The Rams vs Cardinals matchup is an NFC West rivalry between the Los Angeles Rams and Arizona Cardinals. Through the 2025 season, the Rams lead the all-time series 53-41-2, including postseason meetings. The teams are scheduled to meet twice during the 2026 regular season: October 18 at SoFi Stadium and November 15 at State Farm Stadium.
Key Takeaways
- The Rams and Cardinals are NFC West division rivals.
- Los Angeles leads the all-time series 53-41-2 through the 2025 season.
- The Rams won both meetings between the teams during the 2025 season.
- The two teams are scheduled to meet twice again in 2026.
- The first 2026 meeting is October 18 at SoFi Stadium, followed by a November 15 game in Arizona.
Rams vs Cardinals: What Makes This Matchup Important?
The Rams vs Cardinals matchup is a divisional NFL game between two teams from the NFC West. Because they play in the same division, they normally meet twice during the regular season, with one game at each team’s home stadium.
Divisional games carry added importance because they can affect the NFC West standings and the playoff picture. The rivalry also has a long history that goes back to 1937, when the Rams were known as the Cleveland Rams and the Cardinals franchise was based in Chicago.
Today, the matchup features the Los Angeles Rams and Arizona Cardinals, with games alternating between SoFi Stadium in Inglewood and State Farm Stadium in Glendale.
NFC West Division Rivalry
The Rams and Cardinals are joined in the NFC West by the San Francisco 49ers and Seattle Seahawks. Their shared division creates a regular schedule of familiar opponents and gives the Rams-Cardinals series a natural regional and divisional connection.
The teams have met 96 times through the 2025 season, including two postseason games. Los Angeles has won 53, Arizona has won 41, and two meetings ended in ties.
Rams vs Cardinals Head-to-Head Record
All-Time Series
The historical series currently favors the Rams.
| Category | Record |
| Total meetings | 96 |
| Rams wins | 53 |
| Cardinals wins | 41 |
| Ties | 2 |
| Rams playoff wins | 2 |
| Cardinals playoff wins | 0 |
These figures include the franchises’ historical identities, so the record covers the Rams’ Cleveland and St. Louis eras as well as the current Los Angeles era.
The series has included several periods when one team controlled the matchup for multiple games. More recently, Los Angeles has had a strong run against Arizona, although the Cardinals have also produced notable wins, including a 41-10 victory over the Rams in September 2024.
Recent Series Results
The recent results show how quickly this matchup can change from one season to another.
| Date | Winner | Score |
| Jan. 4, 2026 | Rams | Rams 37-20 |
| Dec. 7, 2025 | Rams | Rams 45-17 |
| Dec. 28, 2024 | Rams | Rams 13-9 |
| Sept. 15, 2024 | Cardinals | Cardinals 41-10 |
| Nov. 26, 2023 | Rams | Rams 37-14 |
| Oct. 15, 2023 | Rams | Rams 26-9 |
Rams vs Cardinals Recent Scores
The two most recent meetings came during the 2025 season.
2025 Matchup 1
The Rams visited Arizona on December 7, 2025, and won 45-17. Matthew Stafford threw for 281 yards and three touchdowns, while Rams running back Blake Corum rushed for 128 yards and two touchdowns. Puka Nacua also produced a major receiving performance with 167 yards and two touchdowns.
That game was particularly notable for its 28-point final margin and Los Angeles’ 42-10 lead entering the fourth quarter.
2025 Matchup 2
The teams met again in Week 18 on January 4, 2026, at SoFi Stadium. Los Angeles won 37-20. Stafford finished with 259 passing yards and four touchdowns, while Puka Nacua caught a touchdown pass.
Arizona briefly moved ahead 20-16 in the third quarter, but Los Angeles scored the final 21 points of the game. The Rams finished the 2025 regular season 12-5, while Arizona finished 3-14.
Rams vs Cardinals 2026 Schedule
The Rams and Cardinals are scheduled to meet twice during the 2026 regular season, just as NFC West opponents normally do.
Week 6: Cardinals at Rams
Date: October 18, 2026
Time: 4:05 p.m. ET
Location: SoFi Stadium, Inglewood, California
Matchup: Arizona Cardinals at Los Angeles Rams
The NFL’s current schedule lists this as the first Rams-Cardinals meeting of the 2026 regular season.
