Vikings 20 vs 30 Rams summary, stats, scores and highlights | NFL Week 8
The Vikings would get a couple cracks at tying the game, but this was the final blow. After being backed inside their own 5 yard line Sam Darnold was dragged down to the ground by his facemask on 3rd down but no flag was thrown. The Vikings still had to go the length of the field had the refs call the penalty, so it's not like it blew the game for Minnesota but Darnold was understandably upset.
He'll be more upset that the one time undefeated Vikings have dropped two straight games, and now they are going to have to answer questions as to whether this team is a contender or not.
The Rams look revived with Puka and Kupp back on the field. The defense played better. The offensive line played better. And now there has to be a sense of belief that this team can compete in an NFC West that doesn't have a clear cut favoirte with the 49ers struggling.
The Rams got the ball early in the 4th quarter and constructed a 10 play, time consuming drive that was finished off with Stafford's fourth TD pass of the game. He came in to the night with three TD passes all season, and had 4 against the Vikings. The final one went to Robinson for their second TD connection of the night.
Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp made this team look like the the Rams team that took the Lions to overtime in Week 1. Nacua caught 7 passes for 106 yards and Kupp had another 51 yard on 5 catches. It wasn't just the passing game that benefitted. The run game opened up as well, Kyren Williams had 97 yards on 23 rushes and another 19 yards receiving.
Stafford would thrown an interception on his only mistake of the game, but the defense would hold strong and Stafford would respond with this beautiful toss to Demarcus Robinson for his first of two TD catches.
The Rams didn't blink and eye in the face of the previously undefeated Vikings. Stafford and company knew this could have been his last game, Cooper Kupp's last team or both after trade rumors started to pop up this week.. Stafford showed these guys still have some gas in the tank, with this incredible scramble and TD toss from Stafford to Kupp to tie the game up on their second offensive drive.
The Vikings punched back, scoring a TD on their second straight possession thanks to Sam Darnold's perfect start to the game. He was 8/8 for 94 yards and had two TDs after connecting to Trent Sherfield to put the Vikings back in the lead. It looked so easy for the Vikings in the first quarter, but that would be their final TD of the game.
Darnold ended the game with 240 yards and 2 TDs on 18/25 passing, but thing really changed for Minnesota when their left tackle Christian Darrishaw was helped off the field right before the halftime break.
Matthew Stafford and the offense got a massive boost before the game when not only Cooper Kupp returned from injury, but so too did Puka Nacua who hadn't even practiced since getting injured back in Week 1. Nacua was locked it from the start catching a couple passes to move the ball down the field and set up this TD pass from Matthew Stafford to Kyren Williams.
After Aaron Jones was moving the ball on the run and Jefferson was catching everything that was thrown his way, it was Josh Oliver who made the first TD catch of the game. The Vikings looked like they had shaken off the loss to the Lions in the early going, but the offense would eventually slow down.
The Los Angeles Rams were in a life or death situation on Thursday night with the season hanging in the balance. There was talk of big stars being traded out of LA, but that talk has been put on pause after a massive primetime win over the MInnesota Vikings.
The Vikings won the toss and elected to receive to start the game. They wanted the ball after suffering their first loss on Sunday to Detroit. Sam Darnold and Justin Jefferson marched the Vikings right down the field, connecting on four passes to set up the opening TD of the game.
IT'S ALL OVER!!!
The Rams win back to back games, and Stafford shines in Nacua and Kupp's return.
The Rams recover the onside kick and that will officially do it.
Hard to believe the refs missed that call right there. Not to say it lost the Vikings the game, but it couldn't have extended their drive.
SAFETY!!!
Darnold is ripped down by Young by the facemask but no flag flies and the call on the field is a safety!!!
The Rams are going to win this game!
Darnold's deep back shoulder pass to Addison is under thrown on the left sideline.
2nd and 10 from the MIN 3.
What a punt from Evans who kicks it out of bounds at the 3!
MIN ball with 1:46 to go!
Pass to the flat for Kupp who races up the sideline for a gain of 9 yards but he is pushed out of bounds with 1:53 to go.
4th and 3 from the MIN 46.
WE ARE AT THE TWO MINUTE WARNING HERE FROM LA!!!
