Rams advance to divisional round with 27-9 win over Vikings

The Rams faced real adversity throughout the first week of the playoffs, as fires raging around Los Angeles forced Monday night’s game to be moved to Arizona.

But the club was able to rally together and pull out a 27-9 victory to advance to the divisional round.

Los Angeles’ defense relentlessly pressured Darnold, especially in the first half, as the club tallied six sacks before finishing the contest with nine, tying a single-game record in playoffs. None were more consequential than Ahkello Witherspoon’s strip-sack midway through the second quarter, as rookie Jared Verse scooped up the loose ball and returned it 57 yards for a touchdown.

According to ESPN, the Rams became the first team since the 1970 merger to record at least eight sacks and have a defensive touchdown in a playoff game.

It was one of three touchdowns for Los Angeles in the first half, as Matthew Stafford also threw two for two scores – a 5-yard pass to Kyren Williams and a 13-yard pass to Davis Allen at the end of the second quarter.

Los Angeles expanded its lead to 27-3 with a 44-yard field goal early in the third quarter before Minnesota finally got into the end zone with a 26-yard touchdown pass from Sam Darnold to TJ Hockenson.

Trailing by 24 at the time of the touchdown, the Vikings chose to score two, but Justin Jefferson was tackled on the play well before reaching the goal line.

Darnold was far from Minnesota’s only problem Monday night, but he once again played poorly in a must-win situation. Missing throws and taking a few unnecessary sacks, he finished the game 25 of 40 for 245 yards with a touchdown, an interception and a lost fumble.

Stafford handled much of the contest, with three of the Rams’ first eight plays going for at least 20 yards to set up a touchdown and a field goal. He finished the game 19 of 27 for 209 yards with two touchdowns.

With this victory, the Rams will face the Eagles next Sunday at 3 p.m. ET on NBC.