Minnesota Vikings 9-27 Los Angeles Rams: Matthew Stafford throws two touchdowns as Rams defense targets Sam Darnold nine times | NFL news
Matthew Stafford threw two touchdown passes as the Los Angeles Rams defeated the Minnesota Vikings, sacking Sam Darnold for an NFL playoff record-tying nine times and winning 27-9 in the NFC Wild Card game on Monday night.
The game was moved from Southern California to State Farm Stadium in Arizona due to ongoing wildfires.
Rookie Jared Verse returned a punt 57 yards for the Rams (11-7), who looked comfortable from the opening kickoff as they built a 10-0 lead by the end of the first quarter.
The win means they will now hit the road to face the Philadelphia Eagles in the Divisional Round next weekend.
Verse’s touchdown with 4:35 left in the second quarter gave the Rams a 17-3 lead. Darnold was under pressure from flashy cornerback Ahkell Witherspoon when he lost the ball, Verse scooped it up and ran down the field untouched before diving into the end zone.
It was the low light of a brutal first half for Darnold, who was making his first NFL playoff appearance. He was sacked five times before the break and threw an interception when Cobie Durant picked off a pass intended for Jordan Addison.
Statistics leaders
Minnesota Vikings
- Passage: Sam Darnold, 25/40, 245 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
- hurry: Aaron Jones, 13 carries, 48 yards
- Receiving: TJ Hockenson, 5 catches, 64 yards, 1 TD
Los Angeles Rams
- Passage: Matthew Stafford, 19/27, 209 yards, 2 TDs
- hurry: Kyren Williams, 16 carries, 76 yards
- Receiving: Tyler Higbee, 5 catches, 58 yards
Minnesota (14-4) had a chance to clinch the NFC’s top seed in the final game of the regular season, but Darnold struggled in a loss to Detroit. His poor finish calls into question his long-term future with the Vikings after playing under a one-year contract this season.
The Rams took a 24-3 lead when Stafford hit tight end Davis Allen for a 13-yard touchdown with 15 seconds left in the first half. Stafford finished with 209 yards passing and completed his first 10 passes, including all six for the opening touchdown.
Joshua Karty hit a 44-yard field goal to make it 27-3 early in the second half.
LA caught a break early in the second quarter when a potentially game-changing foul was overturned by replay. Stafford was pulled to the turf by Minnesota’s Jonathan Greenard when the running back pushed the ball forward just before it hit the ground.
Minnesota’s Blake Cashman grabbed the ball on the bounce and ran 26 yards to the end zone. The officials called it a fumble on the field, but upon re-review it was ruled an incomplete pass. The Vikings never threatened again.
Darnold completed 25 of 40 passes for 245 yards, but lost 82 yards on nine sacks. The Vikings managed to gain 269 total yards, many of which came when the game was already out of control.
Darnold: I didn’t play well enough
Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold: “Obviously I didn’t play well enough the past few weeks. I just left too many passes that I normally make. I have to pay better attention to the football.”
Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell: “I think it’s very important that we all think about Sam’s work, what he was able to do this year when not many people thought he could.
Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford: “This time of year, it doesn’t reward you for being timid. You’ve got to go out there and play. You’ve got to win playoffs, not just hope things go your way.”
What next?
The Rams will now advance to face the Philadelphia Eagles in the Divisional Round after Nick Sirianni’s team defeated the Green Bay Packers on Sunday.
Elsewhere, No. 1, the Kansas City Chiefs host the Houston Texans, while the Detroit Lions face the Washington Commanders and the Buffalo Bills take on the Baltimore Ravens.
Super Bowl LIX takes place Sunday, February 9 at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, live on Sky Sports NFL.
