For the record, the Minnesota Vikings are the best wild-card team in NFL history. Their performance Monday night against the Los Angeles Rams suggested the opposite.
Los Angeles won 27-9, and the NFC West champion Rams traveled to Philadelphia, where the Eagles awaited and the Vikings shook their heads in confusion.
Oh, what that could be.
Minnesota was a 14-win team two weeks ago, coming off a stunning performance against the Green Bay Packers and riding a nine-game winning streak into a crucial season finale against the Detroit Lions .
Then everything fell apart.
After a dismal performance against their division rivals last Sunday that saw them miss out on the NFC’s top seed and drop to fifth place, the Vikings hit the road in Arizona to try and make their way through wild-card weekend. The right to win back into the divisional round.
It proved to be a one-way trip heading into the early part of the offseason, an eight-month what-if for a star-studded team that couldn’t shine when it mattered most.
Instead, it’s the Rams — a team that was shut out early, but has since rallied to contend and now looks like a team that won’t be easy to stop.
Here are our key takeaways from Monday night’s road win over the Vikings in a thrilling Wild Card Weekend game.
Thanks to the Cardinals, Arizona feels like home to the Rams
It wasn’t just football Monday night, with tributes pouring in for those affected by the Los Angeles wildfires and stories of how the Cardinals moved quickly to move the Rams’ entire operations to Arizona and transform State Farm Stadium into story. Ram’s House, only one night stay.
While red notes are scattered around the stadium, the Rams’ bright blue adorns nearly every surface, from the banners around the stands and signs painted on the field to the on-site fan store selling Rams merchandise. It’s a strange sight, but beautiful.
Division rivals on the football field, but clearly the most important family in every aspect.
Rams defense beats Darnold’s dominant performance
Recently retired Ram Aaron Donald was one of many Los Angeles fans on hand to cheer on his old team in Arizona on Monday night, despite the way the Rams defense looked like the three-man The Defensive Player of the Year is right there on the court with them. Such was the dominance of the Rams’ front four on Monday night, a unit that ran through Minnesota’s offensive line like a wrecking ball and sacked Darnold nine times. Eight different Rams players had at least half a sack in the performance.
That’s a decisive answer—with an exclamation point attached! — One of the Rams’ most pressing questions heading into the 2024 season: How will Los Angeles’ defense shape up in the post-Donald era?
Answer: Fortunately, it’s still as scary as ever!
While Los Angeles’ defense has drawn much attention, their performance wasn’t a complete surprise. The front office and coaching staff have been developing this young defense — which includes a handful of 2024 draft picks, led by edge rusher Jared Firth — all season long, and it’s really starting to work. Excluding the Week 18 loss to the Seahawks, a meaningless game in which the Rams rested most of their starters, Los Angeles has now finished four games with nine points or fewer.
The Rams limited the Vikings’ high-octane offense to 269 total yards and allowed just 3.8 yards per game. Minnesota ran 20 more possessions than the Rams but still lost by 18 points. Darnold’s only interception came at pick six, where he was intercepted by rookie Visser and sprinted home — the 2024 Rams’ answer to the Donald-sized gap left by No. 99.
Rams’ strong start brings a hint of déjà vu
Monday’s game began with a rare yet all-too-familiar sight for the Vikings, whose defense has been sharp all year long…with a few notable exceptions. Minnesota has given up just two opening touchdowns in 17 regular season games this year, one of which came to the Rams when the teams met in Week 8. They gave up a third touchdown when the Rams chased them again Monday night. High heels early.
Both times, Los Angeles’ first touchdowns against Minnesota came on five-yard passes at midfield to running back Kyren Williams.
Both times, the Rams prevailed. That October game, which Los Angeles won 30-20 at home, was a turning point for both clubs. The Rams, who looked like trade deadline sellers at the time, put on an offensive display that made everyone — themselves included — realize that, when healthy, this is still a team capable of greatness. career team. From there, they made their way through the clogged NFC West.
The Vikings, meanwhile, began a nine-game winning streak after that loss until the Lions stopped them in Week 18. We now know what happened next.
Rams’ running game star, but supporting cast emerges too
Of course, Los Angeles’ offensive onslaught didn’t stop with their start — and it wasn’t all a repeat of their Week 8 win. Stafford completed 19 of 27 passes for 209 yards, two touchdowns, and no interceptions, barely targeting his top stars in this one. Eight different weapons caught at least one pass for double-digit yardage, with star Cooper Kupp targeting just once and co-star Puka Nacua ) led the way with five carries but only gained 44 yards. Williams led Los Angeles’ offense, carrying the ball 16 times for 76 yards and catching three passes — including the aforementioned deja vu opening score.
Darnold ends magical season in Minnesota with more questions than answers
Sam Darnold’s rise from bust and backup to starting quarterback on one of the NFL’s most dynamic offenses is one of the best stories of the 2024 season.
His return to reality, fueled by a succession of disastrous performances on the biggest stages, was unbearable to watch.
Between last week’s loss to the Lions and Monday’s loss to Los Angeles, Darnold’s offense combined for just 18 points. Darnold looked shaky, out of sync with his receivers, completely out of his depth, holding onto the ball for too long and even unable to convert the ball. The shortest exit path. Justin Jefferson is a class receiver of his own and can’t generate much offense around him.
Just a few weeks ago, people weren’t that crazy to think Minnesota might re-sign Darnold, given his performance all year long. Now that it seems almost certain that he’ll move on, it’s worth thinking about how much those two-game decline might cost him on his next contract, wherever that may be.
JJ Is McCarthy ready to take the reins?
Rams win sets final piece of division weekend puzzle
The divisional round slate has been set, with the Rams occupying the final spot — a game against the Eagles on Sunday afternoon.
