Cardinals–Rams rivalry

Two of the NFL's oldest clubs, both former St. Louis tenants, now 375 miles apart on I-10.

The Cardinals–Rams rivalry is a National Football League rivalry between the Arizona Cardinals and the Los Angeles Rams. It is one of the league's oldest matchups: the teams first met in the NFL's early years, when the Cardinals played in Chicago and the Rams in Cleveland. Both clubs later spent years in St. Louis before leaving for the western United States, and State Farm Stadium and SoFi Stadium now sit only about 375 miles apart, mostly along Interstate 10. The Rams lead the series 53-41-2 and have won both playoff meetings.

Quick Facts

Location

Phoenix, Los Angeles

First meeting

October 3
1937; Cardinals 6
Rams 0

Latest meeting

January 4
2026; Rams 37
Cardinals 20

Stadiums

Cardinals: State Farm Stadium; Rams: SoFi Stadium

Total meetings

Regular season

Rams: 51–41–2

Postseason

Rams: 2–0

Largest victory

Cardinals: 44–6 (2016); Rams: 34–0 (2018)

Facts from the source article.

Background

The Cardinals date from 1898 and the Rams joined the NFL as a Cleveland expansion team in 1936, and the two were paired in the old Western Division. Neither posted a winning season until 1944 as both struggled through the Second World War; the Rams then won the NFL championship in 1945 and the Cardinals in 1947, still the Cardinals' most recent title. Owner Dan Reeves moved the Rams to Los Angeles after the 1946 season, the Cardinals played in the American Conference from 1950 to 1952, and after 1950 the teams did not meet regularly again until the 2002 realignment put both in the NFC West.