🏈 Vikings vs. Rams: Player Stats, Game Analysis & Season Impact
Date: Monday, January 13, 2025
Event: The NFC Wild-Card game was relocated to Glendale, Arizona.
Final Score: Rams 27, Vikings 9
📋 Game Overview & Context
The Los Angeles Rams extended their recent dominance over Minnesota, shutting out the Vikings’ playoff hopes with a convincing 27–9 victory. This was the second meeting in the 2024 season — the Rams took the Week 8 clash in SoFi Stadium by a 30–20 score, and now secured a postseason sweep. The win is a defining moment for L.A.'s mid‑season resurgence and raises key questions for Minnesota moving forward.
📊 Key Offensive Performances
Los Angeles Rams
Matthew Stafford (QB)
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Matthew Stafford completed 19 of 27 passes for 209 yards and 2 touchdowns, posting a 117.7 passer rating.
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Faced blitz on 69% of dropbacks, yet produced a sharp 178 yards and two touchdowns versus pressure—a testament to his elite pocket skills reuters.com.
Kyren Williams (RB)
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16 rushes, 76 yards, 0 rush TD; 5 receptions, 16 yards, 1 rec TD
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Hosted the game’s opening score, catching for a touchdown, continuing his red-zone scoring streak.
Davis Allen (TE)
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Notched 5 catches, 68 yards, 1 TD, hauling in a 13-yard score .
Puka Nacua
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Returned post-injury for 1 reception, 7 yards in the playoffs; earlier had 7 catches for 106 yards in Week 8 regular-season win.
Tyler Higbee & Cooper Kupp
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Limited playoff production, but contributed in Week 8: Kupp with 5 catches, 51 yards, 1 TD, and Higbee ≈ 58 receiving yards .
Minnesota Vikings
Sam Darnold (QB)
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Sam Darnold went 25-for-40 with 245 yards, 1 touchdown, and 1 interception.
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The sacks tied an NFL playoff record and severely disrupted Minnesota’s rhythm.
T.J. Hockenson (TE)
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5 receptions, 64 yards, 1 TD on a 26-yard catch-and-run
Justin Jefferson (WR)
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5 receptions, 58 yards in the playoff game. In Week 8, had 8 receptions, 115 yards
Alexander Mattison (RB)
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15 carries, 57 yards, averaging 3.8 ypc
Defensive Standouts
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Eric Kendricks accumulated 12 tackles, 1 sack, and 2 PDs in Week 8 diversinet.com.
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Danielle Hunter added 2 sacks, 7 tackles in the same regular-season game .
🛡️ Dominant Defense
Rams Defense
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Darnold was sacked 9 times, losing 82 yards — tying the all-time playoff record for sacks taken.
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Following a fumble recovery, Jared Verse hit a top gear near 20 mph as he raced to the end zone — a remarkable pace not seen from a player of his stature in the past seven years.
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Eight Rams defenders each recorded at least half a sack, marking the first time this has occurred in an NFL playoff game since sacks became an official stat.
Vikings Defense
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Despite ranking 4th in third-down defense (35.6% conversion rate) and best on fourth down, their unit couldn’t stand up under playoff pressure
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Tallied multiple sacks in regular-season Week 8 performance, but couldn’t replicate that effort in the playoffs
🧮 Team Comparison Snapshot
The Rams displayed complete control throughout the game, shutting down the Vikings with a relentless defense and executing efficiently on offense to secure a 27–9 victory. They totaled around 292 yards, while Minnesota managed just 269. Although the Rams had less ball possession (around 26 minutes and 39 seconds compared to 33 minutes and 21 seconds), they dominated defensively with a staggering 9 sacks and 42 quarterback pressures. The Vikings committed 2 turnovers and couldn’t recover after falling behind early. | ||||
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🔍 Strategic Breakdown & In-Depth Analysis
🔻 Rams' Multifaceted Success
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Pressure & Playmaking: By blitzing intelligently and rotating pass rushers, LA disrupted Darnold's timing and scheme—includes nine sacks and 42 pressures.
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Early-Down Gains: PFF's "noise-canceled" metric favored the Rams by 25-15 through chunk plays on early downs.
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Red Zone Efficiency: 100% TD conversion inside the 20, the team's best red-zone showing of the season.
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Offensive Balance: Stafford's ability under pressure, combined with RB and TE usage, kept drives alive even on passing-down blitzes.
🟡 Vikings’ Offensive Breakdown
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Protection Failures: Sack-storm led to −82 yards; early disruption halted drives .
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Stagnant Running Game: Mattison managed a modest 3.8 ypc; without a consistent ground threat, opposing pass rush keyed in on Darnold .
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One-Dimensional Passing: Fielded only two significant plays—a TD and INT. The rest of Jefferson & Hockenson's impact was cut short.
🔮 Season Implications & Next Steps
Los Angeles Rams
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Advance to NFC Divisional Round to face the Philadelphia Eagles.
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Matthew Stafford improved to 3–0 in playoff games played at home or neutral venues, continuing to show elite performance under postseason pressure.
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The Rams' defense, led by standout Jared Verse, is shaping up to be the foundation of their playoff success.
Minnesota Vikings
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Despite record-setting regular season (14 wins), now face offseason shift.
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Quarterback protection must be a priority: sacks and pressures cost them dearly.
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Defensive unit is strong, but turnover potential needs translating into game‑winning plays.
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Builds a home-field base, but must improve pass rush and secondary production after surrendering chunk plays.
Historical Context
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Current playoff matchup marks the eighth postseason meeting; Vikings now trail Rams 5–3 in playoff encounters
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Regular-season head-to-head favors Rams, winning 3 straight over Minnesota since 2018 .
🎯 Key Takeaways & Performance Highlights
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Rams’ Defensive Mastery: Nine sacks, record-level pressure, and scoop TD turned playoff atmosphere into Rams’ control seat.
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Even under a high-pressure blitz (69% of dropbacks), Stafford maintained control and posted a 117.7 passer rating — a strong display of poise and resilience.
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Wraparound Efficiency: From chunk plays to red-zone execution, LA executed a complete game.
Minnesota couldn’t get their offense going because Sam Darnold was under pressure the whole game and never found his flow. Despite efforts from Justin Jefferson and T.J. Hockenson, the unit failed to generate enough production.
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Momentum Shift: Rams, after mid-season struggles, appear primed for deeper postseason run; Vikings must reassess key strategic areas.
🔍 Player Grades At-A-Glance
★ Rams
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Matthew Stafford – A‑ : Poised under pressure, high conversion rate.
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Kyren Williams – B+ : Reliable, multi-dimensional threat.
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Davis Allen – B : Effective red-zone target.
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Jared Verse – A‑ : Defensive TD and consistent disruption.
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Aaron Donald & Pass Rush Unit – A : Historic pressure output.
★ Vikings
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Sam Darnold – C‑ : Showed flashes, but overwhelmed by sacks.
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Justin Jefferson – B : Effective but isolated bright spot.
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T.J. Hockenson – B‑ : Productive but lacked continuity.
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Linebacking/Secondary – B+ : Strong on third-down conversion, needs situational impact.
📅 What Comes Next?
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Rams advance to NFC Divisional Round vs. Eagles (Feb 17, 2025); scouting for L.A. and Philly shaping.
Minnesota aims to reshape its roster this offseason, with a clear emphasis on fortifying the offensive line and intensifying its defensive pass rush.
Stafford's recent playoff record and L.A.’s coaching resilience could foreshadow a deep playoff run.
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