Ahkello Witherspoon executed a crucial last-minute interception, securing the Rams' victory over Arizona with a score of 13-9.

The Los Angeles Rams faced significant challenges on offense throughout the second half, while their defense managed to hold on just enough to maintain a slim lead. In the final minute, Arizona pressured Los Angeles into their own end zone, requiring only one decisive play to secure a victory. However, Ahkello Witherspoon and the Rams managed to cling to their advantage, positioning themselves on the verge of another NFC West title.

With just 37 seconds remaining, Witherspoon executed a remarkable diving interception on a deflected pass in the end zone, allowing the Rams to narrowly secure a 13-9 win over the Cardinals on Saturday night. Puka Nacua recorded 129 receiving yards, and Kyren Williams contributed the sole touchdown for the Rams (10-6), who persevered through a challenging offensive performance and survived a tense fourth quarter, marking their fifth consecutive victory. “To be honest, we didn’t perform exceptionally well,” stated Matthew Stafford, who threw for 189 yards in the Rams’ ninth win out of their last eleven games. “Our running and passing games were not effective, but we managed to secure the win and score enough points.” 

Next weekend, the Rams will host Seattle (9-7) in their regular-season finale, with the possibility of clinching coach Sean McVay’s fourth division title beforehand. If the Bills, Browns, Vikings, Commanders, and 49ers collectively achieve three wins—or two wins and a tie—over the next two days, Los Angeles will be crowned NFC West champions based on their strength of schedule, regardless of the outcome against Seattle. Should the Rams not receive that assistance this week, they still maintain control of the division race: the Seahawks must defeat the Rams and rely on multiple teams for support to claim the West and prevent the Rams from securing their sixth playoff berth in eight seasons under McVay. The Rams narrowly avoided a decisive finale against Seattle by overcoming the Cardinals, who delivered a commendable defensive performance just one week after being eliminated from playoff contention.

Kyler Murray recorded 321 passing yards and threw two late interceptions for Arizona (7-9), which could only manage three points from three drives into Rams territory during the fourth quarter. In the final minute, Arizona advanced to the Los Angeles 5-yard line, but the Rams executed an all-out blitz on first down. Murray's quick throw deflected off tight end Trey McBride's helmet, leading to a remarkable interception by Witherspoon in the end zone, which was confirmed by video review despite the ball making contact with the ground while in his possession. "That's just how the NFL operates; you can never be certain," Witherspoon remarked. "I believed I secured it, as my celebration indicated. However, upon seeing the replay, I realized that whenever the ball touches the ground, the outcome is uncertain." McBride achieved both his 100th reception and his first touchdown catch of the season for Arizona, which has now lost five of its last six games. He recorded 12 receptions for 123 yards, while Marvin Harrison Jr. contributed 96 receiving yards. "The ball didn’t bounce our way," stated Arizona coach Jonathan Gannon. "We had possession at the end and thought we were on the verge of victory, but they made a great play. It’s disappointing because we were close, yet not quite there. When we execute our style of play, we can compete with anyone, but that doesn’t hold much weight." Williams' 14th rushing touchdown of the season, scored 3:23 before halftime, initiated the scoring and concluded the Rams' first effective drive. Arizona finally found the end zone midway through the third quarter with a 1-yard reception by McBride, marking his first touchdown on the 98th reception of his record-setting season for a tight end.

The Cardinals reached a score of 10-9 early in the fourth quarter, thanks to Chad Ryland's short field goal following their second consecutive impressive drive. Rams rookie Joshua Karty successfully converted his second field goal with 6:41 remaining in the game. Arizona advanced to the Rams' 40-yard line but was unable to progress further, leading to rookie Kam Kinchens intercepting Murray's fourth-down pass intended for the goal line with 3:02 left on the clock. However, Kinchens inadvertently cost the Rams valuable field position by returning the interception to the 11-yard line instead of simply batting it down, resulting in the Rams' offense punting the ball back to the Cardinals just 1:01 later. "I felt like we were definitely going to win that game," Murray remarked. "We moved down the field, and there was nothing the defense could do to stop us, but in the end, it was an unfortunate turn of events. We were just unlucky." In a notable defensive play, Michael Hoecht blocked Arizona's extra-point attempt in the third quarter. The 6-foot-4 linebacker currently leads the NFL this season with three blocked kicks, marking the second-highest total in Rams history. 

Injury updates for the Cardinals include cornerback Garrett Williams, who was assessed for a concussion during the second half, and running back James Conner, who played despite a knee injury but managed only four ineffective carries before being sidelined. For the Rams, right tackle Rob Havenstein missed the game due to a shoulder injury sustained in practice earlier in the week, marking his fifth absence of the season, while backup Joe Noteboom incurred three holding penalties. 

Looking ahead, the Rams have secured victories in three consecutive games and have won 11 of their last 15 matchups against Seattle. The Cardinals will conclude their season at home against the 49ers.