MORNING SPORTS BRIEFS 1/18/22

NFL

The Los Angeles Rams are moving on in the playoffs as they crushed the Arizona Cardinals last night 34-11 in the NFC Wild Card Round. Matthew Stafford threw two touchdowns to earn his first career playoff victory. He also rushed for a score. Odell Beckham Jr. caught a touchdown for the Rams, who will face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the NFC Divisional Round on Sunday.

NBA

Ja Morant had 25 points as the Memphis Grizzlies downed the Chicago Bulls 119-106 yesterday. The Grizzlies have won 12 of their last 13 games heading into a game at Milwaukee tomorrow night.

NHL

The Nashville Predators scored two first-period goals, but couldn’t finish the job against St. Louis, losing to the Blues 5-3. Ryan Johansen and Filip Forsberg scored in the first period, but the Blues fought back with four straight goals. Yakov Trenin scored in the third for the Preds. Nashville dropped to 24-13-and-3 and host the Vancouver Canucks tonight.