LA Rams score ‘home’ playoff win in Arizona to set up Eagles clash
Matthew Stafford threw two touchdown passes and the Los Angeles Rams overwhelmed the Minnesota Vikings, with Sam Darnold firing an NFL playoff record and tying nine goals to win their wild-card game 27-9 on Monday night.
Rookie Jared Verse returned a fumble for a 57-yard score for the Rams, who looked comfortable from the first second in their adopted home stadium, State Farm Stadium. LA drove for a touchdown on the opening drive and built a 10-0 lead by the end of the first quarter.
The game was moved to the suburbs of Phoenix — nearly 400 miles east of the Rams’ home in Inglewood, California — because of the wildfires still raging in the Los Angeles area. A banner reading “Thank You Firefighters and First Responders” was prominently displayed in one end zone, and a “LA Together” banner was on display before the game.
“There’s a feeling among the team: This is for LA,” Rams running back Kyren Williams said Saturday. “This is for the hope at home that they can cling to, that the Rams will be the people that can take them away for a few hours from whatever they’re going through.”
LA’s next game is Sunday on the East Coast against the Philadelphia Eagles.
Verse’s touchdown with 4:35 left in the second quarter gave the Rams a 17-3 lead. Darnold was under pressure from flashy cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon when he lost the ball. Verse picked it up and ran across the field untouched, somersaulting into the end zone.
The play sent the Rams faithful into a frenzy. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said about 45,000 fans traveled from California for the game and the 63,400-seat stadium appeared full.
It was the low point of a brutal first half for Darnold, making his first appearance in the NFL playoff. He was sacked five times before halftime and threw an interception when Cobie Durant picked off a pass intended for Jordan Addison.
Minnesota had a chance to earn the NFC’s top seed in the final game of the regular season, but Darnold struggled in a loss at Detroit. His poor finish to the campaign raises questions about his long-term future with the Vikings after playing this season on a one-year deal.