Nacua on the end around and he had to fall to the ground for a 2 yard loss just to make sure he stayed in bounds.
3rd and 12 from the 45.
Williams is stopped for no gain on first down.
2nd and 10 from the LA 48.
Stafford fakes the pass to the flat and goes deep down the left side for Kupp who makes the catch for a 28 yard gain and a first down!
1st and 10 from the LA 48! Timeout MIN with 3:17 to go, their final TO.
Williams gets stopped for a loss of a yard by Jones and the Vikings call a timeout with 3:26 to go.
3rd and 9 from the LA 20 coming up.
LA will take over from the 19 and Williams gets 2 yards on the run up the middle.
2nd and 8 from the LA 21.
Darnold goes deep to Mundt and that pass is over thrown! Big stand by the Rams defense!
4th and long and the Vikings have to punt with 4:11 to go.
Darnold is dropped in the backfield by Verse and Hoecht for a 13 yard loss!
3rd and 21 from the MIN 44
Jones up the middle and he gets two yards on the run up the middle.
2nd and 8 from the LA 43.
MIN get the ball from the 30 with 6:17 to go.
Darnold finds Oliver on the crossing route and he turns up the right sideline for a gain of 25 yards.
1st and 10 from the LA 45.
Matthew Stafford had three TD passes on the season coming into this game. He has four in this game. This one to Robinson for their second TD link up of the night.
TOUCHDOWN RAMS!!!
Stafford with all kinds of time and he finds Robinson on the right side for a 10 yard TD pitch and catch!
LA leads 28-20 after the PAT and we have 6:17 to go in the 4th quarter!
Williams weaves his way down the field for a 7 yard gain in traffic.
3rd and 4 from the MIN 10.
Williams up the middle and he stopped for a loss of a yard by Smith.
2nd and 11 from the MIN 17.
Stafford's pass to Kupp falls incomplete but a penalty flies for pass interference.
1st and 10 from the MIN 16.
Williams is stopped in the backfield for a loss of a yard by Greenard.
2nd and 11 from the MIN 27.
Williams up the middle and he moves the chains with a 3 yard gain.
1st and 10 from the MIN 26.
Williams is stopped for no gain and we have a 4th and short coming up.
4th and 1 from the MIN 29.
Stafford finds Williams out of the backfield for a gain of 7 yards on the pass to the right side.
3rd and 1 from the MIN 29.
Corum up the middle for a 2 yard gain on first down.
2nd and 8 from the MIN 36.
Corum up the right side and he picks up 2 yards on the first down run.
2nd and 8 from the MIN 42.
Stafford rolls to the left side and he finds Long with a strike at the marker and he turns up field for a gain of 18.
1st and 10 from the MIN 38.
Stafford finds Corum out of the backfield with a short pass to the left side and he picks up 9 yards and a first down.
1st and 10 from the LA 44.
LA get the ball from their 30 and get a free five yards as MIN came on the field with too many men.
1st and 5 from the LA 35.
FIELD GOAL!!!
Reichard hits the 35 yard field goal to bring the Vikings within a point.
LA lead 21-20 with 12:47 to go in the 4th quarter.
Darnold steps up in the pocket and hits Nailor in the chest on a pass over the middle but he dropped it and the FG unit will come on.
4th and 4 from the LA 17.
Jones again, up the middle again, and he gets two yards this time.
3rd and 4 from the LA 17.
Jones up the middle and he picks up 4 yards on the first down run.
2nd and 6 from the LA 19.
Darnold goes down the right sideline for Jones and he makes the catch falling to he ground for a 25 yard gain to extend the drive.
1st and 10 from the LA 23.
WE ARE AT THE END OF THE THIRD QUARTER AND IT'S THE RAMS LEADING BY FOUR WITH 15:00 TO GO.
Darnold hits Nailor on a strike over the middle and that goes for 7 yards as we come to the end of the quarter.
3rd and 3 from the LA 48.
Jones gets the toss to the right side and he is stopped for no gain.
2nd and 10 from the MIN 45.
Darnold steps up in the pocket and he finds Mundt with a short pass that he turns into a 10 yard gain with the run after catch.
1st and 10 from the MIN 45.
