The excitement is palpable as two NFC teams face off in the wild card round, relocated to the sunny confines of Arizona. The Minnesota Vikings head to the West Coast to challenge the Los Angeles Rams on Monday night. The stakes couldn’t be higher—the victor advances to the divisional round, while the defeated team sees their season come to an end. Minnesota ended their regular season with a disappointing 31-9 defeat against the Lions, missing a crucial opportunity to secure the NFC North title. Meanwhile, Los Angeles fell to Seattle 30-25 in a game that had little bearing on their playoff positioning, despite covering the spread as 7.5-point underdogs. Historically, the Vikings lead the regular season series against the Rams with a record of 22-17-2; however, Los Angeles has claimed victory in their last three meetings, including a 30-20 win earlier this season on October 24, 2024. Of note, Minnesota has triumphed in five of their seven playoff encounters, though the Rams won the last playoff matchup on January 16, 2000, by a score of 49-37.
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Vikings Looking to Bounce Back After Tough Loss
The Vikings entered their game against the Lions with hopes of claiming the NFC North title but fell short, struggling offensively throughout the match. With this loss, Minnesota wrapped up the regular season with a 14-3 record and secured the second spot in the NFC North, leading them to an away game for the wild card round. Against Detroit, the Vikings were always in catch-up mode, never leading as they trailed 7-0 after the first quarter, 7-6 in the second, and 10-6 at halftime. They managed to narrow the deficit to 10-9 early in the third quarter but could not score again, allowing 21 unanswered points in the process. In terms of total offense, Minnesota was outgained 394-262, yielding 24 first downs compared to their 14, and lost the time of possession battle, 36:48 to 23:12. This performance overshadowed the fact that the Vikings forced two turnovers while not committing any.
In the passing game, Minnesota ranks 6th in the NFL, averaging 237.8 yards per game. Their rushing offense is tied for 19th, averaging 109.1 yards per game. They sit 9th overall in scoring, putting up an average of 26.4 points per contest. The defense has also shown improvement, currently ranking 3rd in scoring defense, allowing only 18.4 points per game. Sam Darnold has been effective, completing 361 of 545 passes for 4,319 yards, 35 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions, while also contributing 212 rushing yards and a touchdown. He has faced 48 sacks this season. Nick Mullens serves as the backup quarterback, while Daniel Jones has recently joined the roster and may take over the #2 role. Aaron Jones leads the rushing attack with 1,138 yards and five touchdowns from 255 carries. Other running backs, Ty Chandler and Cam Akers, have also made contributions this season. In the receiving corps, Justin Jefferson stands out with 103 receptions for 1,533 yards and 10 touchdowns.
Defensive updates reveal that linebacker Patrick Jones II (knee) missed practice, and Ty Chandler (illness) was unable to practice on Friday. Aaron Jones (quad) was limited in practice, and his status should be monitored as kickoff approaches.
Rams Aiming for Divisional Round Advancement
The Rams wrapped up the NFC West title in Week 17 but opted to rest their starters in Week 18, resulting in a loss to Seattle that had no impact on their playoff fate. Finishing the regular season with a 10-7 record, Los Angeles is eager to secure a victory in this wild card matchup. Despite a spirited effort against Seattle, the Rams fell short in the final moments. They trailed throughout the game, down 7-3 in the first quarter, 17-13 at halftime, and 24-16 after three quarters. Los Angeles managed to take a 25-24 lead with just over seven minutes left but allowed an eight-play, 70-yard drive that led to Seattle’s winning points. The Rams outgained the Seahawks in total offense, 403-336, and held a slight edge in first downs, 20-18, along with a 31:10 to 28:50 advantage in time of possession, yet they still came away with the loss, compounded by a turnover late in the first half.
Los Angeles ranks 10th in passing offense, averaging 227.5 yards per game, while their rushing offense sits at 24th with 103.8 yards per contest. In scoring, they are 20th in the league, averaging 21.6 points per game, and they allow an average of 22.7 points, placing them 17th in scoring defense. Quarterback Matthew Stafford has completed 340 of 517 passes for 3,762 yards, with 20 touchdown passes and eight interceptions, while being sacked 28 times. Jimmy Garoppolo has also seen action, completing 27 of 41 passes for 334 yards and two touchdowns. Leading the rushing attack is Kyren Williams, who has 1,299 yards and 14 touchdowns from 316 carries. The receiving options include Tutu Atwell, Puka Nacua, and Cooper Kupp, all contributing significantly to the passing game. Kicker Joshua Karty has been reliable, converting 29 of 34 field goals and 32 of 36 extra points this season.
Heading into the weekend, the Rams have a light injury report. Tackle Rob Havenstein (shoulder) was limited in practice, and updates on his status will be important as kickoff approaches.
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