The Los Angeles Rams beat the Minnesota Vikings 27-9 and qualified for the divisional round of the National Conference (NFC) in which they will visit the Philadelphia Eagles next Sunday. The other game of the divisional phase in the NFC will be played this Saturday by the Detroit Lions and the Washington Commanders.
The game that was scheduled at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, was played at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, due to the fires ravaging the Los Angeles area.
The defensive line of coach Sean McVay’s team had an outstanding role. He sacked Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold nine times, tying the record for sacks in a playoff game. On offense, Matthew Stafford passed for 209 yards and two touchdowns.
The Rams took control 10-0 in the first quarter with a pass to the end zone that Kyren Williams caught and a field goal. Vikings responded with a field goal at the beginning of the second quarter that brought them within 10-3, a reaction that shut down the Los Angeles defense. Ahkello Witherspoon hit Sam Darnold, causing a fumble that was recovered by Jared Verse, who took it to the score to go ahead 17-3.
A series later the defense sacked Darnold again and stopped their offense from converting with another touchdown pass to Davis Allen that sent the game to halftime 24-3. In the third quarter, after the Rams went ahead 27-3 with a field goal, the Vikings finally crossed the end zone with a pass to TJ Hockenson to cut it to 27-9.
Minnesota tried to maintain its reaction, but succumbed to the dominance of the local defense that did not allow points in the last period to maintain the victory.
The NFC divisional round will be played by Lions-Commanders on Saturday and Eagles-Rams a day later. In the American Conference, this phase will begin on Saturday with the visit of the Hosuton Texans to the champions Kansas City Chiefs and will conclude on Sunday when the Buffalo Bills host the Baltimore Ravens.
