Vikings vs. Rams score, live updates: Wild-card weekend wraps up with Minnesota, Los Angeles playing in Arizona
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Monday night’s wild-card matchup between the Minnesota Vikings and the Los Angeles Rams will look a bit different than expected, after the NFL moved the game from SoFi Stadium to State Farm Stadium because of the Los Angeles wildfires. The Rams will still likely have a hometown crowd behind them, but it’ll be an uphill battle against these Vikings, who can lay claim to being the top wild-card team in NFL history — they’re the first wild-card team in NFL history with 14 wins, and just the second to have won 13 games.
Despite not winning the NFC North, history may be on the Vikings’ side — in 1999, the 13-3 Tennessee Titans were a wild-card team, and after the Music City Miracle (surely Kevin Dyson’s favorite of the two legendary plays in those playoffs that he’s remembered for), they went on to Super Bowl XXXIV.
But back in Week 8, the Los Angeles Rams topped the Vikings 30-20, just as they were turning their season around after a 1-4 start, plagued by injuries on offense. That loss was the Vikings’ second of the year, and they went on to rip off nine straight wins. The Rams got hot after that, too, finishing the year 10-7 and on top of the NFC West, with their full complement of top skill players healthy for the finishing kick and postseason.
How to watch Vikings vs. Rams NFC wild-card game
Time: 8 p.m. ET Location: State Farm Stadium | Glendale, Ariz. Channel: ESPN, ABC, ESPN2 (ManningCast) Streaming: ESPN+, Fubo
Live38 updates
Rams take over on downs
Now, we’re really done here. Sam Darnold took a shot on fourth and long, and the Vikings turn it over on downs with 3:35 left. The Rams will now try to run out the clock and end this thing.
Sam Darnold finally had the Vikings moving (kind of), and then he was just drilled in the backfield for a hard sack. We’re done here.
A series of penalties killed the Rams on that drive, which forced them to punt it back to Minnesota. The Vikings don’t have a lot of time left, and will need to put points on the board quickly. Otherwise, this thing is over.
Sam Darnold dropped … again
The Vikings were cruising, and then it all fell apart. The Rams sacked Sam Darnold deep in the backfield again to set up a long fourth down, and they’ll have to punt.
End of 3: Rams 27, Vikings 9
Minnesota is still deep in its own territory, and will have to score quickly in the fourth quarter if it’s going to mount a comeback.
The Rams fail to respond after the Vikings’ score, but they whipped out a 54-yard punt to pin Minnesota inside its own 5.
The Vikings will take over now with about two minutes left in the quarter. If they’re going to make a comeback, a score here is critical.
Finally, the Vikings find the end zone
T.J. Hockenson broke open a 26-yard score, and the Vikings’ streak of 21-straight drives without a touchdown is finally over. It’s his first touchdown of the year, and the longest pass play of the night for Minnesota.
Their two-point attempt failed, though, so it’s 27-9.
Rams add 3 more
The Rams’ drive stalled out, but Joshua Karty extended their lead with a 44-yard field goal. The Rams are up 27-3 now with 7:19 left in the third quarter.
Cooper Kupp with a wild grab
Well that’s one way to make your first catch of the night. Cooper Kupp keeps the Rams’ drive alive with this deep grab.
Tyler Higbee out with chest injury
Rams Injury Update: Tyler Higbee (chest) has been downgraded to OUT.
Sam Darnold got one 15-yard pass to Jordan Addison, but otherwise their opening drive of the second half was much of the same. He just threw behind a wide-open Nailor on third down, and out comes the Vikings’ punt team.
Halftime: Rams pummeling Sam Darnold en route to 24-3 lead
Sam Darnold’s dream season has taken a dark turn over the course of two games. After a poor start in last week’s season-finale loss to the Lions, Darnold’s career playoff debut is a disaster through two quarters.
Darnold’s taken six sacks and committed two turnovers as the Rams have jumped out to a 24-3 lead over Darnold’s Vikings
First-half stats:
Sam Darnold: 13 of 16 for 113 yards, 0 touchdowns, 1 interception; 6 sacks taken, 1 fumble lost/returned for TD Matthew Stafford: 14 of 20 for 154 yards, 2 touchdowns, 0 turnovers, 0 sacks taken
Aaron Jones: 7 carries for 30 yards; 1 catch for 6 yards Kyren Williams: 5 carries for 37 yards; 3 catches for 16 yards and 1 touchdown
Justin Jefferson: 5 catches for 58 yards Tyler Higbee: 5 catches for 58 yards
Vikings total offense: 120 yards on 3.6 yards per play Rams total offense: 191 yards on 7.6 yards per play
Vikings turnovers: 2 Rams turnovers: 0
The Vikings lost that game to Washington 17-10, for what it’s worth…
From ESPN Research: The last team with six sacks in a first half of a playoff game was Washington in the January 1988 NFC Championship Game against Minnesota.
The Rams are completely dominating this one. Davis Allen just ran in a 13-yard touchdown catch — his first of the year — after their fourth down stop, and the Rams are up 24-3 now just before halftime.
Vikings can’t convert on 4th down
This has been a brutal first half for Sam Darnold and the Vikings. He just took a sack on a 4th and 2 near midfield, and the Rams will take over with solid field position and a chance to score before half.
Another Vikings turnover
The Vikings had one fumble overturned, but then they committed another just a few plays later. This one was, well, much worse.
Sam Darnold was hit in the backfield and lost the ball, which resulted in a long 57-yard touchdown run from Jared Verse. The Rams are suddenly up 17-3.
The Rams’ drive after their interception didn’t result in much, and the Vikings just barely missed blocking their punt. They’ll take over now at their own 10 yard line.
I have no clue how this punt wasn’t blocked.
Sam Darnold throws an INT
The Rams made up for their special teams mistake almost immediately. Sam Darnold just threw a bad interception to Cobie Durant, and the Rams will take over near midfield.
Vikings catch a break
Well that helps the Vikings. After a Rams sack set up a long third down attempt, which failed, the Vikings catch a break after drawing a running into the kicker penalty.
They’ll get a fresh set of downs now early in the second quarter.
The Rams are having no issue getting to Sam Darnold so far tonight.
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