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 Evening Soccer.”

The Rams acquired two key starters — broad receivers Cooper Kupp (ankle) and Puka Nacua (knee) — again from damage and scored a season-high 30 factors towards 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 sphere 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 sphere.

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

The win boosted the Rams’ document 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 saved Nacua’s return quiet, activating him from injured reserve regardless of the actual fact he could not apply due to the quick week.

However Stafford went to Nacua early and sometimes on Thursday night time, 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 night time, throwing two within the first half and two within the second half to broad receiver Demarcus Robinson.

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

Greatest gap within the sport plan: Stopping Justin Jefferson.

Jefferson, the receiver Rams defensive coordinator Chris Shula known as “the perfect on the earth” main as much as this sport, had eight catches for 115 yards on Thursday night time.

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 largest 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 employees might be fascinated with 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 effectively be the perfect crew in soccer. However the Rams had been 2-4 earlier than Thursday night time and reportedly have thought of buying and selling receiver Cooper Kupp, one of many cornerstones of the franchise, in a doable concession to the season.

The reply is usually someplace within the center. ESPN’s Soccer Energy Index projected the Vikings to win 6.8 video games for the season, they usually’re extremely more likely to eclipse that mark. And there might be quite a lot 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 figuring out the tough job they’ve of enjoying within the NFC North, it is clear we do not but understand how good this crew will 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 night time.

The truth is, he mentioned final week: “I am undoubtedly sick of getting these 80-, 90-yard video games. I’ve undoubtedly acquired to recover from that hump over 100 yards. It is going to be one among these video games that we will present the world what we’re actually able to, and hopefully it is Thursday night time.”

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 development: Left sort out Christian Darrisaw was dominated out after struggling a left knee damage late within the second quarter.

There was no quick phrase on the severity of the damage, however he wanted help from medical employees to get off the sphere and into the locker room.

The Vikings have a reliable veteran backup in David Quessenberry, they usually’ll have a number of additional days to arrange for his or her Week 9 sport towards the Colts. However make no mistake, Darrisaw is among 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 unlimited loss if he misses prolonged time.

Greatest gap within the sport plan: The Vikings could not discover a technique to get to Stafford for a lot of the sport.

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

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

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