The Los Angeles Rams earned a spot in the NFL playoffs by beating the Minnesota Vikings 27-9. This win secured the final playoff spot in Week Two.
The game was moved to State Farm Stadium in Arizona because of wildfires near Los Angeles. Despite this, over 52,000 fans showed up to cheer, creating a home-game atmosphere.
The wildfires, which sadly took 24 lives, led the Rams to honor firefighters and first responders. Quarterback Matthew Stafford dedicated the victory to Los Angeles, saying, "We knew what we were playing for... I'm really proud of this team."
The Rams took control of the game early, leading 24-3 by halftime. Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold struggled under pressure, getting sacked six times and losing the ball twice. Cobie Durant’s interception and Ahkello Witherspoon’s forced fumble led to Jared Verse scoring a 57-yard touchdown. Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford also threw touchdown passes to Kyren Williams and Davis Allen, showing strong teamwork on offense.
The game was moved to Phoenix, over 375 miles from the Rams’ home stadium, due to wildfires near Los Angeles. The team traveled with more than 400 people, including players, staff, and families, and practiced at the Arizona Cardinals’ training facility.
The Vikings entered the playoffs as the fifth seed after losing to the Detroit Lions in Week 18. That loss cost them the NFC's top spot, a first-round bye, and home-field advantage, forcing them to play away. This was their second early playoff exit in three years, even though they had a strong 14-3 season.
The Rams made the most of the Vikings’ mistakes, including Darnold’s turnovers and a disallowed Minnesota touchdown they thought was a Stafford fumble. Darnold did throw a 26-yard touchdown to TJ Hockenson in the third quarter, but the Vikings couldn’t recover and lost the game in the fourth quarter.
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