Rams’ offense leads way in impressive victory over Vikings

INGLEWOOD, Calif. — The Los Angeles Rams held on to defeat the Minnesota Vikings 30-20 on “Thursday Night time Soccer.”

The Rams acquired two key starters — huge receivers Cooper Kupp (ankle) and Puka Nacua (knee) — again from harm and scored a season-high 30 factors in opposition to a Vikings crew that entered the sport ranked No. 1 in defensive DVOA.

Los Angeles acquired only a glimpse of its prime two receivers on the sector collectively in its season opener earlier than Nacua injured a knee within the loss. Kupp sprained an ankle the week after, and the offense struggled to seek out consistency with out the pair on the sector.

The return of Kupp and Nacua opened up the sector for the Rams and quarterback Matthew Stafford, who accomplished passes to 9 totally different gamers within the victory. Nacua led the best way with 9 targets, whereas Kupp had eight and operating again Kyren Williams had seven.

The win boosted the Rams’ report to 3-4, with two of these three victories coming 4 days aside. And regardless of the Rams’ 1-4 begin, Los Angeles enters the weekend tied with the San Francisco 49ers and Arizona Cardinals at 3-4. The Rams are only one sport again from the division-leading Seattle Seahawks.

Los Angeles performs in Seattle in Week 9.

Most shocking efficiency: The Rams stored Nacua’s return quiet, activating him from injured reserve regardless of the very fact he could not follow due to the brief week.

However Stafford went to Nacua early and infrequently on Thursday evening, and the second-year receiver led the Rams with seven catches for 106 yards on 9 targets.

Nacua performed 35 of 65 offensive snaps for Los Angeles.

QB breakdown: Stafford entered the sport with simply three passing touchdowns this season.

He greater than doubled that on Thursday evening, throwing two within the first half and two within the second half to huge receiver Demarcus Robinson.

Stafford had one in all his greatest video games of the season, finishing 24 of 33 passes for 270 yards and an interception.

Largest gap within the sport plan: Stopping Justin Jefferson.

Jefferson, the receiver Rams defensive coordinator Chris Shula referred to as “the most effective on the planet” main as much as this sport, had eight catches for 115 yards on Thursday evening.

The Rams’ cross protection entered the sport ranked thirtieth in DVOA, and the group struggled to cease the Vikings’ greatest participant.

Subsequent sport: at Seahawks (4:25 p.m. ET, Sunday, Nov. 3)

Who’re the Minnesota Vikings? The crew that dominated its first 5 video games of the season with the most important level differential within the NFL? Or the one which has now misplaced two video games in 5 days?

That is what Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell and his workers will likely be fascinated about as they journey again to Minnesota after Thursday’s loss to the Los Angeles Rams.

It is one factor to have dropped a two-point sport final Sunday to the Detroit Lions, who may properly be the most effective crew in soccer. However the Rams have been 2-4 earlier than Thursday evening and reportedly have thought-about buying and selling receiver Cooper Kupp, one of many cornerstones of the franchise, in a doable concession to the season.

The reply is commonly someplace within the center. ESPN’s Soccer Energy Index projected the Vikings to win 6.8 video games for the season, and so they’re extremely prone to eclipse that mark. And there will likely be loads of dialogue in regards to the uncalled face masks penalty when the Rams sacked quarterback Sam Darnold for what turned out to be the game-sealing security.

However after watching the Vikings’ protection surrender 4 landing passes to Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford and massive chunks of yards in between, and realizing the tough job they’ve of taking part in within the NFC North, it is clear we do not but know the way good this crew might be.

Describe the sport in two phrases: Jefferson breakout.

Jefferson entered the sport with 531 receiving yards in six video games, fifth most within the NFL, however he had just one 100-yard efficiency earlier than Thursday evening.

Actually, he mentioned final week: “I am positively sick of getting these 80-, 90-yard video games. I’ve positively acquired to recover from that hump over 100 yards. It’ll be one in all these video games that we will present the world what we’re actually able to, and hopefully it is Thursday evening.”

Jefferson eclipsed the 100-yard mark with a juggling 27-yard reception within the third quarter and completed with 115 yards on eight catches.

Troubling pattern: Left deal with Christian Darrisaw was dominated out after struggling a left knee harm late within the second quarter.

There was no speedy phrase on the severity of the harm, however he wanted help from medical workers to get off the sector and into the locker room.

The Vikings have a reliable veteran backup in David Quessenberry, and so they’ll have a couple of further days to arrange for his or her Week 9 sport in opposition to the Colts. However make no mistake, Darrisaw is likely one of the NFL’s prime left tackles, one who’s price each penny of the five-year, $140 million contract extension he signed final week, and it could be an infinite loss if he misses prolonged time.

Largest gap within the sport plan: The Vikings could not discover a approach to get to Stafford for many of the sport.

They pressured him on solely three of 34 dropbacks. And even then, he accomplished a cross in opposition to all three of these pressures, together with a 7-yard landing cross to Kupp within the second quarter by which he eluded defensive deal with Harrison Phillips and linebacker Jonathan Greenard.

Cross rush had been a key to the Vikings’ sizzling begin this season, and earlier than Thursday that they had managed at the very least a 24.6% stress fee in each sport.

Subsequent sport: vs. Colts (8:20 p.m. ET, Sunday, Nov. 3)