Monday night’s wild-card matchup between the Minnesota Vikings and the Los Angeles Rams will look a bit different than expected, after the NFL moved the game from SoFi Stadium to State Farm Stadium because of the Los Angeles wildfires. The Rams will still likely have a hometown crowd behind them, but it’ll be an uphill battle against these Vikings, who can lay claim to being the top wild-card team in NFL history — they’re the first wild-card team in NFL history with 14 wins, and just the second to have won 13 games.
Despite not winning the NFC North, history may be on the Vikings’ side — in 1999, the 13-3 Tennessee Titans were a wild-card team, and after the Music City Miracle (surely Kevin Dyson’s favorite of the two legendary plays in those playoffs that he’s remembered for), they went on to Super Bowl XXXIV.
But back in Week 8, the Los Angeles Rams topped the Vikings 30-20, just as they were turning their season around after a 1-4 start, plagued by injuries on offense. That loss was the Vikings’ second of the year, and they went on to rip off nine straight wins. The Rams got hot after that, too, finishing the year 10-7 and on top of the NFC West, with their full complement of top skill players healthy for the finishing kick and postseason.
Time: 8 p.m. ET Location: State Farm Stadium | Glendale, Ariz. Channel: ESPN, ABC, ESPN2 (ManningCast) Streaming: ESPN+, Fubo
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Halftime: Rams pummeling Sam Darnold en route to 24-3 lead
Sam Darnold’s dream season has taken a dark turn over the course of two games. After a poor start in last week’s season-finale loss to the Lions, Darnold’s career playoff debut is a disaster through two quarters.
Darnold’s taken six sacks and committed two turnovers as the Rams have jumped out to a 24-3 lead over Darnold’s Vikings
First-half stats:
Sam Darnold: 13 of 16 for 113 yards, 0 touchdowns, 1 interception; 6 sacks taken, 1 fumble lost/returned for TD Matthew Stafford: 14 of 20 for 154 yards, 2 touchdowns, 0 turnovers, 0 sacks taken
Aaron Jones: 7 carries for 30 yards; 1 catch for 6 yards Kyren Williams: 5 carries for 37 yards; 3 catches for 16 yards and 1 touchdown
Justin Jefferson: 5 catches for 58 yards Tyler Higbee: 5 catches for 58 yards
Vikings total offense: 120 yards on 3.6 yards per play Rams total offense: 191 yards on 7.6 yards per play
Vikings turnovers: 2 Rams turnovers: 0
The Vikings lost that game to Washington 17-10, for what it’s worth…
From ESPN Research: The last team with six sacks in a first half of a playoff game was Washington in the January 1988 NFC Championship Game against Minnesota.
The Rams are completely dominating this one. Davis Allen just ran in a 13-yard touchdown catch — his first of the year — after their fourth down stop, and the Rams are up 24-3 now just before halftime.
Vikings can’t convert on 4th down
This has been a brutal first half for Sam Darnold and the Vikings. He just took a sack on a 4th and 2 near midfield, and the Rams will take over with solid field position and a chance to score before half.
Another Vikings turnover
The Vikings had one fumble overturned, but then they committed another just a few plays later. This one was, well, much worse.
Sam Darnold was hit in the backfield and lost the ball, which resulted in a long 57-yard touchdown run from Jared Verse. The Rams are suddenly up 17-3.
The Rams’ drive after their interception didn’t result in much, and the Vikings just barely missed blocking their punt. They’ll take over now at their own 10 yard line.
I have no clue how this punt wasn’t blocked.
Sam Darnold throws an INT
The Rams made up for their special teams mistake almost immediately. Sam Darnold just threw a bad interception to Cobie Durant, and the Rams will take over near midfield.
Vikings catch a break
Well that helps the Vikings. After a Rams sack set up a long third down attempt, which failed, the Vikings catch a break after drawing a running into the kicker penalty.
They’ll get a fresh set of downs now early in the second quarter.
The Rams are having no issue getting to Sam Darnold so far tonight.