MIN get the ball from the 30 and Jones goes to the right side with a 5 yard run on first down.
2nd and 5 from the MIN 35.
Stafford bounces back from the interception with a TD drive polished off by beautiful catch from Robinson.
TOUCHDOWN RAMS!!!
Stafford lobs one up to Robinson on the left side and he makes the contested catch on the end zone on a 25 yard pitch and catch!
LA take their first lead, it's 21-17 with 2:36 to go in the 3rd quarter!
Williams on the run up the middle but he is taken down after a gain of 2.
2nd and 8 from the MIN 25.
A false start moves LA back 5 yards, and Stafford finds Nacua over the middle with a 19 yard strike after getting great protection.
1st and 10 from the MIN 27.
Stafford going back to Atwell with a deep shot down the left side but that pass was batted away by Murphy. He was open for a second, but Murphy made a great play to break up that pass.
2nd and 10 from the MIN 41.
Stafford looks to Atwell for the first time and he makes the catch and gets pushed out of bounds on the right sideline for a gain of 18.
1st and 10 from the MIN 41.
Stafford goes to Williams out of the backfield but that screen pass was dropped by the RB.
2nd and 10 from the LA 41.
Stafford with plenty of time and he sidearms one to Parkinson for a gain of 9 and a first down.
1st and 10 from the LA 41.
LA will take the ball back from their 30 and Williams gets 2 yards on a run up the middle.
2nd and 8 from the LA 32.
FIELD GOAL!!!
Reichard drills the FG from 23 yards out and the Vikings take the lead with the first points since early in the 2nd quarter.
MIN lead 17-14 with under 6:30 to go in the 3rd quarter.
Darnold looking for Jefferson in the endzone but he was triple covered and that pass falls incomplete.
4th and Goal from the LA 5.
Jones up the middle and he picks up 3 yards.
3rd and Goal from the 5.
Jones is dropped for a 4 yard loss on the play the Vikes rushed to snap so the Rams couldn't throw the challenge flag.
2nd and Goal from the 8.
Darnold lobs it up the left sideline to Jefferson who made a juggling act and might have got two feet in, but the Vikings rushed up field so quickly the Rams didn't have time to see the play and challenge it!
1st and Goal from the LA 4.
Darnold steps up in the pocket and fires it to Jefferson up the right hash mark for a gain of 14 yards.
1st and 10 from the LA 31.
Run to the right side for Jones and he picks up 2 yards on first down.
2nd and 8 from the LA 45.
Darnold finds Addison on the left sideline and he fights for an 8 yard gain and a first down.
1st and 10 from the LA 47.
Jones picks up two yards on the first down run up the middle.
2nd and 8 from the MIN 45.
Darnold finds Jones on the screen pass to the left side and he follows his blockers for a gain of 12 yards.
1st and 10 from the MIN 43.
Jones up the middle on first down and he picks up 4 yards.
2nd and 6 from the MIN 31.
It's Murphy and the Vikings D that comes up with the first big play of the night. We are used to seeing them make game changing plays, so let's see how that affects the momentum of this game.
INTERCEPTION!!!
Stafford looking for Robinson on the out route to the left side but that pass was over thrown and intercepted by Murphy!!!
MIN ball from their 27 three minutes into the second half!
Stafford takes a shot to the endzone for Nacua down the left sideline but that pass was a little over thrown.
3rd and 6 from the MIN 46.
Williams up the middle and he picks up 4 yards on first down.
2nd and 6 from the MIN 46.
Stafford looking to Nacua on the right sideline and he reels it in for a gain of 19 yards!
1st and 10 from the 50!!
Williams up the middle and he picks up 7 yards to make it 3rd and manageable.
3rd and 9 from the LA 31.
Stafford going deep down the right sideline for Nacua who almost made an amazing adjustment and catch for a big gain. It wouldn't have counted anyway because there was a holding penalty on LA.
2nd and 16 from the LA 24.
LA get the ball from their 30 and Stafford finds Nacua for a short gain of 4 on the pass to the right side.
2nd and 6 from the LA 34.
WE ARE BACK IN LA FOR THE SECOND HALF OF ACTION!
