Wild Card Weekend Finale: Los Angeles Rams vs. Minnesota Vikings
The Los Angeles Rams and Minnesota Vikings meet again in the first round of the playoffs at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, on Monday night, with the winner advancing to the NFC Divisional Round.
In their previous meeting in Week 8, the Rams upset the Vikings 30-20, with quarterback Sam Darnold posting a career-high passer rating of 128.8. However, the Rams’ offense has since struggled, scoring an average of just 14.6 points in their last three games. The Vikings, meanwhile, have won nine straight games before a season-ending loss to the Detroit Lions.
The Rams’ offense, led by quarterback Matthew Stafford, needs to find its rhythm against a stingy Vikings defense, which allows just 28.1 points per game. However, the Rams’ defense, led by a youthful group of players, is looking to continue its strong play, allowing just 13.5 points per game over their last four contests.
The Vikings’ offense, led by quarterback Sam Darnold, needs to bounce back from a poor performance in the regular-season finale, where he threw for just 166 yards and no touchdowns. Wider receiver Justin Jefferson and running back Dalvin Cook will be key players in the Vikings’ offense.
Three things to watch in this game:
1. Sam Darnold’s bounce-back performance: Darnold needs to regain his form from earlier in the season to lead the Vikings to a deep playoff run. He will need to step up and find ways to exploit the Rams’ defense.
2. The Rams’ offense: The Rams’ offense has struggled in recent weeks, and they will need to find a way to get their offense going if they hope to advance to the next round. They will need to find a way to get their receivers involved in the game plan.
3. The youth movement on defense: The Rams’ defense is getting younger and better, led by a group of players who were drafted in the past two years. They will need to continue their strong play to give the team a chance to win.
