Dominant Rams makes themselves at home in Arizona with rout of Vikings
GLENDALE, Ariz. — Now that’s what you call making yourself right at home, even if it was nearly 400 miles away.
Because of safety concerns caused by wildfires in Southern California, the NFL moved the Rams’ NFC wild-card game against the Minnesota Vikings from SoFi Stadium to State Farm Stadium.
But the Rams — on a mission to win and also lift the spirits of their devastated hometown — did not flinch Monday night.
The defense dominated and Matthew Stafford passed for two touchdowns in a 27-9 victory that advanced the Rams to an NFC divisional round playoff game against the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia.
“With everything that’s gone on with our community, everything that these guys have gone through, I thought they epitomized and they represented the city the right way,” coach Sean McVay said. “You talk about sports offering a platform for people to come together, offer a little bit of temporary relief, and I thought the way that our team competed tonight is what it looked like.”
The Rams sacked Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold nine times, tying an NFL postseason record shared by five other teams. Cornerback Cobie Durant intercepted a pass, and rookie edge rusher Jared Verse returned a fumble for a touchdown as the Rams beat the Vikings for the second time this season and advanced to the divisional round for the first time since the 2021 season, when they won Super Bowl LVI.
It was an exhilarating victory for a Rams team that left Los Angeles on Friday to escape the fires that have devastated the Southland and prepare for a Vikings team whose only losses during a 14-3 season came against the top-seeded Detroit Lions twice and the Rams.
“The circumstances gave us a little bit more juice to play not only for that name on the front and the name on the back” of their uniforms, said defensive tackle Kobie Turner, “but also for the city.”
The Rams, with a gracious helping hand from the Arizona Cardinals, made every effort to give the stadium a familiar feel.
There was no giant Oculus videoboard suspended over the field, but the Rams logo was painted at midfield and the end zones were painted blue with yellow letters spelling out RAMS and LOS ANGELES. The digital ribbon boards that ringed the inside of the stadium also were in Rams colors, and the Rams brought their DJ, rock guitarist and mariachi band.
Busloads of fans made the trip, Mookie Betts and several teammates from the World Series champion Dodgers attended, and retired defensive lineman Aaron Donald showed up to comfort his former teammates and root them on.
Few houses remain in Sam Lagana’s Pacific Palisades neighborhood, but the Rams PA announcer is in Arizona for relocated playoff game in full voice for LA Strong.
For all practical purposes it was SoFi East.
“When I ran out there for game time, I was like, ‘Man, it was almost like we were at SoFi,” said Durant, who also had a sack. “The energy was unmatched.”
Receiver Cooper Kupp said the Rams felt a responsibility to provide “a moment of joy” for those struggling.
“You go out through that tunnel and that weight hits you front and center,” he said. “Hey, these people are here, and the energy that they brought, the atmosphere they created, you just want to make the most of that.”
McVay built up his team from the moment they lost the season finale against the Seattle Seahawks, a game in which he rested starters. A victory would have set up a wild-card game against the Washington Commanders or Green Bay Packers but the defeat put the Rams in a potential matchup against the powerful Lions or Vikings.
“We respect all, but we fear none,” McVay said after the game.
If the Rams needed extra motivation, Lions coach Dan Campbell inadvertently provided it. After his team’s 31-9 victory over the Vikings, he told Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell, “I’ll see you in two weeks.” A screenshot of that exchange was taped above a passageway in the Rams’ facility.
A few days later, McVay addressed his players while holding a paperweight emblazoned with “Built for this,” and he emphasized that theme after the Rams practiced Saturday in Tempe, Ariz.
The Rams looked the part against a Vikings team that still appeared to be in a funk after their embarrassing loss to the Lions.
The typically slow-starting Rams broke from tradition and scored early. They built a 10-0 first-quarter lead on Stafford’s touchdown pass to running back Kyren Williams. They extended it on Verse’s 57-yard fumble return — exuberantly punctuating the play with a somersault into the end zone — and Stafford’s touchdown pass to tight end Davis Allen for a 24-3 halftime lead.
The Vikings never threatened to make it close.
“There was definitely every excuse in the book to come out here and be lethargic and woe is me and all that,” Stafford said. “But we knew we weren’t just playing for us.
Check out the game summary from the Rams’ win Monday.
“We were playing for people back home that needed something to watch and enjoy, and I’m glad we could give that to ‘em.”
Now the Rams must get ready to play Philadelphia.
On Nov. 24, the Eagles stomped the Rams 37-20 at SoFi Stadium behind running back Saquon Barkley, who rushed for 255 yards, including touchdown runs of 72 and 70 yards.
Defeating the Eagles will be a difficult task, especially on the road.
The Rams showed Monday they are ready for the challenge.
