Chad Ryland kicked six field goals in an 18-16 Arizona Cardinals win over the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday, handing the former Super Bowl favourites a rare NFC West defeat and pushing the Rams to the bottom of the division.
Ryland scored every point for the Cardinals at SoFi Stadium, converting a career-high six field goals including the game-winner as time expired. The Cardinals, who had just two wins last season, now have two victories in 2025, both on the road against Los Angeles teams. They also beat the Los Angeles Chargers in week one. The win lifts Arizona above the Rams in a division that also includes the unbeaten San Francisco 49ers and defending champions Seattle Seahawks.
The Rams began the season as the NFL's clear Super Bowl favourites but have faltered in recent weeks. After an overtime loss to the Buffalo Bills last Monday, they cut kicker Harrison Mevis and signed Blake Grupe from the New York Jets’ practice squad. Grupe opened the scoring with a field goal but injured his knee on the ensuing kickoff tackle. Punter Ethan Evans took over kicking duties later, adding an extra point after a touchdown by Colby Parkinson with 47 seconds remaining to put the Rams briefly ahead.
Arizona responded quickly with Ryland’s sixth successful field goal to clinch the upset. Rams head coach Sean McVay said, “We’ve got to be able to figure it out and it starts with me.” The defeat leaves the Rams at the bottom of the NFC West standings.
Meanwhile, the Kansas City Chiefs remained unbeaten with a 22-6 win over the Los Angeles Chargers. Quarterback Patrick Mahomes reached 100 regular-season wins in his 131st start, tying Tom Brady’s record. Running back Kenneth Walker, the Super Bowl MVP signed by the Chiefs this season, rushed for 128 yards and two touchdowns. Walker now leads the NFL with 665 rushing yards, a record for a player’s first five games with a new team. Kansas City will visit Walker’s former team, the Seattle Seahawks, next Sunday. The Chiefs and Minnesota Vikings are 5-0, while the 49ers remain unbeaten after five games.
The Philadelphia Eagles continue to struggle amid injuries and recent losses. Quarterback Jalen Hurts was placed on injured reserve after it was revealed he played last week’s loss to Jacksonville with a superficial blood clot in his calf that had since moved. Hurts will miss at least four weeks, with Tanner McKee starting at home against the Carolina Panthers. The Panthers won 25-14, with tight end Tommy Tremble scoring two touchdowns. The Eagles have now lost four straight games for the first time since head coach Nick Sirianni took over in 2021. Offensive linemen Lane Johnson and Cam Jurgens both left the team earlier this month. The Eagles face three of their divisional rivals in the next three weeks.
In London, the Houston Texans edged the Jacksonville Jaguars 34-31 in the highest-scoring London game since 2015. Ka’imi Fairbairn’s late field goal secured the win. Jaguars rookie Travis Hunter made history by becoming the first player since 2002 to record a touchdown catch and an interception in the same game. Hunter’s interception set up a field goal that tied the game before Houston’s winner. The Texans improved to 2-3 while Jacksonville dropped to 4-2.
The Cleveland Browns won a tight AFC North clash with the Baltimore Ravens 13-10, aided by a late fumble from Ravens running back Derrick Henry. Browns running back Audric Estime, who started the week on Minnesota’s practice squad, scored the decisive touchdown. Kicker Andre Szmyt added a game-winning field goal. The Browns, now 4-2, lead the AFC North on a tiebreaker. Meanwhile, the Pittsburgh Steelers came from behind to beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 26-19 in overtime.
The Tennessee Titans earned their first win of the season with a 26-20 fourth-quarter comeback against the Indianapolis Colts. The only winless teams remain the Miami Dolphins at 0-5 and the Los Angeles Chargers at 0-6.
According to BBC Sports.
