INGLEWOOD, Calif. — The Los Angeles Rams held on to defeat the Minnesota Vikings, 30-20 on Thursday evening Soccer.
The Rams bought again two key starters — large receivers Cooper Kupp (ankle) and Puka Nacua (knee) — again from harm and scored a season-high 30 factors in opposition to a Vikings staff that entered the sport ranked No. 1 in defensive DVOA.
Los Angeles bought only a glimpse of their prime two receivers on the sector collectively of their season opener earlier than Nacua injured his knee within the loss. Kupp sprained his ankle the week after and the offense has struggled to search out consistency with out the pair on the sector.
The return of Kupp and Nacua opened up the sector for the Rams and quarterback Matthew Stafford, who accomplished passes to 9 completely different gamers within the victory. Nacua led the best way with 9 targets, whereas Kupp had eight and operating again Kyren Williams had seven.
The win gave the Rams a 3-4 report, with two of these three victories coming 4 days aside. And regardless of the Rams’ 1-4 begin, Los Angeles enters the weekend tied with the San Francisco 49ers and Arizona Cardinals at 3-4. The Rams are only one sport again from the division-leading Seattle Seahawks.
Los Angeles performs in Seattle in Week 9.
Most shocking efficiency: The Rams saved Nacua’s return quiet, activating him from injured reserve regardless of the actual fact he could not apply due to the brief week.
However Stafford went to Nacua early and infrequently on Thursday evening and the second-year receiver led the Rams with seven catches for 106 yards on 9 targets.
Nacua performed 35 of 65 offensive snaps for Los Angeles.
QB breakdown: Stafford entered the sport with simply three passing touchdowns this season.
He greater than doubled that on Thursday evening, throwing two within the first half and two within the second half to large receiver Demarcus Robinson.
Stafford had one in all his greatest video games of the season, finishing 24 of 33 passes for 270 yards and an interception.
Largest gap within the sport plan: Stopping Justin Jefferson.
Jefferson, the receiver Rams defensive coordinator Chris Shula known as “the most effective on this planet” main as much as this sport, had eight catches for 115 yards on Thursday evening.
The Rams’ go protection entered the sport ranked thirtieth in DVOA, and the group struggled to cease the Vikings’ greatest participant.
Subsequent sport: at Seahawks (4:25 p.m. ET, Sunday, Nov. 3)
Who’re the Minnesota Vikings? The staff that dominated their first 5 video games of the season with the largest level differential within the NFL? Or the one which has now misplaced two video games in 5 days?
That is what Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell and his employees will likely be excited about as they journey again to Minnesota after Thursday’s loss to the Los Angeles Rams.
It is one factor to have dropped a two-point sport final Sunday to the Detroit Lions, who would possibly effectively be the most effective staff in soccer. However the Rams had been 2-4 earlier than final evening and reportedly have thought-about buying and selling receiver Cooper Kupp, one of many cornerstones of the franchise, in a potential concession to the season.
The reply is usually someplace within the center. ESPN’s Soccer Energy Index projected the Vikings to win 6.8 video games for the season, and so they’re extremely more likely to eclipse that mark. And there will likely be quite a lot of dialogue concerning the uncalled face masks penalty when the Rams sacked quarterback Sam Darnold for what turned out to be the game-deciding security.
However after watching the Vikings’ protection quit 4 landing passes to Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford, and large chunks of yards in between, and realizing the troublesome process they’ve of taking part in within the NFC North, it is clear we do not but understand how good this staff will be.
Describe the sport in two phrases: Jefferson breakout.
Jefferson entered the sport with 531 receiving yards in six video games, fifth-most within the NFL, however he had solely had one 100-yard efficiency earlier than Thursday evening.
In truth, he stated final week: “I am positively sick of getting these 80-90 yard video games. I’ve positively bought to recover from that hump over 100 yards. It is going to be one in all these video games that we’ll present the world what we’re actually able to, and hopefully it is Thursday evening.”
Jefferson eclipsed the 100-yard mark with a juggling 27-yard reception within the third quarter and completed with 115 yards on eight catches.
Troubling development: Left sort out Christian Darrisaw was dominated out after struggling a left knee harm late within the second quarter.
There was no quick phrase on the severity of the harm, however he wanted help from medical employees to get off the sector and into the locker room.
The Vikings have a reliable veteran backup in David Quessenberry, and so they’ll have just a few further days to organize for his or her Week 9 sport in opposition to the Colts. However make no mistake, Darrisaw is among the NFL’s prime left tackles, one who’s value each penny of the five-year, $140 million contract extension he signed final week, and he could be an infinite loss if he misses prolonged time.
Largest gap within the sport plan: The Vikings could not discover a method to get to Stafford for many of the sport.
They pressured him on solely three of 34 dropbacks. And even then, he accomplished a go in opposition to all three of these pressures, together with a 7-yard landing go to Kupp within the third quarter during which he eluded defensive sort out Harrison Phillips and linebacker Jonathan Greenard.
Move rush had been key to the Vikings’ sizzling begin this season, and earlier than Thursday that they had managed not less than a 24.6% stress price in each sport.
Subsequent sport: vs. Colts (8:20 p.m. ET, Sunday, Nov. 3)