INGLEWOOD, Calif. – This is what it's supposed to look like.
Buoyed by the return of wide receivers Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua and clutch touchdown catches by wide receiver Demarcus Robinson, quarterback Matthew Stafford threw four touchdown passes to help lead the Rams (3-4) to a 30-20 win over the Vikings (5-2) on Thursday Night Football at SoFi Stadium.
That offensive performance was complemented by timely plays made by Los Angeles' defense, plus a standout primetime performance by rookie outside linebacker Jared Verse, who notched 1.5 sacks, 3 QB hits and 3 total tackles (1 for loss) in Thursday night's victory. Outside linebacker Byron Young added a timely safety with 1:36 to play to give the Rams a 10-point lead over the Vikings (5-2).
Here is the complete game recap:
The Vikings got on the board first, moving the ball efficiently on a 8-play, 70-yard touchdown scoring drive on the opening series which was capped by a 5-yard touchdown pass from Darnold to tight end Josh Oliver for an early 7-0 lead.
The Rams answered just as quickly and efficiently, marching downfield with a 9-play, 70-yard drive punctuated by a 5-yard touchdown pass from Stafford to Kyren Williams.
While Minnesota needed 10 plays on their second offensive series, it still ended with the same result: A Darnold touchdown pass, this time from 10 yards out to wide receiver Trent Sherfield Sr. to regain the lead 14-7 with 53 seconds left in the first quarter.
Aided by a pair of 3rd-down conversions via penalties against the Vikings defense, the Rams answered with a 7-yard touchdown pass from Stafford to wide receiver Cooper Kupp. Stafford made the play while escaping a would-be sack to throw the touchdown early in the second quarter to tie the game 14-14.
Things slowed a bit after that as the teams traded defensive stops, due in part to penalties – especially pre-snap ones – stalling drives and leaving the halftime score tied at 14.
Stafford's interception on 3rd and 6 on the opening drive of the second half put the Vikings at their own 27, and Minnesota converted the takeaway into points via a 23-yard field goal by kicker Will Reichard with 6:03 to go in the third quarter to take a 17-14 lead.
The Rams responded with a beautiful 25-yard touchdown pass from Stafford to wide receiver Demarcus Robinson to take a 21-17 with 2:36 left in the third quarter.
Reichard's 35-yard field goal attempt early in the fourth quarter cut the Rams' lead to one. Los Angeles reached the Vikings 29 on the ensuing possession, electing to go for it on 4th and 1 from the Minnesota 29 and converting with a 3-yard run by Williams. It made possible Stafford's fourth touchdown pass of the night and second to Robinson, this one from 10 yards out for a 28-20 L.A. lead with 6:17 remaining in the fourth quarter.
A little over a minute later, outside linebackers Jared Verse and Michael Hoecht combined for a second-down sack that resulted in a 13-yard loss that forced the Rams to punt.
Although a 27-yard completion from Stafford to Kupp kept the ensuing drive alive to convert a 3rd-and-9 from the Rams' own 20, the Rams were still forced to punt on that series. Still, that completion had forced the Vikings to use their last timeout with 3:17 remaining.
That clutch Ethan Evans punt pinned the Vikings deep in their own territory, and the defense capitalized with Young's safety with 1:42 remaining to give them a 10-point cushion and effectively secure the victory.
