Having already hosted the Vikings once in primetime this season, they will do so again for the Wild Card round of the playoffs when Minnesota visits SoFi Stadium next Monday night at 5 p.m. pacific time. ESPN and ABC will televise the game.
In advance of the contest, here is your First Look at Rams-Vikings, presented by Toyota.
Notable Vikings additions
- Acquired OT Cam Robinson in a trade with the Jaguars on Oct. 30: This move came six days after losing starting left tackle Christian Darrisaw to a season-ending knee injury against the Rams, so the Vikings had an obvious need. He has started every game for Minnesota so far since his debut on Nov. 3.
- Activated TE T.J. Hockenson from Reserve/Physically Unable to Perform list on Oct. 25: Not a "new" addition necessarily, but an important one as a veteran target in the Vikings' pass game. He was activated the day after the Vikings faced the Rams at SoFi Stadium.
Top performers in Week 18
QB Sam Darnold completed 18 of 41 pass attempts for 166 yards in Minnesota's 31-9 road loss to the Detroit Lions.
RB Cam Akers led the Vikings backfield with 65 rushing yards on six carries.
WR Justin Jefferson (54 receiving yards) and WR Jalen Nailor (53 yards) led Minnesota's receivers with three catches each.
LB Ivan Pace Jr. paced the Vikings defense with a team-high 10 total tackles plus one interception.
On special teams, K Will Reichard made three of four field goal attempts, while P Ryan Wright averaged 51.7 yards per punt across three punts.
Early storylines to watch, and what they mean for the Rams
The first matchups between these two teams put them on fascinating paths the rest of the season.
For the Vikings, it was their second-consecutive loss after winning their first five games. They went on to win nine-straight games before that streak was snapped with last week's loss to the Lions.
For the Rams, it was their second-consecutive win, in the middle of what became a three-game win streak. Overall, though, it put the wheels in motion toward winning nine of their next 11 before yesterday's loss to the Seahawks.
Now, here they are in a primetime rematch in the same venue where those paths started.