This Rams offense is a different beast with Puka and Kupp on the field. Nacua got most of the looks but Kupp got into the end zone after a miracle play from Stafford to extend the play and find his favorite WR in the end zone.
Stafford is 13/18 with 105 yards and two TDs, and Kupp has 15 yards and a TD on three catches.
Darnold was 8/8 for 94 yards and two TDs after the first two drives of the game. He found Trent Sheffield for the second of his two TDs as the Vikings took the lead late in the first half.
Puka Nacua made a shock start tonight, and he was a huge part of both TD drives for LA. He ended the half with 64 yards on 4 catches, but it was Kyren Williams who tied the game up with a five yard TD catch.
After the heartbreak on Sunday against the Lions, MIN came right down the field and scored on the opening drive. Darnold hit Josh Olive on the crossing route to take the lead which would only last a few minutes.
Sam Darnold got off to a red hot start, in large part because of Justin Jefferson who had 6 catches for 74 yards in the first half, most of those coming in the first quarter.
IT'S HALFTIME HERE FROM LA.
We got off to a hot start, but things slowed down a little as the second quarter wore on.
Darnold takes a knee and we are headed to halftime.
MIN get the ball from their 3 yard line. Jones up the middle and he picks up 2 yards. Darrisaw went down and is slow to get up. That would be a huge loss for MIN.
2nd and 8 from the MIN 5.
Stafford looking for Williams out of the backfield but that pass was batted down at the line by Greenard.
4th and 6 from the 50.
Stafford's short pass to Kuup is batted away by Gilmore on the left side.
3rd and 6 from the 50.
Kupp over the middle and he makes the short catch for 4 yards.
2nd and 6 from the 50.
Willams moves the chains and picks up 5 yard on a run up the middle.
1st and 10 from the LA 46.
Stafford rolls right and under hands it to Willams for a gain of 6 yards and he gets out of bounds with 1:30 on the clock.
2nd and 4 from the LA 41.
Williams up the middle and he burst up field for a gain of 12.
1st and 10 from the LA 23.
WE ARE AT THE TWO MINUTE WARNING FROM LA!
Stafford moves the chains with a pass to the right side for Parkinson for a gain of 8.
1st and 10 from the LA 23.
LA get the ball from their 11 and Williams picks up 4 yards on the run to the left side.
2nd and 6 from the LA 15.
Short pass to the right side for Nailor, and he is going to be well short of the marker after picking up 9 yards.
4th and 16 from the MIN 36.
After a sack, the Vikings jump early and are flagged for a false start. After the penalty, Darnold is chased out of the pocket and throws it out of bounds on the left sideline.
3rd and 25 from the MIN 27.
MIN get the ball back from their 42, and Darnold is dropped by Verse for a loss of 10 yards after blowing through the middle of the line.
2nd and 20 from the MIN 32.
Williams up the middle for a nice chunk of 13 but that will be well short of the marker.
4th and 5 from the LA 22 and the Rams will punt with under 5:00 to go in the half.
Screen set up for Williams but he is wrapped up for a loss of 2 by Van Ginkel.
3rd and 18 from the LA 9.
After another false start on LA, Williams picks up a tough 7 yards, but that run is going to come back for offensive holding.
2nd and 16 from the LA 11.
Corum up the middle and he picks up five yards on first down.
2nd and 5 from the LA 22.
Stafford was under pressure and had to throw it into the dirt, but a flag flies for illegal use of hands on MIN which will extend the drive.
1st and 10 from the LA 17.
After a false start on the center Limmer, Stafford finds Kupp in the flat on the left side and he is taken down after a short 4 yard gain.
3rd and 10 from the LA 12.
LA get the ball back from their 12 and Corum picks up a yard on the run to the right side.
2nd and 9 from the LA 13.
Darnold was under pressure and his pass skip off the dirt. We will have our first punt of the game after four straight TDs.
4th and 9 from the MIN 31.
Stafford finds Jefferson on the left side and he picks up 6 yards after a short throw.
3rd and 9 from the MIN 31.
MIN get the ball from the 30, but a false start and Darnold's pass to Nailor falls incomplete on the left side.
2nd and 15 from the MIN 25.
