Cardinals crush Rams, 44-6, in season finale

Mercifully, the Rams season has come to an end.

They finish 4-12 in their return to Los Angeles after suffering a 44-6 loss to the Cardinals.

T.J. McDonald intercepted Drew Stanton, the Rams took over at their 14-yard line and ran two plays before the clock ran out.

Hardly a Rams fan was left inside the Coliseum to see it end.

The Rams said they were motivated and would play for pride in the season finale against the Arizona Cardinals.

They looked anything but inspired on Sunday at the Coliseum in a 44-6 loss that proved a fitting end to a lost season.

The Rams finished 4-12 in their return to Southern California. They lost 11 of their final 12 games and won only one game at home.

The search for a new coach to replace the fired Jeff Fisher will ramp up this week.

Rams quarterback Jared Goff, the No. 1 pick in the draft, was sacked seven times and absorbed numerous hits. He finished 0-7 as a starter.

Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer, playing at the Coliseum for the first time since his last regular-season game at USC in 2002, completed 20 of 38 passes for 255 yards and three touchdowns, with one interception, as the Cardinals finished 7-8-1.

The Cardinals extended a 16-6 halftime lead with Palmer’s touchdown pass to tight end Darren Fells and Kerwynn Williams’ short touchdown run.

Palmer’s touchdown pass to Larry Fitzgerald early in the fourth quarter made the score, 37-6, and cornerback Justin Bethel intercepted a pass by backup quarterback Sean Mannion and returned it 68 yards for a touchdown.

Goff completed 13 of 20 passes for 120 yards.

Running back Todd Gurley needed 155 yards to reach 1,000 for the season. He gained only 40 yards in 14 carries.

The Rams generated only 81 yards in the first half.

Chandler Catanzaro kicked a field goal on the Cardinals’ first possession and then increased the lead after back-to-back turnovers in the second quarter.

Rams safety Maurice Alexander intercepted a pass to give the Rams a first down at the Cardinals’ 29.

On the next play, Goff passed to his left to receiver Pharoh Cooper, who had stepped back behind the line of scrimmage. Cooper lofted a pass toward the right sideline but it was intercepted by defensive back Harlan Miller and returned 51 yards to the Rams’ 35.

The Cardinals kicked another field goal for a 6-0 lead.

They increased the margin to 13 points on Palmer’s short touchdown pass to receiver Jeremy Ross.

The Rams appeared to score a touchdown when Goff lined up under center and then walked to his right. The ball was snapped to Tavon Austin, who ran 38 yards around the left side to the end zone. But the play was nullified because of illegal motion.

The Rams settled for Greg Zuerlein’s 43-yard field goal, pulling them to within 13-3.

On the ensuing possession, Chase Reynolds blocked a punt to give the Rams the ball at the Cardinals’ 19. But the Rams could not take full advantage and, once again, Zuerlein came on to kick a field goal.

The Cardinals used the final seconds to drive down the field, getting an assist when cornerback Trumaine Johnson was penalized for a late hit. Catanzaro kicked a field goal as time expired for a 16-6 lead.

The Cardinals will take over on downs.

Todd Gurley rushed for 21 yards in four carries and Malcolm Brown rushed for four yards in one carry.

Sean Mannion’s fourth-down pass to Brian Quick fell incomplete.

The Rams have produced 120 yards of offense to the Cardinals’ 329. They have nine penalties for 61 yards.

Sean Mannion got his chance at quarterback, then threw an interception returned for a touchdown.

Mannion intended for Pharoh Cooper but Justin Bethel jumped the route and returned the pick 68 yards and the Cardinals lead the Rams, 44-6, with 8:06 remaining in the game.

Mannion, in his first action this season, completed three-of-five passes for 19 yards.

Tavon Austin fumbled, the Cardinals recovered the ball on the Rams’ 19-yard line and converted it into a touchdown.

Larry Fitzgerald caught a five-yard pass for a touchdown, as the Rams’ young defensive backs start arguing over coverage.

The Cardinals lead the Rams, 37-6, with 11:35 remaining in the game as Cardinals fans chant “Larry! Larry!”

The scoring drive covered 19 yards in six plays and took 1:48.

Jared Goff has been sacked seven times.

Fans are filing out of the Coliseum as the fourth quarter begins.

The Cardinals went three-and-out.

The smartest people in the stadium are those exiting, salvaging what’s left of their Sunday.

Jared Goff was sacked twice and the Rams punted.

Interim Coach John Fassel has kept it somewhat interesting with a few trick plays today. The latest, Goff and the offense ran off the field begging to go for it on fourth and one.

Johnny Hekker came on in punt formation and completed a four-yard pass to Chase Reynolds.

Nevertheless, the drive stalled and Goff continues to get beat up - badly - behind an offensive line that doesn’t seem that interested in protecting him. Goff has been sacked six times.

Cardinasl sent out their punt team before Carson Palmer trotted back onto the field on fourth down.

Palmer completed a 32-yard pass to J.J. Nelson that held up after review to setup Kerwynn Williams’ one-yard run for a touchdown

The Cardinals lead the Rams, 30-6, with 8:17 remaining in the third quarter. The scoring drive covered 57 yards in eight plays and took 3:28.

