Cardinals upset Rams 18-16 with strong defensive effort
Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Oct 19, 2026, 2:14 PM
Last updated Oct 19, 2026
The Arizona Cardinals secured an 18-16 victory over the Los Angeles Rams on October 19, 2026, thanks to a revitalized defensive performance. After struggling defensively in recent weeks, allowing an average of 30 points per game, the Cardinals' defense adjusted their strategy, increasing their blitz rate significantly. This change thwarted Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford, limiting him to a challenging game marked by pressure and turnovers. The defensive turnaround comes after a week of difficult discussions among the coaching staff and players about improving their performance. The Cardinals aim to build on this momentum in upcoming games.
- •Cardinals improve blitz strategy, increasing pressure on Stafford.
- •Cardinals' defense allowed Rams to score only 16 points.
- •Stafford struggled with pressure, completing only 5 of 9 passes under duress.
- •This was the Cardinals' biggest defensive improvement this season.
- •The Rams faced their lowest offensive score on U.S. soil in over a year.
- 2:14 PMYahoo Sports — How Cardinals defense fixed its woes in stunning upset of Rams
"Cardinals defensive coordinator Nick Rallis entered this week on the hot seat. This is how he turned his defense around in an 18-16 upset of the Rams.
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