Look at the escape from Stafford before he finds ole faithful in the back of the end zone. Kupp has a TD and Nacua has four catches for 64 yards. It's good to have the stars back in LA if you are a Rams fan.
TOUCHDOWN RAMS!!!
Stafford looked like he was wrapped up in the backfield, but pulled a Houdini act, escaped, looked up and found Kupp in the back of the end zone for the TD!
We are all tied up at 14-14 here from LA with 10:00 to go in the first half.
Williams up the middle on first down and he is stopped by Pace for a loss of a yard.
2nd and Goal from the 7.
LA is called for a false start after Jackson jumped, and after the penalty, Stafford goes for Kupp on the out route to the right side and a flag flies for defensive pass interference.
1st and Goal from the MIN 6.
Williams up the middle and he is stopped after a gain of 1.
3rd and 2 from the MIN 6.
Nacua on the end around and he picks up 7 yards, and he is having a monster first half.
2nd and 3 from the MIN 7.
Slant pattern from Nacu and he makes the catch and takes it for 14 yards and another first down.
1st and 10 from the MIN 14.
Corum gets his first carry to the right side but is stopped after a gain of a yard.
2nd and 9 from the MIN 28.
Williams to the left side and he takes that first down run for 17 yards and another first down.
1st and 10 from the MIN 29.
Stafford looks to Nacua on the short pass over the middle and that pass was jarred out of his hands. A late flag flies for defensive holding to give LA a first down.
1st and 10 fro the MIN 46.
WE ARE AT THE END OF THE FIRST QUARTER FROM LA.
The Vikings have been perfect so for, but the Rams aren't far behind. MIN leads 14-7 but LA is knocking on the door.
Stafford finds Williams on the left side out of the backfield and he picks up 3 yards on the final play of the first quarter.
3rd and 7 from the LA 49.
Pass over the middle for Kupp and that pass hit him in the hands but he couldn't reel it in.
2nd and 10 from the LA 46.
LA get the ball back from their 30 and Stafford goes over the middle for Nacua on the slant to the left and he picks up 16 yards on first down.
1st and 10 from the LA 46.
Sam Darnold is already 8/8 for 92 yards and has 2 TDs. He has been perfect so far and the Vikings lead 14-7 with under a minute to go.
TOUCHDOWN VIKINGS!!!
Darnold drops back with plenty of time and he finds Sherfield who makes the catch and walk into the end zone!
MIN lead 14-7 with under 1 minute to go in the 1st quarter.
Jones up the middle and he picks up a first down with a five yard dive to the right side.
1st and Goal from the 10.
Jefferson makes his fifth catch of the night, this one on the out route to the right side for a gain of 5.
2nd and 5 from the LA 15.
Darnold with the QB sneak and he moves the chains with a gain of 2.
1st and 10 from the LA 20.
Jones picks up 4 yards on the run up the middle.
3rd and 1 from the LA 22.
Darnold tucks it and runs after the roll out to the right side.
2nd and 5 from the LA 26.
Darnold over the middle and he finds Jefferson on the deep in route for a gain of 19 yards.
1st and 10 from the LA 31.
Jones with the carry to the right side and he picks up 7 yards on first down.
2nd and 3 from the 50.
Darnold finds Addison on the out route to the right side for a 14 yard gain.
1st and 10 from the MIN 43.
MIN take over from the 30 and Jones is stuffed for a loss of a yard on first down.
2nd and 11 from the MIN 29.
Nacua made most of the big plays on his first drive back since Week 1 but it was Williams punching it in from five yards out on the short pitch and catch.
TOUCHDOWN RAMS!!!
Wililams slips out of the backfield and into the middle and Stafford found him at the goal line the five yard TD pitch and catch. Both teams come out swinging and we are all tied up.
It's 7-7 with under 7:00 in the first quarter.
Stafford looking for Kupp for the first time and that pass was tto far out in front of the WR in the back of the end zone.
3rd and Goal from the MIN 5.
Williams up the middle and he gets two yards on first down.
2nd and Goal from the MIN 5.
Williams was taken down after a gain of a yard but flags fly for a facemask on MIN.
1st and Goal from the MIN 7.
WR screen set up for Nacua and he follows his brigade of blockers for a 21 yard gain down inside the Vikings 20 yard line.
