GLENDALE, Ariz. _ The Los Angeles Rams' road to next week's marquee matchup proved a little tougher than expected.
They had shut out the Arizona Cardinals in Week 7, and on Sunday were playing a depleted edition of the same team at University of Phoenix Stadium.
The offense did not have a prolific day, but the Rams created and took advantage of turnovers en route to a 32-16 victory that sets up a showdown with the Philadelphia Eagles.
Jared Goff passed for two touchdowns, Alec Ogletree returned an interception for a touchdown and Greg Zuerlein kicked four field goals as the Rams improved to 9-3 heading into next Sunday's game against the Eagles at the Coliseum.
The NFC East-leading Eagles, led by quarterback Carson Wentz, were 10-1 going into Sunday night's game against the Seattle Seahawks in Seattle.
Goff, chosen over Wentz with the No. 1 pick in the 2016 draft, completed 21 of 31 passes for 220 yards and two touchdowns, with an interception, on Sunday as the Rams ensured their first winning season since 2003.
Rookie tight end Gerald Everett and receiver Sammy Watkins caught touchdown passes.
Running back Todd Gurley rushed for 74 yards in 19 carries and caught six passes for 84 yards.
The Cardinals were without quarterback Carson Palmer, who sustained a season-ending broken arm in the Rams' 33-0 victory in London. Future Hal-of-Fame running back Adrian Peterson also was sidelined because of injury.
Cardinals quarterback Blaine Gabbert completed 16 of 30 passes for 195 yards and a touchdown, with two interceptions.
The Rams led, 19-13, at halftime on Goff's touchdown pass to Everett, Ogletree's interception return and two Zuerlein field goals.
Punter Johnny Hekker helped the Rams extend the lead in the third quarter.
The Rams were pinned at their two-yard line, but Hekker's 70-yard punt forced the Cardinals to start a drive at their 21.
The Rams forced the Cardinals to go three-and-out, and Pharoh Cooper's 30-yard return gave the Rams the ball at Arizona's 30.
Goff's 11-yard touchdown pass to Watkins put the Rams ahead, 26-13, with 5:07 left in the third quarter.
Phil Dawson's 54-yard field goal pulled the Cardinals to within 10 points, but Michael Brockers blocked a 45-yard attempt early in the fourth quarter to stymie a comeback.
Two Zuerlein field goals sealed the victory.
The Rams had recently made a habit of scoring touchdowns on their first possession, but after Gurley ran for 11 yards and Goff connected with Cooper Kupp for 25, the Rams' first drive stalled. Zuerlein came on and kicked a 56-yard field goal.
Safety Lamarcus Joyner wasted no time setting up the offense again.
He intercepted Gabbert's first pass and returned it 46 yards to the Cardinals' 23-yard line.
The Rams moved to the four on Goff's pass to Everett, but an incomplete pass and a short reception by Josh Reynolds left the Rams a yard short.
On fourth and one, Goff found Everett in the back of the end zone for a touchdown. Zuerlein missed an extra-point attempt for the first time in 34 attempts this season, and the Rams led, 9-0.
The Cardinals had an opportunity when linebacker Kareem Martin intercepted a pass by Goff, but Ogletree turned the tables by picking off a Gabbert pass and returning it 41 yards for a touchdown.
With the Rams' offense stalling through most of the second quarter, the Cardinals stayed close.
Gabbert engineered a second-quarter drive that running back Elijhaa Penny capped with a one-yard touchdown run.
On their next possession, running back Kerwynn Williams made several plays before Gabbert found Larry Fitzgerald for a 15-yard touchdown that pulled the Cardinals to within 16-13.
The Rams turned to Gurley in the final three-plus minutes.
He carried the ball or caught a pass on six consecutive plays before Goff came up short of the end zone on a read-option play from the four-yard-line.
Zuerlein came on to kick a field goal as time expired in the half to give the Rams a six-point lead.
