Guard Adam Snyder and the Cardinals didn’t have much to smile about after losing in St. Louis on Thursday. (US Presswire)

It had to end, and it had to end exactly the way it ended, with Kevin Kolb running for his life. The Arizona offensive line, sewn together with dental floss and crossed fingers, was exposed for the second consecutive game. Only this time, the Cardinals weren't facing a mistake-prone rookie quarterback in Ryan Tannehill. No, it was a veteran of all of three years, 2010 No. 1 pick Sam Bradford, who led the Rams to a 17-3 win over Arizona, snapping the Cardinals' unbeaten streak.

Offense: D-

If we could split this grade into two -- one grade for Larry Fitzgerald, one grade for the rest of the offense -- we would. Fitzgerald's eight catches for 92 yards, plus a little benefit of the doubt for Kolb, is the only thing keeping this from F territory. Kolb was about as expected, given the Rams' tenacious game plan and the Cardinals' woeful offensive line, as he finished 28 of 50 for 289 yards. But he was sacked nine times, making that 17 in two games, and unless tackles Bobby Massie and D'Anthony Batiste get better and fast, the benefit disappears, and it just becomes doubt.

Previous game's grade: C+

Defense: C

As poor as the offensive line's nine sacks allowed was, the meager offering of the defensive line does not go unnoticed here, as well. The normally dominant Arizona front three managed one sack of the normally happy-footed Bradford, who was just 7 of 21 for 141 yards but had two touchdowns. It didn't help that DT Darnell Dockett was severely limited by a hamstring strain. CB Patrick Peterson was rather surprisingly picked on early, particularly on a brutal quick-score first drive for the Rams, but he and the rest of the Cardinals' defensive backfield watched as Bradford's 51-yard touchdown pass to Chris Givens in the fourth quarter wrapped it up.

Previous game's grade: B

Special teams: C

When even automatic Jay Feely is missing field goals, you know it's going to be a long night. Feely's streak of 18 consecutive successful kicks was snapped with a 40-yard miss, and that was a microcosm of the game itself. Simply no good. The Arizona return game wasn't much better with a costly penalty that killed good field position. If not for P Dave Zastudil, this grade would be worse. 

Previous game's grade: B+

Coaching: C

With the running game lacking any semblance of energy and the offensive line in shambles, it is understandable that Ken Whisenhunt so quickly turned to the pass. But there were some curious routes in the game, and it appeared at times that the Cardinals simply forgot down and distance. Most egregious was the fourth-quarter, fourth-down attempt inside the red zone that Kolb threw to Fitzgerald well short of the goal line. 
Previous game's grade: B

For more news and analysis from Cardinals blogger Jon Gold, follow @CBSCards on Twitter.