Rams cruise to win over Vikings in unprecedented NFC wild card sport – USA TODAY

GLENDALE, Ariz. – The Minnesota Vikings and Los Angeles Rams each tried to normalize an unprecedented scenario whereas many hearts and minds had been on Southern California as a result of devastating wildfires which have ravaged the Los Angeles space.
Maybe the spirit of Los Angeles fueled the Rams as they cruised to a 27-9 victory.
Matthew Stafford handed for 209 yards and two touchdowns and the Rams protection sacked Vikings QB Sam Darnold 9 instances, tying an NFL playoff report. In addition they pressured two turnovers.
Rams WR Puka Nacua caught a 27-yard move from Stafford on the sport’s very first play. The completion was a part of a profitable streak wherein Stafford accomplished his first 10 passes because the Rams raced out to a 10-0 lead.
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Darnold was stripped sacked by Rams CB Ahkello Witherspoon halfway via the second quarter, the free soccer was picked up by Rams OLB Jared Verse and he rumbled to the tip zone for the news and rating to offer Los Angeles a 17-3 benefit.
The Rams’ first half onslaught continued with below two minutes within the second quarter when Minnesota turned the ball over on downs. Stafford then proceeded to information the Rams in the long run zone in 5 performs as he capped off the drive with a 13-yard landing move to tight finish Davis Allen.
The Rams went into halftime up 24-3. Los Angeles’ protection sacked Darnold six instances and produced two takeaways within the first half.
Los Angeles’ protection pressured the Vikings to punt on their opening drive of the second half. The Rams went on an 11-play collection that resulted in a profitable 44-yard subject purpose by Okay Joshua Karty to increase their result in 27-3.
The Vikings, going through an insurmountable deficit, had been simply attempting to play catch up the remainder of the best way. Minnesota followers exited the stadium within the fourth quarter.
The Rams victory earns them a visit to Philadelphia for the divisional spherical of the playoffs the place they will take on the Eagles at Lincoln Monetary Subject on Sunday at 3 p.m. ET.
The ultimate sport of the wild-card spherical was held within the Phoenix suburb of Glendale following the NFL’s choice final Thursday to relocate the playoff game from SoFi Stadium to State Farm Stadium within the curiosity of public security after wildfires wreaked havoc on the Los Angeles space. Monday’s contest was solely the second playoff sport in NFL historical past to be relocated and the league’s first postseason sport to maneuver due to pure catastrophe.
The environment inside State Farm Stadium had a Los Angeles-feel. The Rams supplied free constitution bus roundtrip transportation for 1,500 season ticket holders to Glendale. Rams followers tailgated within the stadium’s car parking zone, Rams gamers, coaches and workers wore customized Los Angeles Fireplace Division shirts and hats with the Los Angeles Rams monogram on them, a “Thank You Firefighters and First Responders” banner hung close to the south finish zone and “LA Collectively” in royal blue wrapped across the stadium’s decrease bowl.
The complete Rams group will head again to Los Angeles with heavy hearts from the wildfires, however they had been triumphant within the NFC wild-card spherical and are transferring on to Philadelphia.
Observe USA TODAY Sports activities’ Tyler Dragon on X @TheTylerDragon.

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