Palmer hurt; L.A. is rolling
GLENDALE, Ariz. — The Los Angeles Rams return home after two straight road wins, the latest a comeback victory in the desert.
The Arizona Cardinals move from their latest disappointing defeat with a short week of practice and without starting quarterback Carson Palmer.
The Rams improved to 3-1 with their 17-13 victory over the Cardinals on Sunday, their best start since 2006, when they won four of their first five.
After playing three of their first four games on the road, they go back to Los Angeles tied with Seattle for first in the NFC West.
“It’s huge,” Los Angeles head coach Jeff Fisher said. “We’re going home. We get the chance to play in front of our fans, seems like it’s been forever.”
Tavon Austin’s 47-yard punt return set up Case Keenum’s 4-yard touchdown pass to Brian Quick for what proved to be the winning score with 2:36 to play.
“We really felt like we were going to get a punt return at some point during the game,” Fisher said, “and we got it.”
Next for Los Angeles is a home game against Buffalo.
“I think the Coliseum will be rocking,” Keenum said.
The Cardinals (1-3) have already lost as many games as they did all of last season. Now Palmer almost certainly won’t be available after his head slammed to the turf on a sack by Aaron Donald late in Sunday’s game. Palmer was in the concussion protocol, and head coach Bruce Arians doubted there would be any way the quarterback would be ready in time for Thursday night’s game at Levi’s Stadium.
“Probably not,” Arians said. “We’ll be very, very careful with this injury. It is not like a sore wrist or a sore shoulder.”
Nobody seems to doubt the Rams’ decision to start Keenum ahead of No. 1 pick Jared Goff anymore.
“As you can tell by my voice, I’m pretty tired,” Keenum said. “Anytime you go fight like that, and I think we fought in all phases, every phase had a big part in the win. Anytime you fight like that and come out victorious, it feels really sweet.”
Fisher said Keenum and Goff root for each other.
“Case is not looking over his shoulder,” Fisher said. “He’s winning games.”