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LA Rams beat Cardinals in NFL playoff rout

Greg BeachamAP
The Los Angeles Rams have advanced in the NFL playoffs after trouncing the Arizona Cardinals.
Camera IconThe Los Angeles Rams have advanced in the NFL playoffs after trouncing the Arizona Cardinals. Credit: AP

Matthew Stafford passed for 202 yards and two touchdowns and ran for another score in his first playoff victory as the Los Angeles Rams roared out of the wildcard round with a 34-11 win over the Arizona Cardinals.

Odell Beckham Jr and Cooper Kupp made touchdown catches for the NFC West champion Rams (13-5), who will visit the defending Super Bowl champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday for a spot in the NFC championship game.

Los Angeles advanced in the post-season for the third time in the past four years under coach Sean McVay.

David Long also scored on a 3-yard interception return while the Rams' defence harassed Kyler Murray into a calamitous playoff debut.

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Los Angeles jumped to a 28-0 lead and cruised in the first playoff game at SoFi Stadium, which will host Super Bowl 56 next month.

After an inconsistent finish to the regular season, the Rams' constellation of big stars came together brilliantly on the post-season stage.

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Stafford was outstanding in his first playoff game with the Rams, going 13 of 17 without an interception and coolly directing LA's offence while seizing his first playoff win in 13 NFL seasons - the first 12 spent in Detroit.

Beckham had four catches for 54 yards, including his first career playoff touchdown catch for the Rams' first points.

He also threw a 40-yard pass during his own first post-season victory.

Linebacker Von Miller added six tackles and a key early sack in his first post-season appearance since winning the MVP award in Super Bowl 50.

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