The Cardinals have 297 yards of offense. The Rams have 50.

Cornerback Trumaine Johnson walked off the field with the training staff during the drive.

Another three-and-out and it looked so similar to the many that have come before it.

Jared Goff was sacked and fumbled out of bounds on third down.

Todd Gurley was tackled at the line of scrimmage and Goff attempted a deep pass that fell incomplete.

A few boos started to echo through the Coliseum after the overthrow.

One play.

Carson Palmer completed a 37-yard pass to Darren Fells for a touchdown.

The Cardinals lead the Rams, 23-6, with 13:11 remaining in the third quarter.

Patrick Peterson returned Johnny Hekker’s punt 17 yards.

That should about do it for the Rams’ season.

Jared Goff got crushed, again.

The Rams went three-and-out to start the second half.

Brian Quick dropped a pass and then Todd Gurley was tackled at the line of scrimmage.

Goff has been sacked three times and is a little bit slower to get up after every hit.

This game is ugly.

With one second remaining the first half, Trumaine Johnson was called for unnecessary roughness and the Cardinals moved into field-goal territory, kicking a 47-yard field goal to take a 16-6 lead into halftime.

The scoring drive covered 46 yards in seven plays and took 48 seconds.

The Cardinals have 203 yards of offense. The Rams have 77.

After four punts and an interception, the Rams put together back-to-back series that resulted in field goals.

The Cardinals lead the Rams, 13-6, in the second quarter. The scoring drive covered one yard in four plays and took 1:11.

Yes, one yard in four plays. Chase Reynolds blocked a punt to give the Rams great field position on the Cardinals’ 19-yard line.

A 10-yard holding call against Jamon Brown is what really stalled the drive, nullifying a 13-yard completion by Jared Goff to Lance Kendricks.

Chase Reynolds made a great play on special teams and blocked the Cardinals’ punt.

Hopefully the Rams’ offense doesn’t give it away on the next play.

The Cardinals went three-and-out and the Rams will have the ball at the Cardinals’ 19-yard line.

The Rams had nothing to lose, but opted to kick a field goal instead of going for it on fourth-and-three at the Cardinals’ 19-yard line.

The Cardinals lead the Rams, 13-3, with 2:34 remaining in the first half. The scoring drive covered 56 yards in nine plays and took 5:08.

It was one of the Rams’ most eventful drives in recent games.

Todd Gurley caught a short pass on third down and turned it into a 29-yard gain.

Tavon Austin took a direct snap and rushed for 38 yards and a touchdown on the next play — but in true Rams fashion, it was called back because of a penalty. Jared Goff, who was not even part of the play, was called for illegal motion.

Michael Thomas caught a 15-yard pass to put the Rams safely in field goal territory.

Fans in the Coliseum, appearing bored by football, started the wave just as Arizona’s Carson Palmer completed a four-yard pass to Jeremy Ross for a touchdown.

The Cardinals lead the Rams, 13-0, with 7:42 to play in the second quarter. The scoring drive covered 65 yards in seven plays and took 3:13.

The Rams’ defense looked uninspired during the drive as Palmer completed a 16-yard and 20-yard pass and Kerwynn Williams rushed for 21 yards.

The Rams went three-and-out.

Johnny Hekker, back at it again, punted for a fourth time.

The Rams have gained five yards in five possessions.

I’m not sure what else to tell you all, except this is really bad.

Rams defensive back Troy Hill is questionable to return because of a knee injury.

It’s difficult choose between praising the Rams for trying something new or to shaking your head at them for giving away another opportunity created by the defense.

Maurice Alexander intercepted Carson Palmer and made a 19-yard return to the Cardinals’ 29-yard line.

The next play, Jared Goff completed a short lateral to Pharoh Cooper, who threw deep across the field to Todd Gurley, but the pass was intercepted by Harlan Miller and returned 53 yards to the Rams’ 35-yard line.

The Cardinals ended up kicking a 34-yard field goal and lead the Rams, 6-0, in the second quarter. The scoring drive covered 19 yards in six plays and took 2:05.

Jared Goff was pummeled again and sacked on third down. How the rookie continues to get up is beyond me.

The Rams went three-and-out.

Rinse and repeat.

Todd Gurley rushed for three yards and caught a short pass for no gain.

The Rams have minus four yards after three possessions. The Cardinals have 84.

David Johnson suffered an injury and was assisted off the field by the Cardinals training staff.

The Cardinals punted.

Johnson has rushed for six yards in five carries and has caught three passes for 38 yards.

Johnson was tackled for a three-yard loss by Eugene Sims when he suffered the apparent injury.

The Rams are getting rocked.

Jared Goff was pummeled, again, but this time the Cardinals were called for roughing the passer. (Goff’s throw on the play also was intercepted by D.J. Swearinger, but the play was nullified because of the penalty.)

Pharoh Cooper caught a short pass on third down, but was absolutely crushed and knocked backward by Swearinger on the tackle.

The Rams have gained three yards in two series.

