GLENDALE, Ariz. — Matthew Stafford threw two landing passes and the Los Angeles Rams beat the Minnesota Vikings, sacking Sam Darnold an NFL playoff-record 9 occasions to win 27-9 Monday night time in an NFC wild-card recreation. which was displaced to Southern California because of the devastating wildfires.
Rookie Jared Vers returned a punt 57 yards for a rating for the Rams (11-7), who seemed comfy of their State Farm Stadium residence from the opening kickoff.
Los Angeles scored a landing on the opening drive and led 10-0 by the tip of the primary quarter.
The sport was moved to suburban Phoenix — almost 400 miles east of the Rams’ residence of Inglewood, Calif. — due to the wildfires that proceed to burn within the Los Angeles space. LA’s subsequent recreation is on the East Coast towards the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday.
Vers’ landing with 4:35 left within the second quarter gave the Rams a 17-3 lead.
Darnold was underneath stress from cornerback Akello Witherspoon when he misplaced the ball.
Vers, 24, took it and ran down the sphere untouched, somersaulting into the tip zone.
The play despatched the Rams devoted right into a frenzy — NFL commissioner Roger Goodell mentioned about 45,000 followers had come from California for the sport and the 63,400-seat stadium gave the impression to be packed.
That was the draw back of a brutal first half for Darnold, who was making his first NFL playoff look.
He was sacked 5 occasions earlier than the break and threw a move when Kobe Durant pulled off a move supposed for Jordan Addison.
Minnesota (14-4) had an opportunity to clinch the NFC’s high seed within the closing recreation of the common season, however Darnold struggled in a loss in Detroit.
His poor end raises questions on his long-term future with the Vikings after he performed this season on a one-year contract.
