How have rookie QBs fared historically vs. Sean McVay and the Rams? - Rams Wire
The Los Angeles Rams won’t be facing Jacoby Brissett on Sunday like they did in Week 6. They won’t be facing his backup, Gardner Minshew, either.
With Brissett traded and Minshew on injured reserve, the Arizona Cardinals are turning to third-round rookie Carson Beck at quarterback. They probably didn’t plan to start Beck this season, but Brissett’s struggles and Minshew’s injury have forced their hand.
On Sunday, Beck will attempt to do something only two other quarterbacks have done against the Rams since 2017: beat Sean McVay.
Historically, rookie quarterbacks have struggled against the Rams. The odds are against Beck to buck that trend; Arizona is a 9.5-point underdog in this game, making the Rams heavy favorites despite being on the road.
With McVay as the head coach, the Rams are 9-2 against rookie quarterbacks, according to Stathead. The only two rookies to beat the Rams were Caleb Williams in 2024 and Tua Tagovailoa in 2020. Tagovailoa only threw for 93 yards and one touchdown in that shocking win against Jared Goff and the Rams, while Williams had just 157 yards and a score in the Bears' 24-18 win over Los Angeles in 2024.
In total, rookie quarterbacks have 14 touchdown passes and only five interceptions against the Rams, and all 11 of them have taken at least one sack. The Rams sacked Cam Ward and Davis Mills five times in those respective games, and Kyler Murray six times in 2019.
Of the Rams' nine wins against rookie quarterbacks, six have been by at least 14 points, with the other three victories all being by six or seven points.
Beck is in an even tougher spot with this being his first NFL start, especially considering he only played one preseason game this summer. But he was a winner in college at both Georgia and Miami, and as a third-round pick, the Cardinals clearly think highly of him.
Kickoff is set for 4:05 p.m. ET on Sunday afternoon.
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