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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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. 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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