Matthew Stafford and Puka Nacua help Rams stay tied atop NFC West with 45-17 win over Cardinals

GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Matthew Stafford dominated on the field before being serenaded with “M-V-P!” chants off of it, soaking in some locker room praise from teammates after another stellar performance that led his Los Angeles Rams to a 45-17 win over the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday.

The 37-year-old quarterback has rarely looked better in his 17-year NFL career.

It's a big reason why the Rams look like one of the best teams in the league.

“That's our guy — No. 9,” receiver Puka Nacua said. “Without him, we wouldn't be operating the way we do. It's always fun when we get to show him some praise.”

Stafford threw for 281 yards and three touchdowns, Nacua and Blake Corum both scored twice and the Rams (10-3) scored 35 unanswered points to bounce back from last week's turnover-filled loss to Carolina. Los Angeles won for the seventh time in eight games to stay tied with Seattle atop the NFC West, one game ahead of San Francisco.

“It's fun — they're great teammates,” Stafford said of the “M-V-P!” chants. “Only reason anyone is saying something like that about me is because of those guys. I'm appreciative — I love going to work with them.”

The reeling Cardinals (3-10) have lost five straight and 10 of 11.

Los Angeles fell into an early 7-0 hole but rallied for a 24-10 lead by halftime, scoring just before the break on a beautiful 28-yard throw over the middle from Stafford to Nacua, who had six catches for 136 yards in the first half. The Rams also scored on a pair of 2-yard runs — one each by Kyren Williams and Corum.

Los Angeles piled up 306 yards in the first half and finished with 530. Stafford completed 22 of 31 passes, including a few in tight windows that only a handful of QBs in the league would even think of trying to make.

“I thought Matthew was outstanding," Rams coach Sean McVay said. “He was great — thought he saw the field really well. He threw the ball with accuracy and anticipation.”

McVay had a rough week, missing some preparation time on Friday and Saturday because of an illness. You could never tell by the way the Rams played on Sunday.

Los Angeles capped its offensive onslaught with two straight touchdowns on the first plays of drives.

Nate Landman intercepted Jacoby Brissett's pass late in the third and the Rams scored on the next play when Stafford hit Nacua for a 31-yard touchdown and a 38-10 lead. On LA's next possession, Corum eluded the Cardinals' flat-footed defense for a 48-yard TD run to make it 45-10.

Nacua had 167 yards receiving and Corum had 128 yards rushing.

“Give credit to LA,” Cardinals coach Jonathan Gannon said. “They were better than us in every facet of the game — coaching, playing, offense, defense, special teams. That was very humbling. At one point, it's 10-10, and then you look up and you're down a lot of points quick.”

The injury-depleted Cardinals took a 7-0 lead less than three minutes into the game after a crisp, five-play, 67-yard drive that ended with Brissett's 19-yard touchdown pass to Michael Wilson.

Wilson caught 11 passes for 142 yards and two touchdowns. Brissett — starting his eighth straight game in place of injured starter Kyler Murray — completed 25 of 44 passes for 271 yards, two TDs and an interception.

Trey McBride had five catches for 58 yards. It was his 15th straight game with at least five catches, tying the league record for a tight end set by Travis Kelce.

Arizona suffered another lopsided loss at the hands of a division rival. The Cardinals were thumped by the Seahawks 44-22 in Week 10 and lost to the 49ers 41-22 in Week 11.

The Rams have won 15 of their past 18 against the Cardinals.

Rams: CB Darious Williams (tibia) was one of five inactives.

Cardinals: CB Max Melton (heel), WR Marvin Harrison Jr. (heel), RB Emari Demercado (ankle), S Dadrion Taylor-Demerson (ankle), WR Xavier Weaver (hamstring) and DL Walter Nolen III (knee) were among a long list of players who missed the game because of injuries. ... DL Bilal Nichols (knee) left in the second quarter and didn't return. ... LT Paris Johnson Jr. (knee) left in the third and didn't return. ... S Jalen Thompson (hamstring) left in the fourth and didn't return.

Rams: Host the Detroit Lions next Sunday.

Cardinals: At the Houston Texans next Sunday.