1st and 10 from the MIN 17.
Stafford goes short on the left for Johnson who makes the catch for a gain of 6 on first down.
2nd and 4 from the LA 44.
Williams breaks a run up the middle and moves the chains with a 13 yard run.
1st and 10 from the MIN 44.
Stafford goes right back to Nacua and this time he makes the catch and turns up field for a 13 yard gain.
1st and 10 from the LA 43.
LA start their first drive from the 30 and Stafford looks for the newly returned Nacua who dropped the ball on the short throw to the left side. He's going to have to shake off the rust a bit tonight.
2nd and 10 from the LA 30.
Darnold was near perfect game against the Lions, and started this drive a perfect 4/4 including this TD pass to Oliver.
That looked too easy for the Vikings and Sam Darnold who found Jefferson on three different occasions to open the game.
TOUCHDOWN VIKINGS!!!
Minnesota drives right down the field and eases into the end zone with a five yard lob from Darnold to Oliver on the crossing route to the left side.
MIN lead 7-0 less than five minutes into this one.
Darnold finds Jefferson again, this time over the middle and that catch puts the Vikings inside the 5 yard line!
1st and Goal from the LA 4.
Jones on the run to the right side and he pick up four yards on first down.
2nd and 6 from the LA 21.
Jefferson on the deep stop route and he makes the catch for a 17 yard gain on the left side.
1st and 10 from the LA 25.
Curl was hurt in the secondary for the Rams and he will needs some medical attention.
Jones moves the chains with a four yard run to the right side.
1st and 10 from the LA 42.
Jones bounces outside to the right sideline and picks up 9 yards on first down.
2nd and 1 from the LA 46.
Darnold goes to the air and finds Jefferson on the slant to the left side and he picks up 10 yards and a first down.
1st and 10 from the MIN 45.
Jones gets the handoff up the middle and gets five yards on the first play of the game.
2nd and 5 from the MIN 35.
The Vikings get the ball to start the game and they will begin their opening drive from the 30.
WE ARE UNDERWAY FROM LA!!!
There's no place like LA
Vikings star receiver Justin Jefferson broke out the rub red slippers for the Thursdasy Night Football game against the Rams. He's from Louisiana, so this isn't a no place like home moment, but the Pro Bowler feels right at home in primetime. What's he have in store tonight?
Tonight's odds
If you look at nothing other than the records of each team, the spread doesn’t make a whole lot of sense coming into tonight. The one-loss Vikings just a 3 point favorite against the two-win Rams and the Over/Under is set at 48.
Vikings vs. Rams spread: Vikings -3
Vikings vs. Rams Over/Under: 48
Vikings vs. Rams moneyline: Vikings -166, +140
The Vikings are a good team. They have shown that all season, even in their first loss of the year last game against the Lions. Their defense comes out and makes life difficult for opposing offenses, and Sam Darnold has been great to this point of the season. I think the Vikings shake off their last loss and come into LA smelling blood.
Vikings win 31-10.
Head to head series
These two NFC foes have met 47 times since their first match up back in 1961. Since then they have met in the playoffs a number of times and even went head to head in a couple NFC Championship back in the 1970s. The Vikings own the series lead, 27-18-2 but they have lost the last two match ups including their last encounter back in December of 2021. Tonight the Vikings will look to bounce back from their first loss of the season and stop the losing skid against the Rams.
NFC standings
Taking a look at the standings in the NFC, we see there are no undefeated teams left after the Vikings loss to the Lions last week. That loss not only ruined their perfect season but it knocked them out of the top spot in the NFC North. The Lions have jumped them for the 1 spot in what is looking like the best division in football. The Rams meanwhile, are at the bottom of the NFC West, but all is not lost for Stafford and company. They are just two games behind the Seahawks coming into this game, and with some of their stars on the verge of coming back there is still plenty of time to make a run for the division title.
