Rams defeat Cardinals, will face Tom Brady in Divisional round

The Los Angeles Rams dominated the final game of Super Wild Card Weekend from start to finish to easily defeat the Arizona Cardinals 34-11 on the first Monday Night Football in postseason history.

It was a complete party at SoFi Stadium, site of the upcoming Super Bowl LVI on February 13 that represented quarterback Matthew Stafford's first career playoff win, leaving the all-time mark for a quarterback to earn his first playoff victory at 186 games.

The Odell Beckham Jr. show

Stafford opened the scoring in the first quarter with a four-yard touchdown pass to Odell Beckham Jr.

OBJ, who came to the Rams this year after being cut by the Cleveland Browns, hauled in his first scoring reception in just his second postseason game, plus in the game Bekcham threw a 40-yard pass complete and had a 31-yard reception, the first to achieve that milestone in elimination games in NFL history.

In the second quarter, after a challenge from head coach Sean McVay, Matthew Stafford was credited with a 1-yard touchdown carry on a QB Sneak, his first touchdown on the ground since 2016.

Big mistakes by Kyler Murray

Before halftime, Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray, who had a nightmarish playoff debut, made a very serious mistake as to avoid being tackled in his own end zone, he threw a terrible pass that was easily intercepted by David Long Jr. and returned three yards for touchdown.

Long's interception return was the shortest touchdown return in NFL postseason history.

As early as the third quarter, Stafford included in the box score their star receiver, Cooper Kupp who scored touchdown on a seven-yard reception.

The Cardinals broke the scoreless tie thanks to a two-yard touchdown carry by James Conner, along with a successful two-point conversion.

Budda Baker's Terrible Injury

Before the end of the third period, a chilling moment occurred, as Arizona safety Budda Baker had to leave in an ambulance after receiving a helmet-to-helmet hit from running back Cam Akers, fortunately he is already receiving treatment at a hospital and has consciousness and movement in his four extremities.

The fourth period closed the scoring with three field goals, two by Los Angeles' Matt Gay (37 and 46 yards) and one by Arizona's Matt Prater (55 yards).

Stafford only missed four of the 17 passes he attempted for 202 yards with two touchdown tosses and no interceptions.

Murray hit 19 of 34 passes for 137 yards with no touchdowns and two interceptions.

What's next for the Rams and Cardinals?

The Rams will have the difficult task of visiting the defending champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers and their quarterback Tom Brady in the Divisional Round.

The Cardinals will have to focus their efforts on the offseason after being the last team to go undefeated this season.

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