What we learned from Los Angeles’ 30-20 win

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1. Kupp, Nacua returns spark Rams’ season-changing win. Puka Nacua was — shock! — energetic for Thursday’s sport, and he was additionally surprisingly energetic within the victory, fueling the Rams’ upset of the Vikings with seven catches for 106 receiving yards. Matthew Stafford regarded for Nacua early and infrequently, feeding him the ball on three of the primary 5 performs. It was just like the second-year professional, who hadn’t performed since struggling a knee damage in Week 1, had by no means left the lineup. Additionally again was Cooper Kupp; he began a bit slower, however drew two pass-interference flags within the pink zone and labored to get open after Stafford brilliantly evaded a sack, permitting the quarterback to search out Kupp for a welcome-back landing within the second quarter. Nacua and Kupp entered Thursday having performed collectively for simply 24 snaps this season, and the Rams’ offense suffered due to it. However even Demarcus Robinson flourished with the band again collectively, as each of his receptions went for second-half TDs. Stafford simply regarded totally different Thursday — not the sometimes-frazzled, harried model we noticed with out his prime two targets enjoying. The Rams have turned their season round prior to now 5 days with the return of L.A.’s dynamic duo.
2. Vikings endure second loss in 5 days, damage to Darrisaw. The Vikings’ trajectory has modified in lower than every week after struggling their first two losses of the season and probably dropping stud left deal with Christian Darrisaw to a big damage. Late within the first half, Darrisaw was rolled up on and ultimately dominated out. Even worse, it got here on a play the Vikings didn’t even technically must run, backed up in opposition to their very own finish zone with below a minute remaining within the second quarter. Darrisaw was changed by David Quessenberry, who allowed six pressures on 14 pass-block snaps, per Subsequent Gen Stats, and was a minimum of partially answerable for Jared Verse’s 13-yard sack with 5 minutes left and the Vikes down. Minnesota began out sharply, as Sam Darnold ripped the Rams’ protection early with precision, however issues had slowed down earlier than Darrisaw left the sport. Even whereas displaying some life in a number of field-goal drives within the second half, it wasn’t sufficient. The Rams bought away with a facemask that was missed on the game-sealing security by Byron Younger, however the safety broke down on a key play with an opportunity to tie the sport late.
3. Why couldn’t the Vikings discover Jefferson late? In the course of the early offensive fireworks, Justin Jefferson was the Vikings’ go-to man, shredding the Rams’ protection within the first half and persevering with with catches for 27 and 14 yards on the third-quarter field-goal drive that put the Vikings up, 17-14. Darnold missed Jefferson, who stumbled ultimately zone on third-and-goal previous to that kick, after which … he by no means noticed the ball once more. The Vikings tried seven extra passes, none in Jefferson’s route. Granted, the Rams had been attempting their finest to make the ball go anyplace however Jefferson’s arms, nevertheless it felt like Darnold didn’t even look the star receiver’s means on most of these late throws. A couple of of them labored. Not sufficient did. Darnold was correct a lot of the night time however struggled on third downs. He hit Aaron Jones on a reasonably fade however couldn’t convert any first downs on his different 5 third-down throws. The third-and-goal cross was Jefferson’s solely third-down goal of the sport. He completed along with his first 100-yard outing since Week 2, which was nice. However the Vikings clearly wanted him, particularly with T.J. Hockenson nonetheless every week away from returning, within the second-half drives that got here up quick.
4. Did this sport make each groups trade-deadline consumers? There had been some Rams-related rumors floating on the market (no, not the foolish one about Stafford) about them probably seeking to offload a few of their higher-priced veterans. At 1-4 lower than every week in the past, that concept made extra sense. However at 3-4 all of a sudden — particularly on this 12 months’s jumbled-up NFC West — the Rams’ season has life once more. A lot in order that they may be inclined to be customers as an alternative of sellers earlier than the Nov. 5 commerce deadline. The returns of Nacua and Kupp have lit a hearth below the offense once more and reignited Stafford, a minimum of by one sport. With Rams basic supervisor Les Snead, something is feasible. In the meantime, Minnesota now has misplaced two straight and dangers getting caught within the wash of the extremely aggressive NFC North. I don’t get the sense that the Vikings view two defeats because the earth caving in; that is nonetheless a staff that feels forward of the sticks when it comes to projection, they usually have a variety of salary-cap house subsequent 12 months, with 2025 trying like a giant 12 months. So it feels a bit untimely to explode their future property. Then once more, if the NFC is as extensive open because it feels, possibly Minnesota considers a focused transfer or two — maybe OT assist, if Darrisaw is out for an prolonged interval.
5. McVay vs. KOC proved to be present early on. Should you’re a fan of fairly offensive soccer — and who isn’t? — then this sport was for you. The primary 20 minutes or so, anyway. Issues slowed down a bit in a second quarter marred by penalties, however the opening quartet of drives was simply surgical. A stupendous deep comeback to Jefferson for 17 yards; an over path to J.J. for 17 extra; the misdirection on Nacua’s first 13-yard catch; a throwback display to Nacua for 21 extra. And on and on. It was an offensive artwork show on these first 4 sequence, all of which led to 70-yard TD drives. Nice teaching and nice execution early, particularly for a short-week sport. That’s to be anticipated with two of the higher younger coaches within the sport in Sean McVay and Kevin O’Connell. Did O’Connell want to start out a drive on the play Darrisaw bought damage? Undecided you possibly can blame the coach on that fluky play up in opposition to his personal finish zone, nevertheless it was an unlucky end result. McVay cranked his offense again up on the go-ahead TD drives, with a number of fairly designs, together with the fade to Robinson. On this night time, the trainer — McVay, though he’s youthful — bought one of the best of his former pupil of their first head-to-head assembly as head coaches.

Subsequent Gen Stats Perception for Vikings-Rams (by way of NFL Professional): After producing one strain on 13 cross rushes within the first half (7.7%), Jared Verse produced three pressures on 10 cross rushes within the second half (30.0%) in opposition to the Vikings. Verse did not generate a single strain on six matchups in opposition to Christian Darrisaw earlier than the left deal with suffered an damage on the Vikings’ second-to-last play of the primary half. Within the second half, Verse generated three pressures and 0.5 sacks throughout eight matchups in opposition to backup left deal with David Quessenberry.

NFL Analysis: Justin Jefferson has handed WR Jake Reed (6,433) for the fifth-most receiving yards in Vikings historical past. Jefferson now has 6,545 profession yards, trailing solely Adam Thielen (6,682), Anthony Carter (7,636), Randy Moss (9,316) and Cris Carter (12,383).