Was this an incomplete pass?
The Vikings just thought they had a strip sack of Matthew Stafford and a touchdown. But officials ruled it an incomplete pass after Stafford released the ball at the last second. He also avoided intentional grounding on the play. A big break for the Rams.
Vikings settle for field goal after another sack of Sam Darnold
Sam Darnold took his second sack in two possessions to push the Vikings into second-and-17 in Rams territory. The Vikings salvaged a 34-yard field goal by Will Reichard to cut their deficit to 10-3 early in the second quarter.
Rams add a field goal for 10-0 lead
The Rams’ second drive was short-circuited by a 15-yard late-hit penalty near the red zone that set them up with second-and-16. They came up short of the end zone, but scored on a 34-yard field goal by Joshua Karty to extend their lead to 10-0.
Matthew Stafford just thew his first incompletion after a 10-for-10 start
Rough start for Sam Darnold
Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold had his worst game with Minnesota in the biggest game of his career last week against the Lions. The first playoff drive of his career features a second-down sack and a 3-and-out punt.
The Rams get the ball back with a 7-0 lead after one possession for each team.
Rams score TD after Vikings bite on fourth-down hard count
The Rams are on the board first with a touchdown pass from Matthew Stafford to Kyren Williams for a 7-0 lead.
The touchdown was set up by a Vikings penalty on fourth down on the previous play. Vikings defensive lineman Jonathan Bullard jumped into the neutral zone on a fourth-and-1 hard count, giving the Rams a first down.
Crowd forces Rams timeout
The Rams had to burn a timeout in the red zone to get a play call correct. The home-field advantage they would have enjoyed in Los Angeles is no more. It’s roughly a 50-50 crowd with a loud Vikings contingent in the stands.
A hot start for the Rams, who get a 27-yard pass from Matthew Stafford to Puka Nacua on the opening play from scrimmage.
Rams will have the ball first
The Vikings won the coin toss and deferred. They’ll kick off first.
Kickoff’s almost underway following a pregame tribute to Los Angeles from former Rams lineman Andrew Whitworth.
“We will rebuild LA. Hand in hand, together. For as long as it takes and whatever it takes. We will build it together. Los Angeles, I love you. We love you and we are with you.” pic.twitter.com/5EfllG4ESt
Quarterback Matthew Stafford is among the Rams players sporting gear in support of the Los Angeles Fire Department.
Neutral wild-card crowd?
While technically a Rams home game, the move to Arizona has opened opportunities for Vikings fans to scoop up tickets and make the trek to Glendale. Early returns show a strong Vikings contingent in the stands.
Rams greats show support for LAFD
Rams greats including Aaron Donald and Andrew Whitworth are in the building while showing their support for the Los Angeles Fire Department:
While the seats remain Cardinal red, the Cardinals did their best to make the NFC West-rival Rams feel at home at State Farm Stadium for what was supposed to be a Rams home game.
The turf and the signage around the field Monday night would be at home in Inglewood.
Rams fans arrive by the busload from Los Angeles
Rams fans got the party started early on a bus ride from Los Angeles to Arizona. Originally scheduled as a home game in Los Angeles, Monday’s wild-card game against the Vikings was moved to Arizona because of the wildfires devastating Los Angeles. Plenty of Rams fans were ready to make the trip.
Emmanuel Forbes Jr. among Rams inactives
Former Commanders first-round cornerback Emmanuel Forbes Jr. played two games including a Week 18 start after joining the Rams late in the season. But he won’t play Monday night. He’s among the Rams’ inactives for Monday’s wild-card game.
QB Stetson Bennett WR Tyler Johnson CB Emmanuel Forbes Jr. OLB Brennan Jackson OL Justin Dedich OL Joe Noteboom
Daniel Jones not active for Vikings
Daniel Jones will not be available for his Vikings debut against the Rams in the event that Minnesota needs to go to a backup quarterback. Jones is inactive for Monday’s wild-card game after being elevated to the 53-man roster last week.
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