LA get their WRs back
Huge news out of LA tonight. Now only is Cooper Kupp expected to make his return against the Vikings but so is Puka Nacua. It’s only normal to see the offensive production dip when you lose a guy who has been one of the best receivers in the league for the last half decade. Cooper Kupp injured his ankle in the Rams’ Week 2 loss to the Cardinals. LA didn’t put him on the injured reserve list, hoping he would return before the mandatory four weeks a player must wait after being put on IR. He ended up sitting out five weeks, but all indications point to Kupp returning to the field tonight against the Vikings. Nacua on the other hand wasn’t expected to be ready for tonight but he was listed as questionable and all signs point to him playing.
Season recap: Vikings
No one really expected anything from the Vikings coming into this season. They had lost Kirk Cousins in free agency, and drafted a rookie QB to be their face of the future. J.J. McCarthy suffered a season ending injury before the season even started, and voyager QB Sam Darnold took the keys to the car. He has played sensational football in the five six games of the season, leading his team to five straight wins against some of the toughest teams in the league, including the Niners, the Texans and the Packers. Their loss to the Lions hurts, but Detroit is considered one of the best teams in the league and they lost by a late field goal for their first loss of the season. Now it’s time to see if this team is a legit contender or if they are a team that is going to fade away as the season goes on and the games get tougher. They can make a massive statement with a bounce back win tonight in LA.
Season recap: Rams
The Rams showed they can be hang with some of the top teams in the league back in Week 1 when they came into the season some what heathy. Their offensive line may not have been at full strength, for the game against the Lions but they had Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp. They would force overtime in Detroit, but eventually lose the opener. Nacua was injured in that game and then Cooper Kupp went down in a Week 2 loss to the Cardinals. Somehow they came back from a double digit deficit on the Niners the next week without their top two WRs, but lost their next two by just one possession against tough teams that are above .500. Matthew Stafford is always going to keep his guys in the game, and that’s what we have seen this season despite the injury problems. Now it looks like the Rams are starting to get healthy at the right time, the only question is, is it too late?
Last game: Rams
It wasn’t a very easy game to watch on Sunday from Sofi as the Rams hosted the Raiders. Neither team moved the ball well, and it was a game that was dominated by defense. The Rams D kept Gardner Minshew and the Raiders out of the end zone all game, limiting them to five field goals, and forcing four turnovers. One of those was a fumble that got scooped and scored by Kamren Curl to give the Rams a 14-3 lead in the 2nd quarter. Kyren Williams would stretch the lead to 20-6 in the 3rd quarter and the defense would take over from there. It wasn’t pretty but the Rams rattled off their 2nd win of the season and are starting to get healthier.
Last game: Vikings
The Vikings were coming off their BYE as one of two remaining teams left in the league. Their defense was a take away machine for the first five games and Sam Darnold strung together their best five games of his career. Everything started off perfectly in the Vikes first quarter against the Detroit Lions. Aaron Jones opened the game with a 34 yard TD run and Minnesota would stretch the lead out to 10 points in the opening 15 minutes. The Lions woke up and scored three TDs in the second half to take the lead at halftime, but the Vikings weren’t done. Darnold had another fantastic game, going 22/27 for 259, 1 TD and 1 INT, but it took an Ivan Pace 36 yard fumble return for the Vikings to take a late one point lead with under 6:00 to go in the fourth quarter. Jared Goff would march his team down the field and set up a game winning 44 yard field goal from Jake Bates with 15 seconds to go to hand the Vikings their first loss of the season.
We are live from LA
Hello everyone and welcome to Sofi Stadium where the Rams are back home after winning just their second game of the season. It’s been a rough first half of the season for Matt Stafford and the Rams who saw their top two receivers go down in the first two weeks of the season and since then they have just been trying to keep their heads above water. The Vikings however, have been in the upper echelon of the NFL after a shocking start that saw them go into their BYE at 5-0. They came out of their BYE and took on a tough Detroit Lions team that dealt them their first loss of the season, and tonight they look to bounce back on a short week.
Vikings vs. Rams live
Two teams on opposite ends of the NFC spectrum lock horns in a Thursday night showdown from Sofi Stadium. One is considered one of the top teams in the league while they other is trying to distance themselves from the bottom feeders of the NFL after an injury plagued start to the season. It’s the one loss Minnesota Vikings taking on the two-win LA Rams and AS English is going to be with you all night providing live coverage, stats, highlights and analysis of tonight’s game from Los Angeles.