INGLEWOOD — Team introductions had a different kind of energy ahead of the Rams’ game against the Minnesota Vikings on Thursday night.
Puka Nacua, making a surprise return after missing five games, was all smiles as he ran onto the field, ready to play football again. He was followed by Cooper Kupp, typically stoic as he prepared to play for the first time since Week 2, but greeted with a little extra enthusiasm by an angsty fan base in the wake of trade rumors surrounding the former Super Bowl MVP. And then finally Matthew Stafford, pounding his chest and leaping in in the air as he took the field behind his two favorite targets.
And, for a night at least, everything was right with the Rams’ offense. The screen game to Nacua, in full effect. Running lanes for Kyren Williams, open. A first-quarter touchdown, scored for the first time this season. Kupp in motion, pulling defenses in different directions. Four touchdown passes, thrown by Stafford after three in the first six games.
And that was what the Rams needed to overcome one of the NFL’s top defenses, beating the Vikings, 30-20.
In their returns to the field, Nacua finished with seven catches for 106 yards while Kupp added five for 51.
On their first two drives of the game, the offense looked like the offense the Rams (3-4) imagined when they planned for the 2024 season. Offensive linemen pulled outside to block for Nacua screens, as Kupp pulled defenses in the wrong direction with motion. Williams gashed defenses that had to account for the two big-name receivers.
The Rams got some help from third-down penalties on the Vikings’ defense to keep drives alive. But they scored on both their first possessions. Williams was able to slip out of the backfield for a touchdown catch, while on the second drive Stafford ducked under a sack attempt to extend the play and find a sliding Kupp for a touchdown.
After the first score, the first first-quarter touchdown allowed by the Vikings (5-2) this season, Stafford took a long look at the Rams’ sideline before running to the end zone to celebrate. It was game on.
The Rams needed that offensive fire, because the Vikings were just as in-sync on their first two possessions. The offensive line erased the Rams’ pass rush, and receiver Justin Jefferson was able to get open at will.
It took eight and 10 plays, respectively, for the Vikings to drive 70 yards on each of those first two drives, both ending in touchdowns to the flat to Josh Oliver and Trent Sherfield Sr. Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold completed his first eight passes for 97 yards.
The Rams’ defense began to calm down from there. Rookie Jared Verse spooked Darnold into a third-down throwaway, then bull rushed through the tight end on the first play of the next drive to sack Darnold for a 10-yard loss. The play, which Verse celebrated by doing the Vikings’ overhead “Skol” clap, set the Vikings back and led to a punt.
Meanwhile, the Rams’ offense stalled in its own way, with the third and fourth offensive line penalties out of six in the game. Then Stafford threw his fourth interception in four weeks to open the second half.
The Vikings were able to take advantage, to a point. Jefferson gained 27 yards on a sideline catch he tipped to himself. But the receiver slipped coming out of his break on third-and-goal, and Minnesota settled for a field goal.
That opened a window for the Rams, and they took advantage. Eighteen- and 19-yard gains by Tutu Atwell and Nacua, respectively, were followed by an end zone shot to Demarcus Robinson streaking down the field. The cornerback in coverage was called for pass interference, but it didn’t matter, as Robinson came to the ground with the ball and the go-ahead touchdown.
The Vikings again stalled in the red zone through their own mistakes. Darnold was able to escape a blitz and draw in the Rams’ linebackers, creating an opening for Jalen Nailor. But the third-down pass bounced off Nailor’s hands, and again the Vikings kicked a field goal.
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That gave the Rams the ball back with 12:47 to play and a one-point lead. And Stafford went back to work, completing passes to Blake Corum and Hunter Long – the eighth and ninth targets to make catches on Thursday – to complete first downs. Then facing fourth-and-inches, Nacua set the edge against a linebacker to spring a first-down run by Williams.
All Stafford needed was a clean pocket and good misdirection route by Robinson, who got open in the corner of the end zone for his second touchdown of the night. Robinson chucked the ball into the crowd of 72,127 and Stafford (279 yards passing) stuck his tongue out at the Rams’ sideline as they secured an eight-point lead.
Another Verse sack, with some help from Michael Hoecht, stalled another Minnesota drive and gave the Rams the ball back with 4:11 to play. On third down and the Vikings bleeding timeouts, Stafford found Kupp down the sideline for a 27-yard conversion. But a screen to the veteran receiver on third-and-12 only gained 8 yards.
The Rams had to punt, but Ethan Evans pinned Minnesota at its own 5-yard line. Two plays later, Byron Young sacked Darnold in the end zone, getting away with a facemask penalty to secure the win.