Rookie Facing Discipline From NFL After Rams-Cardinals

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Jordan Burch #DL43 of Oregon participates in a drill during the NFL Scouting Combine.

The Los Angeles Rams notched a major win over the Arizona Cardinals, particularly because of happenings elsewhere around the league. However, there was at least one play in particular that figures to draw additional scrutiny from the NFL in the coming week.

The Rams needed a bounce-back effort after losing to the Carolina Panthers in Week 13, and they defeated a downtrodden Cardinals team to do it.

Moreover, there will be even more bad news for Arizona.

Cardinals OLB Jordan Burch Facing Costly Fine Over Play Involving Rams TE Davis Allen

GettyBlake Corum #22 of the Los Angeles Rams celebrates with teammate Davis Allen #87 after scoring a rushing touchdown against the Arizona Cardinals.

The play occurred during the third quarter of the eventual 45-17 Rams victory on an otherwise innocuous play. Rams tight end Davis Allen went out for a route on a pass play, but was unable to connect with quarterback Matthew Stafford.

However, officials called linebacker Jordan Burch for a facemask, as he grabbed Allen during the tight end’s break. The Rams got 7 yards, half the distance to the goal, on the call.

Stafford found tight end Colby Parkinson for a touchdown to end the drive three plays later.

The fines for facemasks range from $11,593 (first offenses) to $17,389, per the NFL’s Football Operations portal. This would be the first fine of the season for Burch, whom the Cardinals selected with the No. 78 overall pick of the 2025 draft, per Spotrac.

The Rams seemingly avoided committing any infractions during the game that would draw the kind of additional attention Burch figures to receive.

The NFL typically announces the week’s fines on the following Saturday.

Burch, who is on a four-year, $6.5 million contract, will likely have to wait until then to find out whether he will have to come out of pocket for the infraction. The Rams and Cardinals will square off again in LA in Week 18.

Rams Reclaim No. 1 Seed in NFC

GettyMatthew Stafford #9 of the Los Angeles Rams reacts against the New Orleans Saints.

The Rams entered the day as the No. 2 seed in the NFC, a reality formed both by their loss to the Panthers in Week 13. It also happened because the Chicago Bears defeated the Philadelphia Eagles that same week.

The script flipped in Week 14, with the Rams downing the Cardinals and the Bears suffering a loss to the Green Bay Packers.

That win moved the Packers, who are 9-3-1, into second place in the NFC.

The Rams will not face the Packers this season, so they cannot impact the standings directly in that way. However, the Packers must travel to face the NFL-leading Denver Broncos and their 11-game win streak in Week 14.

LA is at home, and they will be up against a familiar foe in Jared Goff and the Detroit Lions, who have won three of their last five games.

The Rams are 7-1 in their last eight outings and have not lost back-to-back games this year.

This matchup will certainly have a little more meaning, though, with Stafford also facing his old team for just the fourth time since he and Goff (as part of a package) were traded for one another ahead of the 2021 season, after which the Rams won the Super Bowl.

Stafford and the Rams are 1-2 against Goff in the Lions since that trade, including a loss in the 2023 NFC Wild Card Playoffs, adding another incentive for LA.

Josh Buckhalter covers the NBA and NFL for Heavy.com. He has covered both leagues since 2016, including bylines at FanSided, Last Word on Sports and Clocker Sports. He’s based in Villa Park, Illinois. Follow Josh on Twitter and Instagram: @JoshGBuck More about Josh Buckhalter