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The Rams lost their 14th game of the season, to drop to 1-14 after a 31-10 domination by the Arizona Cardinals at the University of Phoenix Stadium.

The Rams held the Cardinals to a 0-0 tie after the end of the first quarter but the Cardinals dominated the second quarter with 17 points that was more than enough to seal the victory over the Rams.  The Rams defense gave up 3 scoring drives in a row right before half time.  The Rams only had two scoring drives in the entire game and the Cardinals coasted to victory in the second half.

More analysis after the jump!

The Rams were without star running back Steven Jackson with complications from his bulging disk in his back and was inactive.  Jackson was playing through the injury for the past 3 weeks, but he couldn’t go this week.  Without Jackson, the Rams offense was younger and more inexperienced than any week this season and it showed.  The Rams started rookie Keith Null at quarterback, rookie Chris Ogbonnaya got the bulk of the carries at running back and rookie Brandon Gibson got the bulk of the catches at wide receiver.  All three players were inconsistent throughout the game and Null struggled the most at the most difficult and important position.  Null has the arm to make all the throws, but often floats the pass or overthrows his receiver.  Null’s one touchdown pass was a floated overthrown pass to a wide open Gibson that required an acrobatic catch to haul in the touchdown.  Ogbonnaya was largely successful in 9 carries, going for a 5 yard average.  Brandon Gibson led the Rams with 51 yards receiving.

The Rams struggled on defense with the exception of Chris Long who quite possibly had the greatest game of his career.  Long had 1 sack and forced fumble, but he was a force in the run and pass rush all game.  The rest of the defense was over-matched without James Hall and Leonard Little and the rest of the injured starters.  The Arizona Cardinals had Anquan Boldin matched up on street free agent Danny Gorrer almost all game and Boldin responded with 8 catches for 116 yards.  Gorrer’s one chance to change the game went through his hands as he made a perfect play on a quick out and had nothing but green space between himself and the end zone and dropped the ball.  The fact that the Rams had Ron Bartell, Danny Gorrer and Justin King as their corners and had no chance against the Arizona Cardinals vaunted passing game.  Long did all he could along the defensive line and one good effort play by LaJuan Ramsey got a sack, but most of the game, Kurt Warner had time to pick apart the Rams depleted secondary.

The Cardinals have more skill at almost every position than the Rams and it showed on Sunday as the Cardinals easily dispatched the Rams for the Rams 14th loss.