Who are the announcers and referees for the Vikings vs. the Rams today?

The LA Rams have a home game that is not really at home. Will they manage to beat the odds and win?

Minnesota Vikings Sam Darnold v Los Angeles Rams Jared Verse
Minnesota Vikings Sam Darnold v Los Angeles Rams Jared Verse | Ric Tapia/GettyImages

By scheduling the Los Angeles Rams' first game in the 2025 NFL Playoffs for Monday Night Football, did the NFL schedulers give an advantage to the Minnesota Vikings? I cannot rule out the thought that the Vikings, losers in the last game of the 2024 regular season on Sunday Night Football, got an extra day to prepare for the Wild Card Round of the 2025 NFL Playoffs. And the Rams, a team that had sat their starters on the last game of the season, did not benefit from the extra day of preparation.

But then, after considering the events of the past week, there has been a significant number of moving parts that have impacted the game.

But it's game day, and that means that every player on the Rams roster, every coach for the team, and even family members and friends, must try to block out the wildfires burning in the Los Angeles, California area long enough to focus on this game. And no, it won't be easy to do.

But over the course of the week, the Wild Card Round of the 2025 NFL Playoffs has taken on a greater meaning for the players and fans than just another football game. How could it not? This has been a disastrous week for almost everyone in the Los Angeles, California community. But this team has a unique opportunity to carve out a path of hope for the families who have been displaced by the fires that continue to rage.

Announcers for Vikings vs Rams

  • Lead Play-by-Play Announcer: Joe Buck
  • Color Commentator: Troy Aikman
  • Sideline Reporter: Laura Rutledge, Lisa Salters

The LA Rams had the broadcast booth of Joe Buck/Tory Aikman on Monday Night Football on Week 10 to host the Miami Dolphins. The Rams lost that game by a score of 23-15, which was a setback at the time for a team hoping to climb over .500 for the first time this season. That was a game that veteran RT Rob Havenstein sat out due to injury, and his absence impacted the Rams' offense. The team went 0-3 in the Red Zone and had to settle for five of six field goals off the foot of rookie kicker Joshua Karty.

The ABC/ESPN NFL broadcast crew has since added Laura Rutledge to the broadcast crew. She will join Lisa Salters in sideline reporting throughout the game.

Referees for Vikings vs. Rams

Head referee: John Hussey

John Hussey had officiated a Rams game before, a Week 2 meeting of the Rams traveling to Arizona to face the Cardinals. Hussey is an NFL referee with over 23 years of NFL officiating experience, and 10 years of experience as the referee. He officiated a full schedule of games this season.

His crew consists of:

  • Referee: John Hussey
  • Umpire: Tony Michalek
  • Down Judge: Max Causey
  • Line Judge: Carl Johnson
  • Field Judge: Anthony Fleming
  • Side Judge: Allen Baynes
  • Back Judge: Matt Edwards
  • Replay Official: Andrew Lambert
  • Replay Assistant: Sebrina Brunson

Hussey's crew takes the 'let them play,' perspective, tending to flag penalties less frequently than the league average. In 2024, John Hussey and company threw 11.06 penalties per game and marched off 94.38 penalty yards per game. That is less than the league average of 12.86 penalties per game and 104.29 penalty yards per game. In Week 2, Hussey's crew called just two penalties against the Rams for 10 yards, and five penalties against the Arizona Cardinals for 52 yards. The Rams lost that game by a score of 41-10.

Minnesota Vikings vs. LA Rams, game time

  • Date: Monday, January 13, 2025
  • Time: 5:00 pm PT
  • Location: State Farm Stadium, Glendale, Arizona
  • Channel: ESPN/ABC Sports

This may be the final game of the Wild Card Round of the 2025 NFL Playoffs. But it could fall into the 'saving the best for last,' category. Despite the difference of records from the Rams10-7 compared to the Vikings 14-3. In truth, the Rams played to a 9-2 record to close out the season after their Week 6 BYE, (toss the final game in which the team played all backups) to the Vikings 9-2 record after their Week 6 BYE (tossing out their final loss to the Lions)

Best of all, the Rams know that they can beat the Vikings. Now, it's just a matter of going out and repeating what they had done in Week 8.

As always, thanks for reading.

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