Sean McVay faces former offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur for first time when Rams host Cardinals

The highly anticipated matchup between the Los Angeles Rams and Arizona Cardinals takes on heightened significance as the two teams face off on Sunday. The game serves as a reminder that the rivalry extends beyond mere personnel changes, with Sean McVay, the Rams' head coach and former offensive coordinator, directly opposing Mike LaFleur, who led the Cardinals this past season.

The Rams (2-3) are seeking to turn their season around following an inconsistent start, while the Cardinals (1-4) aim to build upon their remarkable opening with a win at Los Angeles' SoFi Stadium. Both sides possess plenty to consider, beyond personal relationships and former employers. "As much as I love Sean, I haven't really thought of him too much," said LaFleur, likely feeling the same sentiment from McVay.

McVay downplayed LaFleur's familiarity with the Rams' systems and personnel, acknowledging that every coach has been in the building before. While acknowledging LaFleur's contributions to Matthew Stafford's MVP season last year, Stafford reiterated the importance of executing their game plan. "We got to go out there and play," he emphasized.

The Rams have demonstrated a strong home record against Arizona, winning five of their last six meetings in Los Angeles. They have scored two touchdowns on impressive 15-yard or longer plays, and have yet to register a touchdown run longer than 7 yards. Conversely, the Cardinals have struggled defensively, conceding at least 31 points in each of their first four games, and rank last in the NFL in scoring defense.

Despite these challenges, the Rams have won five consecutive home games against Arizona, and have scored nine of 10 points in their past 10 meetings with the Cardinals since McVay took over as head coach. The Rams' offensive firepower, led by Stafford, has shown promise, with Stafford completing 74.1% of his passes for 383 yards and three touchdowns in recent games.