Rams dominate Darnold, Vikings
The Rams defense put on a dominant performance as Los Angeles routed the Vikings27-9 in a wild-card game played in Arizona due to the wildfires in L.A.
The Rams will travel to Philadelphia to face the Eagles on Sunday in the divisional round.
Los Angeles sacked Sam Darnold six times in the first half en route to tying an NFL playoff record with nine total on the night. A pair of touchdown passes by Matthew Stafford and a 57-yard scoop-and-score by standout rookie edge rusher Jared Verse gave the Rams a 24-3 lead at halftime, a deficit the Vikings proved unable to overcome.
Minnesota’s season ends in bitter disappointment without a playoff victory despite having racked up 14 wins in the regular season.
Jared Verse’s scoop-and-score highlights Rams’ dominant win over Vikings
Jared Verse was moments away from completing the most important play of his career, and the Rams rookie edge rusher wanted to do it style. So, as Verse neared the goal line Monday night in his first playoff game, he front-flipped into the end zone for his first NFL TD. The Superman-like celebration, which capped Verse’s 57-yard fumble return in the second quarter, proved to be the highlight of the Rams’ 31-9 victory over the Vikings.
The Rams were slated to host their Wild Card game Monday, but the ongoing wildfires in L.A. forced the NFL to move the contest to State Farm Stadium, home of the Arizona Cardinals. The change in scenery didn’t negatively affect the Rams as they cruised past the Vikings and into the divisional round for the first time since L.A. won the Super Bowl during the 2021 season. The Rams will face Philadelphia on the road next week. The Eagles won at L.A. in Week 12, leaving with a 37-20 victory.
The Rams were in control from start to finish Monday, jumping out to a 10-0 first-quarter lead. Verse broke the game open with his scoop-and-score after Vikings QB Sam Darnold was strip-sacked by cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon in the second quarter, and the Rams piled it on with a 13-yard TD reception by tight end Davis Allen with 15 seconds left in the first half that put L.A. ahead 24-3. Rams QB Matthew Stafford was 19-of-27 passing for 209 yards and two TDs. The 36-year-old improved to 5-1 in the playoffs with the Rams.
Darnold hardly fared as well. In fact, he was sacked nine times Monday, which is the most sacks Minnesota has given up in a playoff game in the franchise’s 64-year history. The Rams’ nine sacks also tied an NFL postseason record. Darnold never looked comfortable and finished 25-of-40 passing for 254 yards and one TD against one interception.
Minnesota heads into the offseason with big questions about its future at quarterback. Darnold, 27, is set to become a free agent after taking over as the starter when rookie first-round pick J.J. McCarthy tore his meniscus in the preseason. Darnold led the Vikings to 14 wins, their most in a regular season since the 1998 campaign, but his resurgent year came to a disappointing end with back-to-back duds in the Vikings’ biggest games of the season. Last week, with the NFC’s No. 1 seed on the line, Darnold was held to just 166 passing yards and zero touchdowns in a 31-9 loss to the Lions. He didn’t look much better Monday night as the Vikings tied their season low again with only nine points for a second straight game.