Thursday, October 4, 2012 08:20 PM (ET)

Recap: Rams 17, Cardinals 3

SportsDirect Inc. staff
Oct 4, 2012


Rams 17, Cardinals 3: Sam Bradford threw a pair of touchdown passes, including a 51-yarder to rookie Chris Givens early in the fourth quarter, as St. Louis handed Arizona its first loss of the season while remaining perfect at home.

After connecting with Lance Kendricks on a 7-yard scoring play on the opening drive of the game for the Rams' first offensive TD in three contests, Bradford hit Givens with a long pass down the left sideline 3:11 into the fourth for a 17-3 lead. Bradford completed 7 of 21 passes for 141 yards with one interception.

St. Louis (3-2), which halted a seven-game home losing streak against NFC West-rival Arizona, stopped the Cardinals on 4th-and-goal with just under 5 1/2 minutes remaining to seal its third victory in as many home games this year. The Rams, who had lost 10 of 11 overall to the Cardinals, already have surpassed last season's win total.

Rookie Greg Zuerlein kicked a 53-yard field goal and Steven Jackson gained 76 yards on 18 carries for St. Louis, which is over the .500 mark for the first time since it was 4-3 in November 2006. Zuerlein is a perfect 13-for-13 on field goals this season, with four kicks of over 50 yards.

Jay Feely booted a 35-yard field goal, Kevin Kolb was 28 of 50 for 289 yards and Larry Fitzgerald caught eight passes for 92 yards for the Cardinals (4-1), who rushed for only 45 yards after gaining a mere 28 on the ground in last week's overtime triumph over Miami. Kolb, who was sacked eight times by the Dolphins, was brought down by the Rams on nine occasions.

GAME NOTEBOOK: The Rams recorded only six sacks over their first four games this season. ... WR Danny Amendola was one of several players St. Louis lost to injury. Amendola, who caught one pass for 44 yards, exited in the second quarter with a right shoulder injury and was seen on the sideline in the second half with his arm in a sling. S Quintin Mikell (head) and LB Mario Haggan (thigh) also were hurt in the victory. ... Fitzgerald has caught a pass in 122 consecutive games, eclipsing Mel Gray's franchise record.


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