The Rams’ Alec Ogletree knocked down Carson Palmer’s third-down pass, and the Cardinals went three-and-out.

David Johnson rushed for two yards before Palmer threw two incomplete passes.

So the story remains the same for the Rams, so far. The defense plays well. The offense can’t move.

Rams offensive lineman Rodger Saffold is questionable to return because of a concussion.

For the Rams, 2017 started just where 2016 left off.

Three and out.

Brian Quick caught a five-yard pass, Todd Gurley was tackled for a two-yard loss and Jared Goff was sacked on third-and-seven.

Rodger Saffold was injured on the last play, but jogged off the field.

So maybe the Rams didn’t make any New Year’s resolutions, at least where three-and-outs are concerned.

Enthusiasm in the Coliseum is certainly lacking as the Rams and Cardinals kick off in a season finale.

The Cardinals kicked a 32-yard field goal in their opening series and lead the Rams, 3-0, with 10:34 remaining in the first quarter.

The scoring drive covered 61 yards in 10 plays and took 4:26.

David Johnson rushed for seven yards in three carries and Carson Palmer completed four of six passes for 54 yards

Rams interim Coach John Fassel said that several young players who spent most of the season on the practice squad would play against the Cardinals.

Receiver Paul McRoberts and defensive back Blake Countess were among players who spent a significant portion of the season on the practice squad but played last week against the San Francisco 49ers.

McRoberts, a rookie from Southeast Missouri State, was inserted after Kenny Britt was sidelined because of a shoulder injury.

“It’s a big opportunity to showcase what I can really do on this level and I am thankful for the opportunity, really,” McRoberts said.

Countess, a rookie from Auburn, made 11 tackles, including a sack.

“Being a guy who has been on the practice squad here 10 weeks and got activated and kind of had to wait my turn on special teams and work my way up, so it’s not hard to get up for at all,” Countess said.

Join beat reporter Gary Klein and Lindsey Thiry from the Coliseum sideline before the Rams and Cardinals kickoff in a season finale.

Rams inactive players:

Quarterback Case Keenum

Receiver Kenny Britt

Defensive back Lamarcus Joyner

Guard David Arkin

Guard Cody Wichmann

Tackle Rob Havenstein

Cardinals inactive players:

Quarterback Zac Dysert

Receiver Marquis Bundy

Cornerback Brian Dixon

Offensive tackle D.J. Humphries

Defensive tackle Olsen Pierre

Defensive tackle Ed Stinson

Defensive tackle Robert Nkemdiche

Happy New Year!

The first day of 2017 brings the end of the Rams’ first season in their return to Los Angeles.

Interim Coach John Fassel perhaps said it best this week — maybe the 4-11 Rams, losers of six straight and 10 of their last 11, can start the new year 1-0.

The Cardinals are 6-8-1 and also have been eliminated from the playoffs, so it’s anyone’s guess which team will be most motivated to play in today’s finale.

It’s a crisp 57 degrees and sunny at the Coliseum, with the iconic Hollywood sign visible in the hills from the press box, once again reading “Hollywood” after Angelenos woke to find that it had been changed to “Hollyweed.”

(Harry How / Getty Images)

Tyler Higbee heard the play call in the huddle and sensed opportunity.

Early in the fourth quarter of last week’s loss against the San Francisco 49ers, the Rams’ rookie tight end burst off the line of scrimmage, fought through traffic over the middle and caught a short pass from quarterback Jared Goff for his first NFL touchdown.

“It felt good to get into the end zone,” Higbee said this week, “Now it’s time to get a win.”

On Sunday, Higbee and other members of the 2016 draft class will have a final chance to show their progress when the Rams play the Arizona Cardinals at the Coliseum.

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(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

Todd Gurley has been waiting … and waiting … and waiting.

Likewise Rams coaches, players and fans.

Gurley, the NFL’s offensive rookie of the year in 2015, has failed to break free for a single outstanding performance in a season that ends Sunday at the Coliseum against the Arizona Cardinals.

A year after rushing for 1,106 yards and 10 touchdowns in 13 games, Gurley has run for only 845 yards and six touchdowns in 15 games.

“I’ve been waiting for that one game every game,” Gurley said Friday, adding, “If we could make something happen this weekend, it would definitely be a good feeling.”

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(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

It’s been a long but fast year for Jared Goff.

The Rams’ rookie quarterback led California to a bowl game victory on Dec. 29, 2015, immediately jumped into the NFL pre-draft evaluation process, attended the scouting combine, was selected No. 1 overall in the draft, participated in Rams rookie camp, organized-team activities and training camp and then worked to stay prepared through nine games before starting the last six.

All without much, if any, real break.

Goff’s 12-month whirlwind, punctuated by organizational tumult, ends Sunday when the Rams play the Arizona Cardinals at the Coliseum.

The Rams are 4-11. They have lost 10 of their last 11 games and have won only one home game.

The franchise in the next month or so will hire a new coach to replace the fired Jeff Fisher, but Goff said this week that he was not looking ahead to the impending changes.

“I’m just focused on beating the Cardinals right now,” he said.

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