WOLFORD, RAMS GET JOB DONE
INGLEWOOD
There are easier circumstances for a quarterback to make his NFL debut.
Rams 18, Cardinals 7
John Wolford did not have much choice, only opportunity, the Rams’ playoff fate hanging in the balance.
Despite a pro resume that included only exhibition NFL games and a stint in a defunct league, Wolford started in place of injured Jared Goff on Sunday and led the Rams back to the postseason.
After having his first pass intercepted, Wolford settled down and played without error as the Rams defeated the Arizona Cardinals 18-7 at SoFi Stadium.
“I had a lot of fun,” Wolford said. “A little anxious going in, if I’m being 100 percent honest.
“Once I got rollin’, I was just playing football again.”
After a one-year absence, the Rams (10-6) are in in the playoffs for the third time in coach Sean McVay’s four seasons. They are seeded sixth in the NFC and will play the third-seeded Seattle Seahawks (12-4) in a wild-card game on Saturday in Seattle.
The Rams had wasted opportunities to clinch a playoff berth against the New York Jets and the Seahawks. But they ended their two-game losing streak and came through on Sunday with another strong defensive effort that included Troy Hill’s interception return for a touchdown. The victory — the second in a row that did not include a touchdown by the offense — gives the Rams some muchneeded momentum.
“It has certainly been a lot of highs, and then there’s been some tough times that we’ve had to really navigate through,” McVay said of the season. “But I love the way that the team handled this week. I love the way they rallied around John. ... Now let’s go see if we can go do something special.”
Goff, recovering from surgery on his right thumb, was on the sideline in a warm-up suit on Sunday. He had undergone the procedure last Monday with the aim of being available for the playoffs. McVay declined to say whether Wolford would start against the Seahawks — “We’ll talk about that,” he said — in what will be the third game between the NFC West rivals.
The Rams defeated the Seahawks, 23-16, on Nov. 15 at SoFi Stadium. They lost to the Seahawks, 20-9, on Dec. 16 at Lumen Field.
“Everybody is 0-0 right now,” said Hill, whose 84-yard interception near the end of the first half gave the Rams a lead that was not threatened.
Edge rusher Leonard Floyd, who had a sack that pushed his season total to 101⁄ 2, is looking forward to playing the Seahawks. Floyd has five sacks against the Seahawks.
Wolford, signed by the Rams in 2019 after he played eight games in the Alliance of American Football, showed some mental fortitude on Sunday.
Linebacker Jordan Hicks intercepted Wolford’s first pass on the Rams’ second play. The Cardinals converted the turnover into a touchdown.
“Not the ideal first pass for him, but I did think sometimes you can really learn about guys with how they respond,” McVay said. “I
thought he settled in nicely and in essence we were going to put the game in his hands offensively and I thought he did a nice job.”
Wolford completed 22 of 38 passes for 231 yards. He had several key completions and he also scrambled for first downs, while rushing for a team-best 56 yards in six carries.
Wolford, however, could not get the Rams into the end zone, which is on the verge of becoming a trend for a team that once boasted one of the league’s most prolific offenses.
Wolford twice engineered drives inside the 5-yard line. One stalled because of penalties. Another ended when running back Cam Akers fumbled.
But the defense recorded a safety when the Cardinals were called for a holding penalty in the end zone. Matt Gay’s three field goals and Hill’s 84-yard touchdown — his third touchdown this season — proved more than enough for a team that was playing not only without Goff, but without top receiver Cooper Kupp and defensive lineman Michael Brockers, both of whom are on the reserve/COVID-19 list.
“They were unbelievable all day,” McVay said of the defense. “They’ve been unbelievable all year. They’ve really been the strength of this team.”
Klein writes for the L.A. Times.