5 instant reactions from Rams wild Wild Card Round performance vs. Vikings

(4) Veteran QB Matthew Stafford opened with a hot hand

LA Rams veteran quarterback Matthew Stafford has completed 17 seasons in the NFL, and is about to turn 37 years old. And yet, the wiley old gunslinger proved that he still has it. Despite completing 19 of 27 passes for 209 yards, he threw two touchdowns and no interceptions while leading the Rams to an early lead and then never looking back.

At halftime, the Rams had jumped out to a 24-3 lead. The team coasted with a far more conservative offense in the second half, culminating in a layup victory.

Stafford entered the game with the eye of the tiger and never softened his countenance throughout the game. While the game placed immeasurable pressure on Stafford, he proved to be more than a match for the broadest stage and the brightest lights in the NFL. While not particularly productive, Stafford maintained the calm, cool, and collected demeanor of a brain surgeon in the operating room.

This was not Stafford's best game. But he was very effective in leading his team to an emphatic victory.

(3) Heroics showed up all over the Rams roster

No Rams receiver put up more than 58 receiving yards. That honor belonged to veteran tight end Tyler Higbee, who left early in the game with a bruised chest. Not Rams rusher ran for more than 76 yards. That achievement belonged to featured running back Kyren Williams, who needed 16 carries to rush for that total. No player scored more than one touchdown in the game. But three players entered the end zone for the Rams.

The highest scorer for the team was rookie kicker Joshua Karty, who kicked two field goals and three extra points to lead the Rams with nine points.

But this was a team effort. The defense recorded 10 tackles for a loss, tied an NFL record with nine quarterback sacks, recorded four pass deflections, one interception, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery for a touchdown. Even Rams punter Ethan Evans had an outstanding game, averaging 50.2 yards per punt with one touchback and three punts inside the Vikings 20-yard line.

I could go on and on, but after a certain point, it begins to sound disingenuous. So let's stick a pin in this one, and continue on.

(2) Rams defense may have tarnished Darnold's reputation beyond repair

It's clear that the Minnesota Vikings were in the playoff hunt all season long thanks to the incredible performance of veteran QB Sam Darnold. But Darnold was a journeyman depth quarterback who suddenly found new life in the Vikings offense under HC Kevin O'Connell. But as is often the case, it's not how you start off the season that fans remember, but rather how you finish it.

And Darnold struggled over the past two games of his 2024 NFL season:

I pointed out how a bad game against the Rams could lead to an entirely new narrative about Sam Darnold as the Minnesota Vikings now pivot to the 2025 NFL season. Now the question over the future of Sam Darnold is no longer how much the Vikings need to offer him to extend him, but rather if the team will make any effort to do so.

The Vikings drafted rookie quarterback J.J. McCarthy in the 2024 NFL draft with the intention of handing over the keys to him at some point in time. Now, that moment appears to be sooner rather than later.

Wild Card Round FINAL SCORE

Minnesota Vikings 9
Los Angeles Rams 27

The Rams have earned the right to advance to the Divisional Round of the 2025 NFL Playoffs, where they will travel to face the second-seeded Philadelphia Eagles.