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL

Los Angeles Rams running back Kyren Williams, left, celebrates after scoring a touchdown with quarterback Matthew Stafford, right, in the first half of an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

Los Angeles Rams running back Kyren Williams celebrates after running for a touchdown as Arizona Cardinals safety Budda Baker looks on in the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Los Angeles Rams tight end Colby Parkinson, left, avoids Arizona Cardinals safety Budda Baker after pulling in a pass in the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua, left, reacts after scoring a touchdown against the Arizona Cardinals in the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford passes the ball in the first half of an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

COTONOU, Benin (AP) — Benin President Patrice Talon on Sunday condemned an attempted coup that was foiled by the country's army in his first public comments since sporadic gunfire was heard in parts of the administrative capital, Cotonou.

A group of soldiers appeared on Benin ’s state TV earlier Sunday to announce the dissolution of the government in an apparent coup, which would have been the latest of many in West Africa. The group called itself the Military Committee for Refoundation.

Later, Interior Minister Alassane Seidou announced in a video on Facebook that the attempted coup had been “foiled,” but Talon, whose location was unclear, did not comment.

“I would also like to take this opportunity to express my condolences to the victims of this senseless adventure, as well as to those still being held by the fleeing mutineers,” the president said in a televised address to the nation that ended his silence. "I assure them that we will do everything in our power to find them safe and sound.”

The coup attempt is the latest in a string of military takeovers and attempted takeovers that have rocked West Africa. Last month, a military coup in Guinea-Bissau removed former President Umaro Embalo after a contested election in which both he and the opposition candidate declared themselves winners.

Talon did not provide figures on casualties or hostages in Sunday's attempted coup.

“In the early morning of Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025, a small group of soldiers launched a mutiny to destabilize the state and its institutions,” Seidou said. “Faced with this situation, the Beninese Armed Forces and their leadership, true to their oath, remained committed to the republic.”

The regional bloc, the Economic Community of West African States, or ECOWAS, said it ordered the deployment of troops from Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Ivory Coast and Ghana to support Benin's army to “preserve constitutional order and the territorial integrity of the Republic of Benin.”

ECOWAS earlier called the attempted coup “a subversion of the will of the people of Benin.”

Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu praised the Nigerian armed forces for their involvement in restoring the government in Benin. In a statement by the Nigerian government's spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga said Benin's government made two separate requests for air and ground forces.

“It took some hours before the government’s loyal forces, assisted by Nigeria, took control and flushed out the coup plotters from the National TV,” Onanuga said in the statement.

Local media reported the arrest of 13 soldiers who took part in the coup earlier on Sunday, citing sources close to the presidency. It remained unclear if Lt. Col. Pascal Tigri, the coup leader, had been apprehended. Gunfire was heard and soldiers were seen patrolling in some locations in Cotonou, but the city has been relatively calm since the coup attempt was announced.

The Military Committee for Refoundation earlier said that Tigri was appointed president of the military committee.

Following its independence from France in 1960, the West African nation witnessed multiple coups. Since 1991, the country has been politically stable following the two-decade rule of Marxist-Leninist Mathieu Kérékou.

The signal to the state television and public radio, which was cut off, was later restored.

Talon has been in power since 2016 and is due to step down next April after a presidential election.

Talon’s party pick, former Finance Minister Romuald Wadagni, is the favorite to win the election. Opposition candidate Renaud Agbodjo was rejected by the electoral commission on the grounds that he did not have sufficient sponsors.

In January, two associates of Talon were sentenced to 20 years in prison for an alleged 2024 coup plot.

Last month, the country’s legislature extended the presidential term of office from five to seven years, keeping the term limit at two.

Adetayo reported from Lagos, Nigeria.

People gather near a roadway amid an attempted coup in Cotonou, Benin, Sunday Dec. 7, 2025. (AP Photo)

People on motorcycles pass by soldiers guarding a street amid an attempted coup in Cotonou Benin, Sunday Dec. 7, 2025. (AP Photo)

Soldiers ride in a military vehicle along a street amid an attempted coup in Cotonou Benin, Sunday Dec. 7, 2025. (AP Photo)

FILE - Benin's President Patrice Talon attends a meeting with Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva at Planalto presidential palace in Brasilia, Brazil, on May 23, 2024. (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres, File)