Week 10: Rams at Cardinals
Date: November 15, 2026
Time: 4:05 p.m. ET
Location: State Farm Stadium, Glendale, Arizona
Matchup: Los Angeles Rams at Arizona Cardinals
The second meeting moves to Arizona in Week 10. The NFL schedule lists CBS as the network for the game.
Because the two games are at different stadiums, each team receives one home matchup in the regular-season series.
Rams and Cardinals in 2026
As of the end of Week 3 of the 2026 regular season, both teams are 1-2.
Los Angeles Rams
The Rams entered the 2026 season under head coach Sean McVay. Their first three regular-season results were a 27-7 loss to San Francisco, a 28-6 win over the Giants, and a 30-26 loss to Denver.
The Rams’ current schedule also includes games against Philadelphia, Buffalo, Arizona, Las Vegas, the Chargers, Washington, and several other opponents later in the season.
Arizona Cardinals
The Cardinals also began 2026 at 1-2 after three games. They opened with a 26-14 win over the Los Angeles Chargers before losing 31-7 to Seattle and 36-30 to San Francisco.
Arizona enters the 2026 season with Mike LaFleur as head coach. The Cardinals’ schedule includes both a home game against Los Angeles and a road game at SoFi Stadium.
How the Rams vs Cardinals Rivalry Has Changed
This rivalry has lasted through several franchise eras and relocations. The Rams began as the Cleveland Rams before moving to Los Angeles, later becoming the St. Louis Rams, and eventually returning to Los Angeles.
The Cardinals have also gone through multiple locations and identities, including their time in Chicago and St. Louis before settling in Arizona.
That long history explains why modern Rams vs Cardinals statistics include games involving earlier versions of both franchises. Pro Football Reference lists the Rams’ franchise history from 1937 onward and records 96 meetings against Arizona.
The recent portion of the rivalry has featured several large-margin games. For example, Arizona won 41-10 in 2024, while Los Angeles responded with wins of 45-17 and 37-20 in the two 2025 meetings.
Rams vs Cardinals Playoff History
The teams have also met in the postseason.
The Rams have won both of their playoff meetings against the Cardinals. One of the most memorable recent postseason matchups occurred during the 2021 season, when Los Angeles defeated Arizona 34-11 in the NFC Wild Card Round.
That game was played at SoFi Stadium and was part of the Rams’ eventual championship season.
While regular-season meetings make up the vast majority of the series, a playoff matchup adds another layer to the history between these NFC West teams.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who has the better all-time Rams vs Cardinals record?
The Los Angeles Rams lead the all-time series 53-41-2 through the 2025 season. The series includes 96 meetings and two postseason games. The Rams have won both playoff meetings.
When is Rams vs Cardinals in 2026?
The teams are scheduled to meet twice in 2026. The first game is October 18 at SoFi Stadium, while the second is November 15 at State Farm Stadium. Both games are currently scheduled for 4:05 p.m. ET.
Who won the last Rams vs Cardinals game?
The Rams won the most recent meeting, defeating the Cardinals 37-20 on January 4, 2026, at SoFi Stadium. Matthew Stafford threw four touchdown passes in the game.
Are the Rams and Cardinals in the same division?
Yes. Both teams compete in the NFC West, alongside the San Francisco 49ers and Seattle Seahawks. Their divisional status is why they normally play each other twice every regular season.
Where is the Rams vs Cardinals game played?
The 2026 series is split between the two teams’ home stadiums. The October 18 game is scheduled for SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, while the November 15 meeting is scheduled for State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.
Conclusion
The Rams vs Cardinals rivalry combines a long NFL history with a modern NFC West division matchup.
Through the 2025 season, Los Angeles held a 53-41-2 advantage in the all-time series, and the Rams won both meetings during the 2025 season.
The rivalry continued in 2026 with two scheduled games: Arizona visited Los Angeles on October 18, followed by the Rams traveling to Arizona on November 15.
Those games give fans two opportunities to see these longtime division opponents meet during the 2026 regular season.
I am Harper L. James is a writer at Grameases.com, focusing on English grammar, similes, metaphors, and simple explanations that make learning English easy and practical.
