Vikings fall to Rams 30-20 after losing Darrisaw to knee injury in first half

Cooper Kupp caught a landing move and Puka Nacua had 106 yards receiving of their returns from prolonged damage absences, and Matthew Stafford handed for 279 yards and 4 TDs within the Los Angeles Rams’ 30-20 victory over the Minnesota Vikings on Thursday night time.

Demarcus Robinson caught two TD passes from Stafford for the Rams (3-4), who received back-to-back video games for the primary time this season with 386 yards from an offense that regarded exponentially extra harmful with its prime two receivers again in uniform.

After lacking the earlier 5 video games, Nacua had seven catches whereas posting the eighth 100-yard sport of his quick profession. Kupp returned from a four-game absence with 5 catches for 51 yards, together with a 27-yard seize for a key first down late within the fourth quarter.

Kyren Williams rushed for 97 yards and caught an early TD move for the Rams. Robinson caught a 25-yard TD pass late within the third quarter to place Los Angeles forward, and he caught a 10-yard TD throw with 6:17 to play for a 28-20 lead.

Byron Younger then sacked Sam Darnold for a security with 1:36 left, grabbing Darnold’s facemask on the play. Officers did not throw a flag, sealing the Rams’ third straight win over Minnesota.

Darnold handed for 240 yards for the Vikings (5-2), who adopted up their first lack of the season with an ineffective defensive efficiency. Minnesota additionally misplaced beginning left sort out Christian Darrisaw to a knee damage late within the first half.

Justin Jefferson had eight receptions for 115 yards, whereas Josh Oliver and Trent Sherfield caught TD passes from Darnold. Minnesota was held to 2 discipline objectives within the ultimate three quarters.

Stafford threw no less than 4 TD passes for the sixteenth time in his profession, together with 4 with the Rams. The veteran had thrown simply three TD passes within the Rams’ first six video games mixed.

McVay additionally received his first head-to-head assembly with Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell, who was his offensive coordinator through the Rams’ Tremendous Bowl championship season three years in the past.

Each groups scored touchdowns on their first two drives in entrance of a sellout crowd at SoFi Stadium. Darnold went 8 for 8 on these drives, whereas Stafford clearly loved having his two favourite targets again in uniform.

Williams caught a brief move on the Rams’ opening drive and scored a landing in his tenth consecutive sport. The Vikings hadn’t allowed a TD within the first quarter all season, and the Rams hadn’t scored on their first drive all season.

Darnold discovered Jefferson 5 occasions on the primary two drives, however completed them with throws to Oliver and to Sherfield, who scored a landing for his fifth NFL staff.

Byron Murphy intercepted an overthrown move by Stafford within the third, and Minnesota went up 17-14 after Jefferson prolonged the drive with a bobbling, one-handed reception.

Los Angeles answered with one other 70-yard TD drive capped by Robinson’s catch.

Accidents

Vikings: TE T.J. Hockenson (knee) and G Dalton Risner (again) had been out. … Darrisaw bought injured whereas Minnesota was making an attempt to expire the clock to finish the primary half.

Rams: Rookie WR Jordan Whittington was inactive with a shoulder damage. … S Kam Curl injured his knee within the first quarter, however returned within the second.

Up subsequent

Vikings: Host Indianapolis in a Sunday night time sport on Nov. 3.

Rams: At Seattle on Nov. 3.