Matthew Stafford tossed two touchdown passes as the Los Angeles Rams cruised past the Minnesota Vikings, sacking quarterback Sam Darnold a record-tying nine times in a dominant 27-9 win on Monday night in the NFC wild-card round. The game was relocated to Arizona due to the destructive wildfires in Southern California.
Rookie Jared Verse made an impact by returning a fumble for a 57-yard touchdown, helping the Rams (11-7) settle into their temporary home at State Farm Stadium right from the start. Los Angeles drove for a touchdown on their opening possession and built a 10-0 lead by the end of the first quarter.
The game was moved nearly 400 miles east to the Phoenix area due to the ongoing wildfires in Los Angeles. The Rams will head to the East Coast next for a Sunday matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles.
Verse’s touchdown late in the second quarter gave the Rams a 17-3 advantage. Darnold, under duress from cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon’s blitz, fumbled the ball, and the 24-year-old Verse scooped it up and raced untouched to the end zone, completing a somersault for the score.
The play electrified the Rams' supporters—NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell noted that about 45,000 fans traveled from California for the game, and the 63,400-seat stadium appeared near capacity.
The first half was a nightmare for Darnold, who was making his NFL playoff debut. He was sacked five times and threw an interception, with Cobie Durant picking off a pass intended for Jordan Addison.
Minnesota (14-4) had a shot at claiming the NFC’s top seed in the regular-season finale, but Darnold’s struggles in a loss to Detroit left doubts about his future with the Vikings, particularly as he played on a one-year deal this season.
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