Week 6
Arizona Cardinals at Los Angeles Rams
October 18, 2026
SoFi Stadium
NFC West Rivalry
Cardinals–Rams
Old NFL blood, new desert fire
One of the NFL's oldest matchups, pairing two franchises that have each survived nearly a century and multiple relocations. Since 2002 they have been NFC West division rivals, meeting twice every regular season.
The Rivalry
The roots reach back to the league's early decades, when the Cardinals were in Chicago and the Rams in Cleveland — both among the oldest surviving NFL clubs. Across the years the two have crisscrossed the map, the Cardinals moving from Chicago to St. Louis to Arizona and the Rams from Cleveland to Los Angeles to St. Louis and back to Los Angeles. The 2002 realignment locked them into the NFC West, turning an occasional opponent into a twice-yearly divisional fight. The Rams have generally held the upper hand in the all-time series, but the games have produced lopsided swings in both directions.
What's at Stake
Every meeting carries NFC West implications — wins here directly shape who takes the division and who chases a wild card. The geographic angle stretches the modern Southwest: Arizona's fast-growing desert metro against Los Angeles, the NFL's largest media market.
Famous Moments
- 1975 — The Rams beat the Cardinals 35-23 in an NFC Divisional playoff game.
- 2016 — Arizona posted its largest win in the series, routing the Rams 44-6.
- 2018 — The Rams answered with a 34-0 shutout, their biggest victory over the Cardinals.
- 2021 — The Rams won the NFC Wild Card game 34-11.
- 2022 — That Rams team capped its season by winning Super Bowl LVI.
The Cardinals–Rams Games in 2026
The Two Teams
NFC West
Arizona Cardinals
State Farm Stadium · Glendale
Founded in 1898, the Cardinals are the oldest continuously operating professional football franchise in the United States.
NFC West
Los Angeles Rams
SoFi Stadium · Inglewood
Champions in Cleveland, St. Louis and Los Angeles, the Rams have won two Super Bowls and returned to LA in 2016.
Plan the Trip
This game showcases two destinations worth a trip. In Arizona, the Cardinals host at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, a retractable-roof venue with a roll-out natural grass field. In Los Angeles, the Rams play at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, a striking modern stadium under a translucent canopy.
Frequently Asked Questions: Cardinals–Rams
The two teams first met in 1937. One of the NFL's oldest matchups, pairing two franchises that have each survived nearly a century and multiple relocations. Since 2002 they have been NFC West division rivals, meeting twice every regular season.
Every meeting carries NFC West implications — wins here directly shape who takes the division and who chases a wild card. The geographic angle stretches the modern Southwest: Arizona's fast-growing desert metro against Los Angeles, the NFL's largest media market.
Yes — they meet 2 times in the 2026 NFL season. The game pages, each with a fan-travel guide, are linked on this page.
Arizona Cardinals host at State Farm Stadium in Glendale; Los Angeles Rams play at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood.
