Rams dominate Vikings, will face Eagles in divisional spherical

GLENDALE, Ariz. — In a playoff recreation that was moved from SoFi Stadium due to the wildfires in Southern California, the Los Angeles Rams beat the Minnesota Vikings 27-9 on Monday night time to advance to the divisional spherical.

It was a powerful efficiency for a younger protection that has taken an enormous step ahead because the begin of the season, which included a 41-10 drubbing at State Farm Stadium in opposition to the Arizona Cardinals in Week 2.

But on Monday night time, the Rams obtained to Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold early and infrequently, and Defensive Rookie of the Year candidate Jared Verse recovered a fumble and ran it in for a landing to present Los Angeles a 17-3 lead within the second quarter.

Darnold took a complete of 9 sacks on the night time — tying an NFL playoff document — and Minnesota’s offense failed to realize a lot momentum.

The Rams’ playoff victory — their first since successful Super Bowl LVI through the 2021 season — got here as gamers and coaches wore Los Angeles Fire Department hats and shirts on the sideline to honor the primary responders combating the fires in Los Angeles.

Next comes the divisional spherical of the playoffs, the place the Rams will journey to Philadelphia to play the Eagles on Sunday.

Here are an important issues to know for each groups:

QB breakdown: Matthew Stafford accomplished 19 of 27 passes for 209 yards with two touchdowns and was sacked twice. He accomplished 12 passes for 113 yards and two touchdowns to working backs and tight ends. According to ESPN Research, that’s his most such yards and passing touchdowns in a recreation this season.

Most shocking efficiency: The Rams’ sizzling begin on offense. Los Angeles struggled to attain early all season, however that wasn’t the case on Monday night time because the Rams scored a landing on their opening drive for simply the third time this season, in accordance with ESPN Research. It was a seven-play, 70-yard drive. Stafford was 6-for-6 for 64 yards, together with a 5-yard landing move to working again Kyren Williams.

Pivotal play: Early within the second quarter, Stafford was hit by Vikings exterior linebacker Jonathan Greenard. The play was initially dominated a fumble and a Vikings landing after Blake Cashman‘s scoop and rating. That would have tied the sport at 10 pending an additional level, however the name was reversed to an incomplete move, and the Rams stored the ball.

Describe the sport in two phrases: Sack assault. The Rams sacked Darnold 9 occasions, tying an NFL playoff document. Darnold was sacked six occasions within the first half, essentially the most in any half in any recreation of his profession. According to ESPN Research, the final group with six sacks within the first half of a playoff recreation was Washington within the January 1988 NFC Championship Game in opposition to Minnesota. — Sarah Barshop

Next recreation: at Eagles (Sunday, 3 p.m. ET)

The Vikings’ dream season got here crashing down of their last — and most essential — two video games of the yr. Now they will have the offseason to determine why — and what to do about it.

At the middle of the dialogue can be Darnold, who put up a second consecutive shaky efficiency after seeming to resurrect his profession throughout a magical common season. He struggled Monday night time to make selections within the pocket, finally taking six sacks within the first half alone after holding the ball a mean of 4.52 seconds on these dropbacks, per NFL Next Gen Stats. He misplaced a fumble on a kind of sacks, which Rams linebacker Jared Verse returned for a landing, and he additionally threw an interception within the first half.

That outing got here one week after he accomplished solely 18 of 41 passes in a 31-9 loss to the Detroit Lions in Week 18, a recreation during which he misfired on at the very least three potential landing alternatives.

Darnold threw for 4,319 yards and 35 touchdowns through the common season, prompting the Vikings to contemplate whether or not they need to deliver him again subsequent season and delay the coronation of rookie J.J. McCarthy. But the ultimate two video games of this season may make that dialogue moot.

Eye-popping stat: In a testomony to the struggles of Darnold — and the remainder of the offense — the Vikings went 21 consecutive drives with no landing earlier than tight finish T.J. Hockenson scored on a 26-yard reception within the third quarter. The streak, relationship again to their Week 17 victory over the Green Bay Packers, was their longest since coach Kevin O’Connell arrived to begin the 2022 season.

Most shocking efficiency: O’Connell’s lack of changes. He has expressed excessive belief in Darnold all through the season and stated as soon as once more final week that he was assured Darnold would rebound from his efficiency in Detroit. But O’Connell had no substantive changes readily available if Darnold got here up quick. He made Daniel Jones his No. 3 quarterback, which means he wasn’t eligible to switch Darnold for efficiency causes, and O’Connell continued calling move performs that left Darnold frazzled in opposition to a Rams move rush that recorded sacks on six of the 9 pressures it obtained in that first half.

Biggest gap within the recreation plan: After failing to get a lot strain on Stafford within the groups’ regular-season matchup, the Vikings blitzed him on 4 of his first six dropbacks through the opening possession of Monday night time’s recreation. It did not work. Stafford diced by way of these blitzes, marching the Rams on a landing drive that set the tone for the whole recreation. — Kevin Seifert