Rams beat Vikings 27-9 to advance to face Eagles in divisional round

GLENDALE, Ariz. – Powered by a near-record performance thanks to their pass rush and an outstanding game from quarterback Matthew Stafford, the Rams defeated the Vikings 27-9 in Monday night’s Wild Card playoff game at State Farm Stadium .

With the win, the Rams advance to the divisional round to face the Eagles in Philadelphia next Sunday at noon Pacific Time (NBC/Peacock).

Defensive end Kobie Turner’s two sacks punctuated a pass rush that sacked Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold nine times, tying the NFL single-game playoff record. Six came in the first half, the most in the first half of a playoff game since 1988. That was more than double Los Angeles’ total since its Week 8 win over Minnesota. The Vikings lost a total of 82 yards on those sacks.

Outside linebacker Jared Verse had a crucial 56-yard fumble return for a touchdown for the first touchdown of his career.

Stafford opened the game by completing his first 10 pass attempts, racking up 113 yards and a passing touchdown. He finished 19 of 27 for 209 yards and 2 touchdowns in the victory.

Tight end Tyler Higbee left the game in the first half with a chest injury; he was initially deemed questionable to return before being demoted in the third quarter. Before getting injured, Higbee was the Rams’ leading receiver in the game with 5 catches for 58 yards. Additionally, cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon left the game with a thigh injury after quarterback Sam Darnold’s 26-yard touchdown pass to tight end TJ Hockenson and was ruled questionable for his back.

Here is the full recap of the game, presented by Toyota:

The Rams scored on the game’s first drive, with Stafford finding Williams for a 5-yard touchdown pass to take a quick 7-0 lead. Stafford was 6 of 6 for 64 yards plus the touchdown pass on this series, with a 27-yard completion to Nacua on the first play of the game and later a 23-yard completion to tight end Tyler Higbee.

After the Los Angeles defense forced a 3-and-out on the next possession – including negative yardage on the first two plays – the offense returned the favor with a 34-yard Josh Karty field goal to extend the lead. The Rams’ lead was 10-0 with 4:01 left in the first quarter.

The Vikings got on the board with a 34-yard field goal from kicker Will Reichard early in the second quarter.

The Vikings nearly tied the game two plays later on a 26-yard fumble return for a touchdown by linebacker Blake Cashman, but officials overturned the call after further review and ruled it was from an incomplete pass from Stafford. Yet the Rams were ultimately forced to punt late in the possession after going 3-and-out.

A run on the kicker penalty briefly kept the Vikings’ offensive streak alive – a bruising penalty that erased a huge third-down sack on a Cobie Durant cornerback blitz – but Durant still got the ball back on an interception . However, an offensive holding penalty on first down derailed the drive and Los Angeles had to punt.

On the ensuing series, the Rams defense had a fumble recovery overturned after further review by officials. Two plays later, cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon’s forced fumble was recovered by outside linebacker Jared Verse and returned for a touchdown to make it 17-3 Rams with 4:35 left in the first half. -time.

A 13-yard touchdown pass from Stafford to tight end Davis Allen made it 24-3 for the Rams at halftime.

Los Angeles extended that lead to 27-3 with a 44-yard field goal by Karty midway through the third quarter.

The Vikings showed some life when Darnold threw a 26-yard touchdown to tight end TJ Hockenson, but the ensuing 2-point try failed, still giving the Rams a 27-9 lead with 5 :05 to play in the third quarter.

Minnesota reached the LA 37 with 12:54 left in the fourth quarter, but a sack for a 13-yard loss on third down – shared by defensive end Braden Fiske and outside linebacker Michael Hoecht – but was unable to elsewhere never threatened the rest of the way.