The Los Angeles Rams defeated the Minnesota Vikings 27-9 in a neutral-site game for their first playoff win since the franchise’s Super Bowl LVI victory over the Cincinnati Bengals. With that win, the Rams will travel to Philadelphia to take on the Eagles in the Divisional Round next weekend.
The Rams’ defense tormented the Vikings all game. LA finished the evening with nine sacks (tying a postseason record), two forced turnovers, and a defensive touchdown. Before tonight, the most sacks the Vikes allowed in a single game this year was five.
In just his fourth game back from an ACL tear in last year’s playoffs, Rams tight end Tyler Higbee caught two passes for 27 yards on the opening possession to set up a five-yard touchdown reception by running back Kyren Williams, giving LA an early 7-0 advantage. That was only the third opening-drive TD allowed by Minnesota all season. One play before the touchdown, Vikings defensive lineman Jonathan Bullard was flagged for a neutral zone infraction on a 4th and inches to give Los Angeles a fresh set of downs.
Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford picked apart the Vikings’ defense on the first two series, completing 11 of 12 passes for 124 yards and a touchdown. His 45 passing yards on LA’s second drive led to a 34-yard field goal and a 10-0 lead. This marked the first time all year that the Vikes trailed by ten points or more in the first quarter of a game.
It was a horrible start for Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold despite completing his first seven pass attempts for 69 yards to give Minnesota a 34-yard field goal, trimming the lead to 10-3 in the second quarter. The former third-overall pick was sacked three times and threw an interception on Minnesota’s first three possessions.
Things went from bad to worse for the Vikings on their fourth series when a Sam Darnold strip-sack fumble was picked up by LA defensive lineman Jared Verse and returned 57 yards for a touchdown to put the Rams ahead 17-3. Following tonight’s outing, Darnold became the second-most sack quarterback of the 2024-25 campaign behind only Chicago’s Caleb Williams (68).
JARED VERSE SCOOP AND SCORE!
📺: #MINvsLAR on ESPN/ABC
📱: Stream on @NFLPlus and ESPN+ pic.twitter.com/bXLHmOUaQW— NFL (@NFL) January 14, 2025
Faced with a 4th and 2 at midfield, Darnold took his sixth sack of the night to give the Rams possession of the ball in Minnesota territory with less than two minutes to go before halftime. LA took advantage of the Vikings’ mistake by putting together a 39-yard touchdown drive in just 1:12 to secure a 24-3 lead at the half.
Former Super Bowl MVP Cooper Kupp had his first catch of the night in the third quarter – a 29-yarder that resulted in a 44-yard field goal by Rams rookie kicker Joshua Karty to increase the lead to 27-3. That signified Karty’s 15th-straight successful field goal.
Vikings tight end T.J. Hockenson caught a 26-yard touchdown pass (his first of the year) to cut the lead to 27-9 after Minnesota failed to convert a two-point attempt. That score ended a streak of 21 straight drives without a touchdown for the Vikes, the longest drought of the Kevin O’Connell era.
T.J. Hockenson makes the adjustment for the catch and takes it all the way for the first @Vikings TD!
📺: #MINvsLAR on ESPN/ABC
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus and ESPN+pic.twitter.com/t2wUJ1OD23— NFL+ (@NFLPlus) January 14, 2025
Minnesota’s defense was at its best on third down. The unit held the Rams to just two third-down conversions on ten attempts. Unfortunately, the Vikings weren’t much better, converting only six third-downs on 17 tries.
Minnesota running back Aaron Jones couldn’t get anything going tonight despite averaging almost 91 scrimmage yards per game during the regular season. The former Green Bay Packer was limited to 60 total yards in this matchup.
On the other side, Los Angeles running back Kyren Williams had a strong performance. The 2023 Pro Bowler amassed 76 rushing yards, 16 receiving yards, and a receiving touchdown.
One of the best and most promising seasons in Vikings history ends in complete disaster. Despite Minnesota winning 14 games and averaging 25.4 points per contest, the Vikes were held to just 18 total points in their final two matchups of the 2024-25 campaign.
