GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) – Matthew Stafford threw two touchdown passes and the Los Angeles Rams tied Sam Darnold for an NFL playoff record-tying ninth inning in the NFC Wild Card Game on Monday night. He fired the Yankees and won 27-9, overwhelming the Minnesota Vikings. It was relocated from Southern California due to devastating wildfires.
Rookie Jared Verse returned the fumble for a 57-yard score for the Rams (11-7). The Rams looked comfortable at home at State Farm Stadium from the first snap. LA scored a touchdown on its opening drive and built a 10-0 lead by the end of the first quarter.
Due to wildfires that continue to burn in the Los Angeles area, the game was moved to the Phoenix suburbs, about 400 miles east of the Rams’ home base in Inglewood, California. LA’s next game is Sunday on the East Coast against the Philadelphia Eagles.
Barth scored a touchdown with 4:35 left in the second quarter, giving the Rams a 17-3 lead. Darnold was under pressure from phenomenal cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon when he lost the ball. The 24-year-old Vaas scooped it up, ran down the field and somersaulted into the end zone.
This play sent Rams fans 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 to be full.
It was the worst moment of a grueling first half for Darnold, who was making his first NFL playoff appearance. He was sacked five times before the break and threw an interception when a pass to Jordan Addison was picked off by Coby Durant.
Minnesota (14-4) had a chance to clinch the NFC’s top seed in the final game of the regular season, but Darnold struggled in the loss to Detroit. He played this season on a one-year contract, but his poor finish casts doubt on his long-term future with the Vikings.
With 15 seconds left in the first half, Stafford hit tight end Davis Allen for a 13-yard touchdown, giving the Rams a 24-3 lead. Stafford passed for 209 yards and completed his first 10 passes, including all six on the first touchdown drive.
Joshua Carty’s 44-yard field goal made it 27-3 on the first drive of the second half. Koby Turner had two sacks for the Rams.
LA grabbed the break early in the second quarter when a potentially game-changing fumble was overturned by replay. As Stafford was being pulled to the turf by Minnesota linebacker Jonathan Greenard, the quarterback pushed the ball forward just before it hit the ground.
Minnesota’s Blake Cashman grabbed the ball on the bounce and ran 26 yards to the end zone. Officials determined it was an on-field fumble, but a replay review determined it was an incomplete pass.
The Vikings never threatened again.
Darnold completed 25 of 40 passes for 245 yards, but was sacked nine times for a loss of 82 yards. The Vikings gained 269 total yards, many of which came when the game was already getting out of hand.
Los Angeles learned Thursday that its playoff game will be played in Glendale, home of the division rival Arizona Cardinals. The Rams traveled to Phoenix on Friday and practiced at the Cardinals’ facility on Saturday.
injury
Vikings: OL Brian O’Neal has been diagnosed with a concussion.
Rams: TE Tyler Higbee (chest) left in the first half and did not return. … Witherspoon (thigh) left in the third quarter.
to the next
The Rams will face the Eagles in a matchup of defenses that were dominant in the opening game.
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