The Rams entered the year as perhaps the nearest equivalent to a superteam the NFL has witnessed recently. Yet they find themselves at 2-4, having dropped three of their previous four outings and sitting at the bottom of the NFC West. Numerous issues have emerged in rapid succession.

Sunday marked a low point at least temporarily. Los Angeles fell to the division's weakest side, the Cardinals, a squad they had defeated in 16 of the prior 19 matchups, on a day when Arizona failed to reach the end zone. They did not require a touchdown, as Arizona kicker Chad Ryland made six field goals, including the decisive 43-yarder at the final whistle. The contest highlighted contrasting specialists, with the Cardinals boasting an effective one while the Rams lacked any. Following the release of Harrison Mevis after a league-worst four misses in the opening five weeks, Los Angeles turned to Blake Grupe from the Jets practice squad. Grupe suffered an injury on a kickoff return in the opening quarter, leaving the team without a kicker for the remainder. (Mevis, a larger player nicknamed the Thick Kicker or Thiccer, outweighs the 5ft 7in Grupe by roughly 80 pounds.)

The lack of a dedicated kicker influenced proceedings. The Rams attempted a two-point conversion after a second-quarter touchdown rather than risk punter Ethan Evans on an extra point. The Cardinals sacked Matthew Stafford and the play failed. In the third quarter, Los Angeles faced fourth-and-one at the Arizona 27-yard line, normally within field-goal range. (Sean McVay might have gone for it regardless.) Unable to attempt a kick, the Rams ran up the middle and were stopped for a turnover on downs. Arizona responded with three points on the ensuing drive.

Sean McVay's group could still have prevailed. When the Rams tied the score with 42 seconds remaining, McVay did consult punter Evans, who converted the extra point and showed reliability. Yet the defense collapsed, drawing an unnecessary roughness penalty and allowing Jacoby Brissett to advance Arizona 40 yards for Ryland's game-winner. The final tally stood at 18-16 for Arizona, a major setback at home.

Multiple problems have surfaced. Star defensive end Myles Garrett, widely regarded as the top defender, remains sidelined while recovering from knee surgery. Future Hall of Fame tackle Aaron Donald emerged from retirement and has appeared like a player returning after years away. The Rams defended the run solidly here but had allowed the sixth-most rushing yards entering the matchup.

Meanwhile, Stafford has resembled his MVP form in just one contest, a Week 2 victory over the Giants. Despite facing less pressure than any other quarterback, per Sports Reference, he has struggled to create his typical plays. He has hurried throws, posting a career-low 2.2-second average time to throw. Puka Nacua has appeared in only four games, and Davante Adams, filling the top receiver role, exited Sunday with a possible knee issue. The situation appears to unravel quickly for a squad once viewed as a Super Bowl contender.

Limited positive developments exist for the Rams, yet one stands out: the Chargers fell to 0-6 against the Chiefs, leaving Los Angeles with the superior record among SoFi Stadium tenants. The two teams meet again in two weeks, a contest unlikely to suit the timid.

MVP of the week

CJ Stroud, quarterback, Houston Texans. The 25-year-old delivered his strongest outing of the season in a 34-31 victory over the Jaguars in London, watched by Houston fans early in the morning. Stroud directed a winning field-goal drive after Jacksonville's Cam Little tied the score late with a 60-yard kick. The drive capped a steady performance that included an interception but featured flashes of earlier dynamism. Stroud completed 24 of 34 passes for 312 yards and three touchdowns without being sacked. His top play came with receiver Jaylin Noel, who gained 50 yards to set up a key Houston score before halftime and also caught a touchdown. New addition Marvin Harrison Jr secured three of four targets for 34 yards.

Stat of the week

45. The previously winless Titans ran that many plays in their 26-20 victory over the struggling Colts, who dropped to 2-4 and moved further from contention under head coach Shane Steichen and GM Chris Ballard. It marks the fewest plays by a winning team this season, three fewer than the Seahawks' 48 in their opening Super Bowl rematch against the Patriots. The Titans did not maximize those snaps. Cam Ward needed 22 throws to reach 102 yards yet outperformed Daniel Jones, who absorbed six sacks and threw two interceptions. A blocked punt sparked the rally, and rookie wideout Carnell Tate, the No. 4 draft pick, scored his first career touchdown. Tennessee had dropped 11 straight division games. Jonathan Taylor, a talented back, merits more than his current situation with the Colts.

Video of the week

Dallas Goedert ran a corner route against the Panthers when his route drew attention. Carolina cornerback Will Lee III could not match the Eagles veteran and resorted to holding. Exposed by the route, Lee drew a defensive pass interference flag that awarded the Eagles a first down, yet it proved insufficient in a 25-14 home defeat. Philadelphia dropped its fourth straight and trails in an NFC East that someone must claim.

Elsewhere around the league

-- Caleb Williams appears steady. The Bears' franchise quarterback returned from a right hamstring strain that sidelined him since Week 2 and guided Chicago to a 31-23 win over the Falcons. Williams avoided an incompletion until his 13th attempt three minutes into the second quarter and finished 30 of 36 for 305 yards and a touchdown. He absorbed four sacks, his highest total since a September 2025 loss to the Bears, but handled the game's pace and maintained rhythm despite a quiet run game.

-- The Steelers continue their pattern of contending in the AFC North while remaining difficult to watch. Pittsburgh rallied from a 13-0 deficit to defeat the Buccaneers 26-19 in Tampa and improve to 4-2. Combined with the Browns' late win over the Ravens, the result left three teams tied atop the division with the Bengals (on bye) a half-game back. Aaron Rodgers moved like an older player, taking five sacks and throwing an interception on a screen. The Steelers wasted a first-and-goal at the three-yard line after the Bucs' rookie backup Jalon Daniels threw an interception to former Buc Jamel Dean late in the fourth. After settling for three and allowing a tying drive, Pittsburgh prevailed in overtime. Rodgers tied Peyton Manning for third on the all-time passing touchdown list with 539. He will not catch Drew Brees (571) or Tom Brady (649), but reaching this point highlights his skill and durability. Pittsburgh's Jalen Ramsey recorded two sacks, including the overtime game-ender. A 10-7 record and home wild-card exit may appeal to some in Pittsburgh.

-- One team that is highly entertaining? The Bills, who improved to 5-1 with a 33-30 win in Las Vegas. Josh Allen lacked overwhelming stats but produced a memorable play. On third-and-8 in the red zone during a one-score game, Allen evaded traffic in the backfield for six seconds before delivering a backhanded pass over six Raiders and into Keon Coleman's arms for a touchdown. The play stands on its own. He remains an exceptional talent.