Despite his small stature, Kyler Murray had always been the hammer.
On Sunday against the Rams, he was the nail.
The rookie quarterback suffered the worst loss "in my life, probably," as the Cardinals were outclassed from start to finish in a 34-7 defeat at State Farm Stadium. While the pass defense was the biggest culprit, the offense was no help.
Murray finished the game 19-of-34 passing for 163 yards. His only touchdown of the game came on a 15-yard scamper in garbage time, and he threw a pick-six to Rams safety Taylor Rapp to make the score 34-0 with 8:28 left in the third quarter.
"Everything just felt off," Murray said.
The Cardinals are 3-8-1 on the season, so it's not like Murray hadn't lost before, but it was the first time this season the team was not within 10 points after intermission.
The day began ominously when Murray was sacked early by Rams defensive end Dante Fowler, and then in the next series by All-Pro defensive tackle Aaron Donald – who easily maneuvered past left guard Justin Pugh and made a beeline for the quarterback.
"I got Kyler hit early, and obviously going against '99', you let him get in Kyler's face, it's not a good thing," Pugh said. "I take the blame on that."
From that point forward, Murray -- who was listed as questionable for the game with a hamstring injury but said it wasn't an issue -- seemed ultra-aware of Donald's presence.
"I didn't go a good job sitting in there and trusting it, maybe because of the pressure," said Murray, who was sacked six times. "Next week I'll be better. If I get hit, I get hit. I just have to stand in there. It's part of it."
Even though he only had the one interception, Murray had a few more close calls. He was late throwing a ball to running back Kenyan Drake and Rapp almost picked it early in the game. Rapp then had an interception negated due to a pass interference call on a teammate before the third time was finally the charm.
Cornerback Jalen Ramsey also had one taken away due to a roughing the passer penalty. Murray noted that the Rams were jumping on the Cardinals' quick-game routes, and wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald felt like the pass-catchers did not do enough to help out their young signal-caller.
"There is nothing that gets a quarterback in a rhythm and groove like guys making plays," Fitzgerald said. "We didn't do enough of that for him today."
The Cardinals' first-team offense remained in the game until the final horn. It had some success in the fourth quarter, but Murray took little solace in that as the Rams clearly laid off the gas pedal.
"I'm not into saying, 'Oh, we kind of got it going at the end,' because they took out a couple of their guys," Murray said.
Kingsbury did not want to substitute backup quarterback Brett Hundley for Murray because he felt like the playing time could pay dividends down the road for his young quarterback.
"Every one of these is going to be learning experiences," Kingsbury said. "He needed to stay in and try to work through a tough situation. Get completions and settle in. The negative experiences, you have to learn from and get better from. This was certainly one of those."
Images from the Week 13 matchup at State Farm Stadium
Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald is tackled by Rams safety Taylor Rapp (24) during the first half.
Rams wide receiver JoJo Natson is hit by Cardinals wide receiver Pharoh Cooper (12) on a punt return during the second half.
Cardinals defensive back Tramaine Brock (20) tackles Los Angeles Rams tight end Tyler Higbee (89) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2019, in Glendale, Ariz.
Cardinals fans play football prior to an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2019, in Glendale, Ariz.
Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray (1) throws against the Los Angeles Rams during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2019, in Glendale, Ariz.
Rams running back Todd Gurley runs the ball against the Arizona Cardinals during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2019, in Glendale, Ariz.
Rams tight end Tyler Higbee pulls in a touchdown as Arizona Cardinals outside linebacker Haason Reddick (43) defends during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2019, in Glendale, Ariz.
OLB Cassius Marsh celebrates his half-sack.
Cardinals running back David Johnson (31) greets fans prior to an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2019, in Glendale, Ariz.
Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald (11) warms up prior to an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2019, in Glendale, Ariz.
Rams head coach Sean McVay, right, greets Cardinals head coach Kliff Kingsbury prior to an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2019, in Glendale, Ariz.
Cardinals outside linebacker Terrell Suggs (56) warms up prior to an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2019, in Glendale, Ariz.
Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray is sacked by Rams defensive end Dante Fowler.
Rams quarterback Jared Goff throws against the Cardinals.
Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray throws against the Rams.
An Arizona Cardinals fan cheers during the first half of an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday.
Rams defensive end Dante Fowler sacks Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray during the first half.
Rams safety Taylor Rapp hits Cardinals tight end Charles Clay during the first half.
Rams quarterback Jared Goff (16) passes against the Arizona Cardinals.
Cardinals running back Kenyan Drake and Rams safety Taylor Rapp battle for the ball.
Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray scrambles against the Los Angeles Rams during the first half.
Rams running back Todd Gurley is tackled by Cardinals linebacker Jordan Hicks (58) and safety Budda Baker (32).
Cardinals wide receiver Christian Kirk makes a catch as Rams defensive back David Long defends.
Rams quarterback Jared Goff throws against the Cardinals defense.
Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray is pressured by Rams linebacker Clay Matthews.
Cardinals linebacker Chandler Jones battles Rams offensive tackle Andrew Whitworth.
Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp pulls in a catch as Cardinals safety Budda Baker defends.
Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray sits on the turf after a sack during the first half.
An Air Force drill team performs at half time of an NFL football game between the Los Angeles Rams and the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday.
Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray runs for a touchdown as Rams linebacker Samson Ebukam looks on during the second half.
Rams quarterback Jared Goff throws against presser from Cardinals DL Corey Peters.
Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald makes a catch as Rams linebacker Travin Howard pursues during the second half.
Cardinals running back Kenyan Drake runs against the Rams during the first half.
Rams running back Todd Gurley eludes the reach of Cardinals safety Deionte Thompson (35).
Arizona Cardinals head coach Kliff Kingsbury watches play during the first half of an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday.
Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray is tackled by Rams linebacker Samson Ebukam.
Los Angeles Rams quarterback Jared Goff (16) throws as Arizona Cardinals outside linebacker Terrell Suggs (56) looks on during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2019, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray sits on the turf after being sacked against the Los Angeles Rams.
Rams safety Taylor Rapp (24) runs back an interception for a touchdown against the Arizona Cardinals during the second half.
Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray runs into the end zone for a touchdown late in the game against the Rams.
Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray is sacked by Rams defensive end Michael Brockers.
Rams quarterback Blake Bortles scrambles against the Cardinals.
Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald (11) is tackled during the second half.
Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp (right) greets Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald after the game. The Rams won 34-7.
Rams head coach Sean McVay (left) greets Arizona Cardinals head coach Kliff Kingsbury after the game. The Rams won 34-7.
Rams running back Todd Gurley (left) greets Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald after the game. The Rams won 34-7.
