including a 28-yard touchdown with 12 seconds left in the half.
It seemed like each one of Nacua’s receptions was particularly impressive, with the third-year wideout making contested catches over the middle and on the sideline to help L.A. continue to move the chains.
With an efficient attack, the Rams faced just one first down in the first half, which the club did not convert on its first possession. L.A. got a field goal to cap its first drive, but otherwise has gone right down the field to score touchdowns. The club is averaging 9.6 yards per play, racking up 17 first downs and 306 total yards.
Matthew Stafford has completed 14-of-19 for 197 yards with one TD. Kyren Williams and Blake Corum have combined for 109 rushing yards, with Williams taking eight carries for 61 yards with a TD. Corum has six carries for 48 yards with a score.
On the other side, Jacoby Brissett led the Cardinals to a quick touchdown on Arizona’s first drive, connecting with Marco Wilson for a 19-yard TD. But the Cardinals have not been as effective for the rest of the half, with Brissett finishing the first 30 minutes 13-of-18 for 154 yards with a TD. He’s also the team’s leading rusher with 20 yards on three carries.
On the injury front, Cardinals defensive lineman Bilal Nichols (knee) is questionable to return.
The Rams will receive the second-half kickoff.
Blake Corum has scored a touchdown for the second game in a row and the Rams are on top of the Cardinals.
Corum’s 2-yard touchdown has Los Angeles up 10-7 late in the first quarter against Arizona.
After the Cardinals quickly scored a touchdown with a five-play drive to open the game, the Rams ran it effectively to get down to the red zone in response. But three consecutive incompletions on first-, second-, and third-and-goal led the club to settle for a 26-yard field goal.
But it didn’t take too long for L.A. to get back in the lead. Matthew Stafford connected with Puka Nacua on passes of 18 and 32 yards to put the Rams in Arizona territory.
Then Corum ran it three consecutive times, with his final attempt there being a 2-yard touchdown.
Through two drivers, Corum has six carries for 48 yards with Kyren Williams has three carries for 30 yards.
Rams coach Sean McVay is not traveling with the team to Arizona today.
McVay has an illness and is traveling separately, the team announced. McVay still plans to coach the Rams against the Cardinals tomorrow.
Although the nature of the illness has not been reported, indications are that he is traveling separately primarily as a precaution against getting players sick on the team flight. McVay worked his usual schedule on Friday.
The Rams are 10-point favorites at Arizona on Sunday.
Rams wide receiver Tutu Atwell has not played since Oct. 19 when he injured a hamstring. Coach Sean McVay said on Nov. 24 that he expected Atwell to return for Week 13, that Atwell was “ready to roll.”
Eleven days later, though, Atwell remains on injured reserve. McVay said Friday that Atwell is ruled out for Sunday’s game against the Cardinals.
Atwell will miss his sixth consecutive game.
The Rams have one more week to decide whether to activate Atwell from injured reserve or let him finish the season on injured reserve. McVay indicated earlier this week that it’s about finding a roster spot for Atwell rather than Atwell having had a setback in his recovery.
“I have a lot of love for him and what he’s done and how he’s handled it,” McVay said. “It’s been a unique set of circumstances relative to the timing and figuring out how you get 48 guys up and being able to balance that out relative to how many on offense, how many on defense and your three specialists. That’s not something that we’ve explored or really thought is a possibility, but you never know.”
Atwell signed a $10 million contract in the offseason but has only four catches for 164 yards and a touchdown this season.
The Rams list cornerback Darious Williams (tibia) as doubtful and defensive tackle Poona Ford (calf) as questionable.
The biggest news in Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon’s Friday press conference was that quarterback Kyler Murray will not play for the team again this season, but Gannon also shared some other injury information for Week 14’s game against the Rams.
Wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr.'s status was at the top of that list. Harrison has been ruled out for Sunday because of the heel injury he suffered in last weekend’s loss to the Buccaneers. Harrison had missed the previous two games after having an appendectomy, so this will be his third time out of the lineup in the last four games.
Greg Dortch (chest) will also miss the game, so the Cardinals will be thin at wideout as they try to send the Rams to their second straight loss.
Defensive tackle Walter Nolen (knee), cornerback Max Melton (heel), and safety Dadrion Taylor-Demerson (ankle) are the others out this week while running back Trey Benson (knee) will not be activated from injured reserve.
